HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - In one of the largest donations of its kind, Henrico-based Genworth gave CARITAS Furniture Bank 55,000 items valued at $1.5 million, according to a press release from the company.
When Genworth recently purchased a soon to be foreclosed upon hotel near its West End corporate office, it also bought everything in the hotel and its 372 guest rooms.
Genworth elected to donate those items to CARITAS, an organization that helps the homeless and other who need furniture and household supplies following an emergency.
"Genworth has a deep commitment to giving back to the community," Michael Laming, Genworth senior vice president of Human Resources, said in a press release. "We recognized the opportunity purchasing the building in addition to its content could have for us and the community."
CARITAS Furniture Bank director Karen O’Brien called the donation the largest single donation the organization had ever received.
"This large donation will significantly impact the clients we serve, and offer transitional employment for those coming through our Works program. It will transform lives," O’Brien said.
Genworth also donated a baby grand piano from the hotel to Johnson Elementary School in Henrico.
The hotel is scheduled for demolition this Spring. Until then, the Henrico Fire Department will use the hotel for training.
