Hilary Farr Joins Our Furniture Flip Challenge!
Exciting News: Hilary Farr Joins Our Furniture Flip Challenge!
Dear Friends,
The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit’s “Furniture Flip Challenge” is underway starting Tuesday, May 13th! We are inviting all DIYers to reimagine and refurbish discarded tables, dressers, and other home décor items into must-have masterpieces.
There will be $10,000 in prizes up for grabs, including a $5,000 prize awarded by beloved HGTV star Hilary Farr at the “Furniture Flip Bash” fundraiser September 4. Hilary is bringing her expertise, charisma, and keen designer’s eye as our celebrity judge and guest speaker for our signature fundraiser this fall. This is your chance to be part of something truly special—where great design meets a great cause.
If your business or brand is looking to make a meaningful impact—and be associated with doing good in style—we’d love to partner with you. Just reply to this email to learn more about sponsorship opportunities for our Furniture Flip Bash on September 4th at The Village Club in Bloomfield Hills.
“This is going to be our most exciting event yet, and we can’t wait to see you there!”
- Diane Charles, President and CEO
Thank you to everyone who supported the Furniture Bank this past month:
In April, we helped more than 160 families get back on their feet!
We provided:
David Zick – Leading with Vision and Heart
For nearly twenty years, David Zick has been a steadfast supporter of the Furniture Bank, playing an integral role in its growth. His involvement began with financial and hands-on support, growing into board leadership. In 2024, Zick assumed the role of Board Chair, bringing both a deep-rooted commitment and a strategic vision for the organization’s future.
Zick’s involvement with the Furniture Bank is deeply personal. Raised in Lennon, Michigan, as one of thirteen children, he and his family experienced firsthand the challenges of limited financial resources. Although his parents had little to give materially, they modeled generosity through service – an example that left a lasting impression. Inspired by their values, Zick found in the Furniture Bank a meaningful way to support families in need by providing essential home furnishings that promote dignity and stability.
A seasoned entrepreneur, Zick understands what it takes to build something from the ground up. He founded and led a successful insurance company, growing it to more than 100 employees before its eventual sale in 2015. Retirement, however, was never part of his plan. Today, he channels his entrepreneurial energy into a diverse portfolio of ventures – from a company supplying critical medical equipment and supplies to an event center designed to help celebrate life’s milestones, all while mentoring others as they grow professionally. Each endeavor reflects his commitment to innovation and service.
Zick’s dedication to the community extends far beyond his business pursuits. A University of Michigan alumnus, he played a key role in revitalizing the physics department at UM-Flint, where he studied before spending four years as a high school teacher. Together with his wife, Francine, he remains an active philanthropist, supporting educational initiatives and community-based organizations. Their longstanding support of the Furniture Bank, both personal and philanthropic, underscores their shared commitment to making a lasting impact.
As Board Chair, Zick is now helping shape the Furniture Bank’s strategic direction, focusing on expanding services, improving efficiency, and reaching more families in need.
“The Furniture Bank combines everything I care about – helping families, creating stability, and giving people the dignity of a furnished home,” says Zick. “Even after nearly 20 years of involvement, I’m still inspired every day by the difference we make.”
With a blend of business leadership and compassion, David Zick is steering the Furniture Bank into a promising new chapter – by providing families the opportunity to rest, gather, and thrive in a furnished home.
Heartfelt & Grateful
We never take anything for granted — and we are so grateful for the continued generosity of First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham! Their recent $2,500 donation will help the Furniture Bank provide brand-new twin beds, complete with foundations, bedding, and pillows, for 12 children who have been sleeping on the floor, a sofa, or sharing a bed with a family member.
