Stanley Furniture to help preserve Cuban landmarks

As part of its unveiling of the Havana Crossing collection at the October High Point Market, Stanley Furniture has decided to donate 1% of the profits from the collection to groups devoted to preserving and restoring Cuba’s architectural resources.

Company President and CEO Glenn Prillaman and Vice President of Creative Randy Wells came to this decision following an early August trip to Havana they made with several retailers.

The designs of old residences, museums, hotels and various business structures range from Greek and Roman to Spanish, Colonial and Modern to name several. Various aspects of these buildings play a major role in the design of pieces in the collection.

All this is the subject of an article about the trip by Thomas Russell featured in the Sept. 12 print edition of Furniture/Today.

The Stanley team has not picked the specific architectural preservation groups it will work with, but will solicit the help of Havana architectural expert Victor Marin-Crespo as well as author Randy Wayne White and his nephew Justin White, a linguist and an expert on Cuban culture.

"As a result of our extraordinary access to the city of Havana, we saw firsthand the resourcefulness and ingenuity of its people as they persevere through the political struggles between our two countries,” Prillaman said. “Over the course of three trips to Cuba, we have gained a profound respect for the Cuban people and the pride they take in the unique character of their nation. As an expression of our sincere interest, Stanley Furniture will donate 1% of Havana Crossing profits to organizations committed to the preservation and restoration of the country’s architectural and cultural treasures.”