[Pasadena, CA – August 21, 2012] Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc. (ANEW) has partnered with AIS, a leading commercial furniture manufacturer, to promote the practice of redirecting surplus office furniture to public agencies and charities.

AIS has signed on as a Steward Sponsor and, in addition to funding, will also provide ANEW as a resource to its clients who are faced with the task of liquidating surplus furniture, fixture and architectural materials.

 Rose Tourje, founder of ANEW said:  “When asked, most companies will say they want to do the right thing for their community and the environment. Crossing the threshold and taking action is what matters most. We’re talking about people coming together for a single purpose – to unite social responsibility with environmental sustainability. AIS is a progressive company that values this practice and is enthusiastic about creating positive change. We couldn’t be more pleased to build upon this with AIS; their mission and vision clearly aligns with ours.”

ANEW provides companies with environmental and socially sustainable solutions for surplus materials. Items that can be repurposed are matched to non-profits, public agencies and underserved communities while avoiding landfill. Since its inception seven years ago, ANEW has established a network of 250 service providers and itself as a one-stop, take-back solution. The organization coordinates the entire process from the removal and redirecting of surplus all the way through reporting project metrics. To date, ANEW has diverted 8.9 million pounds of materials from landfill; instead using it to serve 500 organizations in 13 countries.

“This partnership is a great fit for AIS. As a lean manufacturer, we are very environmentally aware of not just what we produce, but what we dispose of. By aligning with ANEW, we can ensure that abandoned furniture becomes recycled and used to benefit our communities as opposed to filling up our landfills,” said Rob Lazarus, vice president of sales, AIS. “This is a great organization that unites social responsibility with environmental sustainability- something that we here at AIS are very passionate about.”

Sponsorships, at any level, are an integral part of what allows ANEW to continue doing what’s right with what’s left®. In partnering with ANEW, organizations find that they are able to raise their corporate social sustainability profile in a meaningful and tangible way. ANEW will create programs tailored for any company, in any industry. Visit www.anewfound.org for more information and sponsorship opportunities.

Follow @ANEWFound on Twitter and like ANEWfound on Facebook to join the Social Sustainability movement and please also take a moment to watch and share the award-winning short documentary “ANEW, doing what’s right with what’s left.”  

About ANEW

ANEW (Asset Network for Education Worldwide, Inc.) is a public, non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, organizing and repurposing surplus furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for donation to the underserved.  For more information, visit www.anewfound.org

About AIS

AIS is a rapidly growing manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the systems furniture market. The company is known for offering feature-rich product lines that entice designers and meet immediate and future needs of end-users while offering exceptional value. AIS is an innovator that leads the industry in sustainable, lean manufacturing, lead-time and manufacturing flexibility. AIS employs 332 people, with over 500,000 sq. feet of manufacturing and operations at six locations. For more information, visit the AIS website at www.ais-inc.com.

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