ARCHDALE, N.C.,(Sealy, Inc.) - Musician
Aaron Neville made a surprise visit to the offices of mattress manufacturer Sealy today. Neville made the stop to thank Sealy executives and employees for their generous support and donations to the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Neville was greeted by a crowd of Sealy plant employees and corporate staff who flooded the mattress manufacturer's lobby as word spread that Neville would drop in on its North Carolina headquarters.
Neville presented Sealy chairman and chief executive officer, Dave McIlquham with an autographed copy of his new "Christmas Prayer" CD and spoke in gentle tones about the tragedy and loss that he, his family and friends experienced through Hurricane Katrina. Neville signed autographs, stood for pictures and hugged employees during his stop.
"We were blown away with Aaron's visit at Sealy this morning. We're big fans of Aaron Neville's music - now more than ever. And we applaud his tireless effort to support the American Red Cross fundraising in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita. All of us at Sealy consider him a friend in this important work and we hope the next time he stops by, he'll give us a song," said McIlquham.
Neville's entry in the company's guest log bears his signature and under the column designating whom he was visiting, he simply wrote "everyone."
Immediately following the onset of Hurricane Katrina, Sealy donated $1 million in cash and product to the American Red Cross for Disaster Relief Efforts. Sealy employee associates raised an additional $72,250 in cash donations for the American Red Cross.
Neville can be heard singing "Amazing Grace" on an American Red Cross commercial and is very involved in fund-raising efforts for hurricane victims. He will donate 60 cents from the sale of each "Christmas Prayer" CD through Dec. 31 to the American Red Cross. Aaron Neville may be best known for his performance of "Tell It Like It Is" and his duet with performer Linda Ronstadt, "Don't Know Much."
Sealy has a long record of philanthropic efforts, both at the corporate level and through grass roots donations and generous support of its 6,300 employee associates. Each year Sealy, along with a consortium of other partners, supports the Triad Holiday Challenge, a food drive in the Piedmont Triad area that collects donations for the Salvation Army food pantry.
