MetroNational to match donations made at Memorial City Mall

Nicole Bradford, Memorial Spring Branch Sun
September 14, 2005

When victims of Hurricane Katrina began showing up in Houston, residents here expected to see their city's key business leaders step up to lead fund-raising efforts.

Chief among them is Jim McIngvale, the fast-talking "Mattress Mac" who also is widely known for spreading his wealth to area nonprofits.

McIngvale, owner of both Gallery Furniture and the Westside Tennis Club, made an appearance Friday at Memorial City Mall, officially designated it as a donation site for the Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund.

"This city has 250,000 new guests," he told a crowd of about 75 at the mall's Food Court, "who have been through a tragedy we can't even imagine."

MetroNational, the owner and developer of the mall, will match all donations received there up to $200,000.

Cash and check donations will be collected at the Information Center, where a tally of contributions will be displayed.

MacIngvale said he hoped to see "millions of dollars" raised for hurricane victims.

"I can't tell you how many people have come into our store with tears in their eyes when they say, 'I'm from New Orleans and I've lost everything.'"

MacIngvale's Gallery Furniture funds a temporary YMCA facility at Reliant City. Dubbed "Town Square" the area features basketball hoops, video games, inflatable slides and bouncing rooms, a playground, board and card games.