Shaw Industries hosted Texas-based retailers on October 28 at the opening of Laura Bush’s The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection and First Ladies Red Dress Collection at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. Staged on a Shaw Anso nylon carpet named Sandy Hollow II, the special exhibit features a collection of red dresses worn by numerous celebrities and first ladies in an effort to raise awareness of heart related diseases in women. Shaw signage will be displayed prominently throughout the 11-month exhibit.

To celebrate the evening and Shaw’s involvement, more than 20 retailers attended the exhibit’s ribbon cutting. Retailers enjoyed the unique opportunity of meeting President George H. W. Bush, former First Lady Barbara Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush during the VIP reception. Following the event, Shaw hosted a presidential-themed dinner honoring the attending retailers.

“The Red Dress event and the dinner at Christopher's was special for all of us, incorporating the pride of working with Shaw and enriching the relationship. All of the attention to detail and finishing touches added to the sophistication of the evening,” said Mildred Hoffmann, owner of Hoffmann Floors Inc. in New Braunfels, Texas.

The opportunity was brought to Shaw by Chuck Moreau, owner of Moreau Enterprises, Inc., a local retailer in College Station, Texas. Scott Raisor, one of Moreau’s sales associates, was contacted by the Bush Library museum curator, who was looking for white carpet for the exhibit.  Moreau called Shaw with the request. According to Moreau, he was confident that Shaw’s premium Anso nylon carpet was the perfect solution for the 11-month exhibit.

“Shaw always looks for ways to support a cause such as this, and we take pride in contributing flooring for the exhibit. The event allowed Shaw the opportunity to showcase Anso nylon, support a worthwhile cause and treat our retailers to a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Kathy Young, Shaw’s director of marketing.

“Like many women, I'd assumed that heart disease was a man's problem,” said Laura Bush, former First Lady and founding ambassador of The Heart Truth, during a forum following the ribbon cutting. “But each year over 500,000 women will have a heart attack and one in four women in the United States will die of heart disease. Too many women have no idea that heart disease poses such a serious threat to their health," she continued.

The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Red Dress Collection will be on display until August 14, 2011.

For more information on The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection and First Ladies Red Dress Collection, visitbushlibrary.tamu.edu/exhibits/2010-red_dress.

See our other story about this eventhere.