DALTON—A lighthearted wager over singing skills between Mohawk and Harvey Norman Flooring in Australia resulted in a significant fundraiser for the United Way of northwest Georgia.
On April 13, the two companies staged a “Battle of the Ballads” singing showcase at the Dalton Golf and Country Club. Approximately 250 guests celebrated the relationship between Mohawk and Harvey Norman Flooring, and watched as Mohawk’s Steve Powers and Harvey Norman’s Shaun McGovern competed for the title of best singer, to settle a bet they had made with each other in Shanghai.
The “Battle of the Ballads” raised more than $6,500 in contributions, including $1,500 as top bid when McGovern auctioned the authentic Australian Rugby shirt he wore during his singing performance.
“We appreciate the generosity of everyone who made donations at the ‘Battle of the Ballads,’” said Margaret Zeisig, United Way of Northwest Georgia’s Director of Community Solutions. “I can honestly say that no one had ever given United Way the shirt off his back before, but Shaun’s generosity set a wonderful tone for the entire evening.”
“Harvey Norman is a very important customer for us,” said Michael Vermette, Mohawk Senior Vice President, Commercial and International Business. “We wanted to make their visit to Dalton special, and we really expanded Steve’s bet into a total entertainment package. We really appreciated the time we got to spend with the Harvey Norman group. They’re great people and good sports about the ‘Battle of the Ballads,’ too.”
Harvey Norman is Australia’s leading retail chain, with more than 195 stores across the country offering a wide selection of home, office and mobile products. During the past 12 years, Harvey Norman has expanded its presence with stores in Malaysia, Singapore, Slovenia, Ireland and New Zealand. Harvey Norman is the exclusive Australian provider of Mohawk’s SmartStrand product line.