Comfort has a cause in Albuquerque

When a child is critically ill, the last thing a family should worry about is where they'll sleep. That's the belief driving “Comfort for a Cause,” a charitable campaign launched by the family-owned La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries of Albuquerque to benefit Ronald McDonald House New Mexico.

The campaign, scheduled for February 24 through March 14, invites La-Z-Boy customers to donate any amount to Ronald McDonald House NM when they come to either store location, 5004 San Mateo Blvd NE or 3750 Ellison Road NW. Donors who choose to make a purchase receive 25 percent off, regardless of their contribution amount. For those simply wanting to give, donation stations at the retailer’s front counters welcome contributions with no purchase necessary.

The partnership is rooted in more than a decade of collaboration, said Ashley Mauldin, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries of Albuquerque vice president. She said La-Z-Boy has fed families onsite at local Ronald McDonald House facilities, spearheaded similar fundraisers, and helped furnish communal gathering areas at the nonprofit’s Yale House and Highlands House locations. 

Ronald McDonald House is a "home-away-from-home" program that provides free or low-cost lodging, meals, and support services to families with children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. The organization’s houses allow families to stay together near medical facilities, reducing financial and emotional burdens. 

“Our comfortable furniture is in the welcoming spaces in the houses where exhausted families find moments of rest together,” Mauldin said.

That personal connection shapes how the Albuquerque La-Z-Boy team views community investment: "We're not looking at this as just a promotion. It's just who we are - giving back to the community, investing in our families, our children, and our neighbors," Mauldin said.

The drive culminates with a community event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 14 at both stores. Festivities will feature inflatable houses, DJs, food trucks and donation stations. All forms of payment will be accepted.