“He is a legend,” one Houstonian said recently of Jim McIngvale. That seems to be a common sentiment. First, there is his business, Gallery Furniture, which is “Made in America,” with over-the-top promotions and tremendous success. Then there is his philanthropy, which elevated him some time ago into the “Beloved” category. His many beneficiaries include: USO; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; ACE Scholarships. After Hurricane Harvey, however, his response was almost unbelievable. A victim of the flood himself, he opened the doors of one of his Gallery Furniture stores and invited flood victims to come on in—sleep on the mattresses, shower, and make themselves at home!

One wonders, what inspires a man to reach this level of giving? Jim is quick to respond:
“My parents,” he said. “They were dedicated to their children, their faith, their community and hard work. They didn’t go on vacation without us.”

Hard Work

Let’s take those one at a time. A strong work ethic is at the core of Jim McIngvale and his business. “My wife and I moved to Houston with $5,000 and a dream. We had an advantage called ‘desire,’” he said. “Get up, go to work, and make something of yourself!” He says that hard work is important for jobs, for self-worth, for meaning in life. “People have lost the essence of a work ethic, and it’s coming home to roost now.”

Family

Jim has continued his parents’ focus on family with his wife, Linda, biological children James, Laura and Elizabeth, and adopted daughter Regina – and, now, several grandchildren. “My wife and I tried to instill in them that ‘the essence of living is giving.’ That’s from Pope John Paul II,” he said.

“He is a legend,” one Houstonian said recently of Jim McIngvale. That seems to be a common sentiment. First, there is his business, Gallery Furniture, which is “Made in America,” with over-the-top promotions and tremendous success. Then there is his philanthropy, which elevated him some time ago into the “Beloved” category. His many beneficiaries include: USO; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; ACE Scholarships. After Hurricane Harvey, however, his response was almost unbelievable. A victim of the flood himself, he opened the doors of one of his Gallery Furniture stores and invited flood victims to come on in—sleep on the mattresses, shower, and make themselves at home!

One wonders, what inspires a man to reach this level of giving? Jim is quick to respond:
“My parents,” he said. “They were dedicated to their children, their faith, their community and hard work. They didn’t go on vacation without us.”

Hard Work

Let’s take those one at a time. A strong work ethic is at the core of Jim McIngvale and his business. “My wife and I moved to Houston with $5,000 and a dream. We had an advantage called ‘desire,’” he said. “Get up, go to work, and make something of yourself!” He says that hard work is important for jobs, for self-worth, for meaning in life. “People have lost the essence of a work ethic, and it’s coming home to roost now.”

Family

Jim has continued his parents’ focus on family with his wife, Linda, biological children James, Laura and Elizabeth, and adopted daughter Regina – and, now, several grandchildren. “My wife and I tried to instill in them that ‘the essence of living is giving.’ That’s from Pope John Paul II,” he said.

Community—and Jim’s Response to COVID-19

Regarding giving—and this current pandemic—Jim has responded in typical “Mack” style. “We all have a responsibility for the wellbeing of our community. We asked our customers what the biggest need was in their view right now, and they said children who are hungry. So, we now hand out 3,000 to 4,000 sandwiches a day with our ‘Grab-and-Go’ program.”

His customers also wanted him to help seniors, and he has added to that veterans and the disabled. “We partner with Kroger to give away hundreds of thousands of non-perishables, including food, toiletries and bottled water.” These care packages are being delivered via non-contact protocols by volunteers and employees directly to the homes of those who fill out request forms on the store’s website.

Finally, there is his effort to create hope. Gallery Furniture is gathering messages of hope from speakers, artists, and poets to share with all Houstonians and Texans. Those who have a message of hope may also fill out a form on the Gallery Furniture website.

For his response to COVID-19, and for his proven business acumen, Jim has just been tapped by Governor Abbott to be a part of the Governor’s Special Advisory Council to reopen Texas.

Faith—and Final Thoughts

When asked for final thoughts about this pandemic, he didn’t take a second to think: “God, family, and faith will sustain. We need to get back to what built this country in the first place. There is a shining light at the end of this tunnel!”

Thank you, Jim McIngvale.

Linda Faulkner Johnston—Tradition Senior Living

For more information about how you can help along with Jim McIngvale during COVID-19, see
www.galleryfurniture.com

Community—and Jim’s Response to COVID-19

Regarding giving—and this current pandemic—Jim has responded in typical “Mack” style. “We all have a responsibility for the wellbeing of our community. We asked our customers what the biggest need was in their view right now, and they said children who are hungry. So, we now hand out 3,000 to 4,000 sandwiches a day with our ‘Grab-and-Go’ program.”

His customers also wanted him to help seniors, and he has added to that veterans and the disabled. “We partner with Kroger to give away hundreds of thousands of non-perishables, including food, toiletries and bottled water.” These care packages are being delivered via non-contact protocols by volunteers and employees directly to the homes of those who fill out request forms on the store’s website.

Finally, there is his effort to create hope. Gallery Furniture is gathering messages of hope from speakers, artists, and poets to share with all Houstonians and Texans. Those who have a message of hope may also fill out a form on the Gallery Furniture website.