Jeff Child, president of RC Willey Home Furnishings, has received the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2018 American Heritage Award. The honor was presented recently at a meeting of the National Home Furnishings Industry in New York City. The award honors business leaders who personify the ideals of the Anti-Defamation League and the United States, as well as serve as an example to others for their leadership, dedication and energy, the ADL said in a release.
In accepting the award, Child said, “We live at a time when our country is divided by the worst kind of tribalism, when extremism is considered a virtue and compromise is considered a weakness.” He also expressed what he sees as unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue across the full spectrum of political belief and added, “We need to stand up to those who display intolerance, who show hatred.”
The ADL said it selected Child for his commitment to improving his community through service on both a personal and professional level. Child has served on the board of the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake City and is deeply involved with the NextGen Organization, assisting young leaders through business immersion programs at RC Willey.
The furniture business has been a staple in Child’s life. He spent his childhood in Syracuse, learning the family business at RC Willey. He has held a number of positions within the company, starting in the warehouse as a teenager. He spent four years on the sales floor after graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in history. He worked as a buyer for several years before acting as a merchandise manager and vice president of merchandising. He was named president in 2001.
Child is also involved in the furniture industry on a national level, having served as president of both the National Home Furnishings Association and the North American Home Furnishings Association. In 2009, he was named the National Home Furnishings Retailer of the Year.
“It was an honor to receive the American Heritage Award from the Anti-Defamation League, an organization I greatly admire and respect,” Child said.