7/6/06 (Manchester, CT) -- Bob's Discount Furniture spokesperson and television personality Cathy Poulin this week was named the 2006 "Woman of the Year" by the Connecticut Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. After a special eight week fundraising campaign that started in May 2006, Poulin raised the highest amount of contributions of all the female participants for the nonprofit organization.

"Over 55,000 Americans each year loose their fight against leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease or myeloma. I'm grateful that my efforts will help to improve the quality of life of these patients and their families and hopefully contribute to conquering these blood-related diseases," said Cathy Poulin, public relations director and spokesperson, Bob's Discount Furniture.

Poulin raised over $18,000 in donations which will also help to support five local researchers at institutions such as the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT and Yale University in New Haven, CT. An estimated 2,000 families in Connecticut receive annual financial aid and patient support services from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "I am accepting the 'Woman of the Year' award for Nolan Frisbie, a six-year-old child presently battling leukemia, and in the memory of Scott Mulready and Leo Kaufman, two family members of my dear friend Bob Kaufman that lost their lives to blood-related diseases," said Poulin.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's goal this year is to raise $104,000 to support its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The honorary chair of the 2006 campaign is Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Connecticut chapter is located at 300 Research Parkway, Suite 310, Meriden, CT. The society can be reached at (203) 379-0445 or online at www.lls.org.

About Bob's Discount Furniture
The fast-growing New England furniture retailer with 22 stores located throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey and New Hampshire, Bob's Discount Furniture has built strong brand awareness and customer loyalty through its unique shopping environment, customer service commitment and everyday low prices. First-time visitors are pleasantly surprised by the comfortable atmosphere and vast selection of quality furniture that surpasses their "discount" expectations. As a part of the overall shopping experience, many of the Bob's locations have complimentary cafés featuring gourmet coffee, fresh baked cookies and candy, while other locations offer home theater and video arcade entertainment.

About Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation
Through the Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation and its many charitable contributions and sponsorships, Bob, Cathy and all of Bob's employees support a variety of nonprofit organizations. Among the many supported charities are The Salvation Army Marshall House Youth and Family Emergency Shelter, Little Sisters of the Poor, National Conference for Community Justice, American Red Cross, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and the Big Brother/Big Sister organization. In March 2006, Poulin participated in the "Dance for a Cause" competition in Hartford to raise money and awareness for the National Pajama Program and Lil' Iguana's Children's Safety Foundation. For more information, visit www.mybobs.com.

(Pictured above is Bob's Discount Furniture Spokesperson & Woman of the Year Cathy Poulin with Nolan Frisbie)