World of Mirth will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this month and we’re all invited to help celebrate, for a good cause.
World of Mirth will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this month and we’re all invited to help celebrate, for a good cause.
Started in 1993 by beloved community figure Kathryn Harvey, the Carytown stalwart has been providing the kids and cool adults of Richmond with novelty goods for two decades.
After the tragic events on January 1st, 2006, which lead to the passing of Kathryn Harvey and her family, World of Mirth closed its doors. However, staff and friends decided to re-open the store two weeks later to continue the legacy of the Harvey’s and help the community with their grief. Kathryn’s good friend Thea Brown took over as buyer and general manager for the store.
To honor Kathryn and her family, friends and family of the Harvey’s created The Bryan and Kathryn Harvey Family Memorial Endowment. The Foundation aims to “provide music, visual art and performing arts enrichment in the Richmond area”
World of Mirth raises money for the foundation through the sale of their World of Mirth merchandise.
“We do things year round for the Harvey Foundation,” said Brown.
“The purchase of any World of Mirth merchandise like our World of Mirth T-shirts go to the Harvey Foundation. We write them a big check at the end of the year.”
So what does this have to do with World of Mirth’s 20th anniversary? Not only will there be family friendly events all day long at the Carytown store and a dance party for the grown ups at Portrait House in the evening, but there will be new, special merchandise available.
“We have our 20th anniversary party coming up next month on October 19th,” said Brown. “We’re releasing two new t-shirts and a tote bag that day which will have our 20-year thing on it. And again all the proceeds will go towards the Harvey Foundation.”
For more information on World of Mirth’s 20th anniversary, find the Facebook event here.
World Of Mirth: 3005 W.Cary St., Richmond
