Fortuny co-owner Mickey Riad is a big supporter of The Littlest Lamb, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe, loving and supportive home for Egyptian children who have lost one or both parents.
We talked with Mickey to hear about the event and learn more about the cause.
GDG: What is Fortuny's involvement with The Littlest Lamb?
Mickey: Fortuny has always been huge supporters as we truly believe in the cause. In the past we've bought tables at the galas and invited friends and clients. Additionally, we are planning on doing a fundraiser geared towards designers and finding a way to incorporate using some of our fabrics as a donation to the orphanage as they get closer to furnishing it. There are a lot of ideas brewing!
GDG: We heard that your band, Noba, performed at last year's Gala.
Mickey: Yes, Noba played with a singer who had found out about The Littlest Lamb, Jacqueline, who had done a fundraiser show at a coffee shop in Canada. For the gala that followed, Mira thought it would be fun if Jacqueline and I did some music together with another of our friends, Reef, who is a guitar player. It was a fun way to be involved and do something that we love!
GDG: What are the reasons people should donate to The Littlest Lamb?
Mickey: The sad fact is that orphanages in Egypt and the Middle East are very poorly run and do nothing to help orphans rise above the unfortunate circumstances they are forced to live with. By taking care of every need of the children, from the physical to the mental, and their education through university level, these kids will finally be given a wonderful chance to break free of the cycle of poverty that comes with the stigma of being an orphan in the Middle East. When you donate to The Littlest Lamb, every cent that is given goes directly toward the building of the orphanage. All events hosted by The Littlest Lamb are paid for by generous donors anonymously, and the organization protects their privacy. There is complete transparency and you can give knowing that your entire donation is going right into the building of the facility, which is very refreshing, especially after everything you hear about how so many charities spend so much of the money that comes in on administrative and advertising fees.
GDG: Does the entire Riad family get involved?
Mickey: My father has been able to network a lot of many influential Egyptians and Egyptian-Americans to help the organization. My mother is always doing anything she can to help with the fundraising events—she even baked several hundred fresh biscotti for the gift to those who attended the last gala last minute when the original plan fell through! My wife is on the board, and our whole family rallies behind every event to show support for the Lambs.
We couldn't be more proud of Mira for not just having the vision and the heart to take on such a daunting task, but for taking the initiative and responsibility upon herself to put her money where her mouth is and hope that enough people will follow to make this noble cause a reality.
Visit The Littlest Lamb online to see how you can help. You can also contact Mira at MiraRiad@gmail.com to learn more about the organization. Tis the season to be giving!
Photo Credit: Steve Freihon
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