Lagoona Mall and IFC - International Food Concept joined hands to support national autism initiatives championed by local philanthropic organisations, Shafallah Center for Children with special needs and Best Buddies Qatar. International Food Concept, the holding company behind Chili’s and Lagoona Mall, will run a display of paintings, crafted by the children of Shafallah Center affected by autism, as a combined endeavour to raise awareness of the disorder.
Children have drawn 12 paintings which have been adapted into an annual Calendar for 2013 by IFC in collaboration. The calendars will be sold in Chili’s restaurant at Lagoona Mall and all other branches including Bert’s Café, Johnny Rockets, Popeyes and Romano’s Macaroni Grill. Proceeds from these sales will be donated to the Shafallah Center.
Lagoona Mall had six of these paintings on display starting mid-December, leading up to a handover ceremony and reception which took place at Chili’s Lagoona Restaurant.
Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmad Al Thani, Chairman of General Trading Group (GTG) and the mother company of IFC, was the initiators of the project and delighted to pair IFC with Shafallah Center. He believes that “Autism is not a tragedy... ignorance is....”
Eamon Kelly, General Manager of Lagoona Mall said: “This is a wonderful heartfelt initiative and a great cause to be truly supported by everyone. We’re honored to take part in this program which aims at bringing together various walks of our community to help stand by those gifted children who are in need of special, continued and professional care. Our presence here is in line with our commitment to be a vanguard of social responsibility with community outreach activities that touch the young and old.”
The Peninsula
