designers
THE GIVING SEASON OUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS OPEN THEIR HEARTS (AND WALLETS) TO AN ARRAY OF CHARITABLE CAUSES.
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, BRUNELLO CUCINELLI
BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE
“My vision first and foremost has always been to create a company based on human dignity. Eight years ago, my wife and I created the Brunello and Federica Cucinelli Foundation to nourish the humanist aspirations born in
ARNOLD SILVERSTONE, SAMUELSOHN
Solomeo. Through art and academics we have put emphasis on creating a work environment
“Recently established in memory of our executive chairman, The
full of life and inspiration.
Lawrence Pollack Foundation will be the main philanthropic endeavor
“I felt in order to create a
for Luxury Men’s Apparel Group and its companies, which include
beautiful product, my employees
Samuelsohn and Hickey Freeman Tailored Clothing. The primary
needed to be working in a beau-
focus will be on children in need—both those with special needs as
tiful place, where their creativity
well as those with financial needs.
could flourish. Solomeo is the
“Just last year, with Lawrence as the key
heart of where we work and
catalyst, we contributed a large gift to
where product is created. The
Make-A-Wish Foundation and it filled
environment is tranquil and
Lawrence with joy. Since his pass-
serene. It is important to me that
ing in April, we’ve raised funds
our employees work in a place
towards ambucycles in Israel.
rich with history, beauty and
The ambucycle program pro-
humanity. The Foundation aims to have a direct influence on
vides initial response in emer-
human values, understood as being the relationship between peo-
gencies until first respon-
ple and various activities in society.
ders arrive.
“The Foundation’s first project was the Forum of the Arts, which
“The Lawrence Pollack
began with the creation of a theatre. The theatre allows art, culture
Foundation and asso-
and spirituality to come together in a place that encourages
ciated events are cur-
absolute freedom of thought and religion and continues toward the
rently in develop-
development of human knowledge. We also created the academy,
ment. Once there is
which is a library home to ancient and modern texts. Our most
more specific infor-
recent development, “A Project for Beauty,” is dedicated to reviv-
mation, we will share
ing the land of Umbria surrounding Solomeo and creating parks
through our company
dedicated to youth, agriculture and beauty. The Foundation allows
websites. We hope you will
us to work for a higher purpose: a personal well-being in order to
join us in making a difference
enhance the beauty of the world.
in children’s lives, here in
“No act of kindness is too small if it will improve the life and
North America and abroad,
growth of people.”
on an ongoing basis.”
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