Paris-based clothing retailer Anne Fontaine is among the businesses participating in the third annual Great Give, presented by The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace through Dec. 12.
The charity fundraising initiative, which began Dec. 1, consists of participating businesses donating an established percentage of sales or revenue from direct fundraising to benefit selected charities.
“Ten percent of the proceeds will be going to the Anne Fontaine Foundation,” explained Anna Billings, General manager of Anne Fontaine at The Forum Shops.
“The Anne Fontaine Foundation started in 2011 when Anne was only 40 years old,” said Billings. “Her plan was to give back to the environment. She lived in Brazil with the (Canela) Indians when she was 17 years old and she felt it was important to give back to Brazil and the rainforest.
Anne Fontaine is a Rio de Janeiro-born designer who opened her first boutique in Paris’ posh Saint Germain area in 1994. The company now operates more than 50 retail shops worldwide.
“(The Great Give) is an opportunity for our community at The Forum Shops to give back to the local community,” explained Maureen Crampton, The Forum Shops Director of Marketing.
“It really originated with chatting with our retailers and getting behind them and supporting their efforts collectively,” she said. “There were so many that were already giving back to a non-profit or charitable organization during the holiday season. We collectively brought everyone together to formulate the Great Give campaign.”
The Forum Shops opened in 1992 as an affiliated extension to Caesars Palace. The 636,000-square-foot facility owned by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group features more than 160 specialty shops and restaurants and an enveloping atmosphere inspired by the architecture of Rome, principally during the Republic and Imperial periods.
This year’s participating retailers and their charities are:
Anne Fontaine | Anne Fontaine Foundation
Brighton Collectibles | Opportunity Village
Carmine’s NYC’s Family Style Italian Restaurant | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Donald J Pliner | American Cancer Society
Kalifano | Camp Anytown
Magical Memories Dimensions Art Gallery | Make-A-Wish
Magical Memories Featuring Disney Fine Art | Make-A-Wish
Montblanc | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Mulberry | Public Education Foundation
Pandora | Opportunity Village
Stuart Weitzman | Las Vegas Philharmonic Guild
Ted Baker London | Opportunity Village
The Palm Las Vegas | Unshakeable
