NEW YORK, November 4, 2015 – The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation is proud to present the Landmark Group with the 2015 Middle East and North Africa Community Support Award for its outstanding “Clothes for Compassion” campaign, which took place at the Oasis Mall in Dubai.
Landmark Group launched the “Clothes for Compassion” campaign to provide clothing and footwear to Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. The philanthropic program received incredible response during its one-month duration. The mall encouraged consumers to donate clothes and shoes for Syrian refugees in need and set up collection points where participants could donate by dropping items off in person or via mail. Mall partners also contributed in donating more than 7,000 pieces of garments. All together, the drive collected 18 tons of clothing, and was able to truly impact many Syrian refugees in need.
“As a socially-responsible shopping mall, Oasis Mall is keen to translate its community responsibility into initiatives that support the local and global communities,” said Sanjay Kapoor, General Manager, Landmark Group. “We are extremely proud to be recognized for the ‘Clothes for Compassion’ campaign. Social responsibility is an integral part of the Oasis Mall culture and we thoroughly execute upon it with the aim of delivering value to places where we live and work. This win will definitely make us strive harder in creating programs that bring about a positive change in our societies.”
The Middle East and North Africa Community Support Award is an annual award given to a shopping center that successfully partnered with a philanthropic organization to address the needs of its community. Landmark Group’s incredible efforts supported UAE Red Crescent’s ongoing relief campaign titled, “Our hearts with Syrians,” which aimed at easing the difficulties Syrians across the region faced. To commemorate this award, the ICSC Foundation has donated $5,000 USD to the UAE Red Crescent Society, Landmark Group’s partnering charity.
The ICSC Foundation presented the award to Landmark Group during a ceremony at RECon Middle East and Africa in Dubai. The Middle East and North Africa Community Support Award winner, along with the winners of other international community support awards, is automatically entered into a global competition for the Albert Sussman International Community Support Award, which will be announced on May 22, 2016 at RECon in Las Vegas.
Shopping centers are more than just retail hubs – the shopping center industry has a long history of community outreach and corporate social responsibility, and has often responded to communities in need through charitable programs. The ICSC Foundation established the Middle East and North Africa Community Support Award to encourage and recognize outstanding community support by a shopping center or shopping center development or management company.
Want to learn more? Join the conversation on Twitter via @ICSC and #ICSCFoundation with the hashtag #MindfulMalls to recognize shopping centers that share a common vision of making a difference.
The ICSC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the ICSC whose mission is to strengthen the global retail real estate industry by supporting students, professionals and the philanthropic work of shopping centers. For more information, visit www.icscfoundation.org.
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 70,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, investors, retailers, brokers, academics, and public officials. The shopping center industry is essential to economic development and opportunity. They are a significant job creator, driver of GDP, and critical revenue source for the communities they serve through the collection of sales taxes and the payment of property taxes. These taxes fund important municipal services like firefighters, police officers, school services, and infrastructure like roadways and parks. Shopping centers aren’t only fiscal engines however; they are integral to the social fabric of their communities by providing a central place to congregate with friends and family, discuss community matters, and participate in and encourage philanthropic endeavors. For more information about ICSC visit www.icsc.com and for the latest news from ICSC and the industry go to www.thecenterofshopping.com.