“It’s not always the case that causes and organizations that we champion and support carry a direct affect in our own lives, but this honor does carry a special meaning.”
That was Deirdre Quinn, founder and chief executive officer of the Lafayette 148 brand, after she received the Visionary Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, at a benefit for the organization at The Plaza in Manhattan on Tuesday evening. Richard Richman, the chairman and founder of The Richman Group, considered the seventh largest apartment complex owner in the U.S., also received the foundation’s Visionary Award.
“I have an uncle who is blind,” Quinn told the crowd of 260, who raised roughly $425,000 for the foundation. “I visit him frequently. We sit at the window and I ask him, ‘Can you see the trees?’ And he tells me he can see the shadows.
“It’s just incredible to think about how difficult it is for people with blindness. It’s such an honor to be here and such an honor to be part of a wonderful organization.”
“Twenty years ago, Deirdre had a dream — to create a vertically integrated fashion company that would cater to the lifestyle needs of professional women — real women with real
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