By Samantha Sandow
Set high above Fifth Avenue on May 28th, an intimate crowd of changemakers and creative leaders gathered at L’Avenue at Saks for The Beauty of Giving: A Golden Journey for Girls’ Education, a philanthropic dinner hosted by twin sisters Shabnam and Shay Safarzadeh.
The evening marked the debut fundraising event for the Safar Global Foundation, benefitting the Flaviana
Matata Foundation and its ongoing work to provide access to education for girls in Tanzania. The evening’s purpose was both clear and urgent: to raise funds for a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and, Hygiene) facility at a girls’ school in Tanzania, with 100% of the proceeds directed to the project.
Shabnam and Shay shared their journey, from being raised by a single mother who led them from Iran to the U.S. in pursuit of opportunity, to building a foundation rooted in impact and elegance.
Conversation flowed between like-minded entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and fashion figures—including Flaviana Matata, Fern Mallis, and Livia Pillmann. Charlie Walk, who chaired the evening, was honored for his longstanding contributions to the foundations.
From heartfelt speeches to golden-hued details, the night served as a reminder that generosity and purpose are their own kind of beauty.
