ARNAULT’S BIG GIFT: The Arnault family is stepping up to the plate to support the French food bank charity Restos du Coeur with a donation of 10 million euros.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman Bernard Arnault pledged the sum Monday. LVMH’s head of communication, image and environment Antoine Arnault and Tag Heuer chief executive officer Frédéric Arnault formalized the donation during a visit to the charity’s Paris headquarters Tuesday alongside French Minister for Solidarity Aurore Bergé.
The donation follows an appeal by organization president Patrice Douret for funding to help the non-profit fill its financial gap of 35 million euros.
Antoine Arnault took to the stage to speak on behalf of the family.
“Frédéric and I are very touched on behalf of the rest of my family, and Bernard Arnault in particular,” he said, noting that it was a “spontaneous gesture” by the family following Douret’s appeal.
“It seemed like our responsibility on Sunday to answer that call,” he said. “It was…a moving call for a magnificent association which is part of our lives, which holds a very dear place in the hearts of the French. I’m a little over 45 years old so I remember the birth of Restos du Coeur and of course everything that this magnificent association does.”
The charity, which distributes food packages and hot meals to those in need, was founded in 1985 by French comedian and actor Coluche, who died in a motorbike accident shortly afterwards.
Arnault was eager to emphasize LVMH’s charitable efforts outside of its luxury business.
He mentioned the conglomerate’s quick-step change at its fragrance factories during the early days of the pandemic to switch from making perfume to creating hand sanitizer, and the group and family’s pledge of funds towards the reconstruction of Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral following a catastrophic fire in 2019. He added the family and the group…
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