IWC Schaffhausen and Zinédine Zidane join hands with Abu Dhabi's special care centre to raise funds for charity

Abu Dhabi, 26 September 2013 – IWC Schaffhausen will celebrate the grand opening of its new IWC boutique at The Galleria in Abu Dhabi in October together with retired French footballer Zinédine Zidane, who will kick-start IWC's donation of 10 per cent of its sales at the IWC boutique in The Galleria to the Abu Dhabi based charity Special Care Centre. After having supported initiatives around the world, IWC now also underlines its commitment to social responsibility in Abu Dhabi.

IWC will be joining hands with the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi to help them raise funds to build a larger and more modern centre in the future. The Special Care Centre is a volunteer organization that provides education to children with intellectual and physical disabilities, and routinely relies on volunteers and fundraisers to help the teachers involved with the centre.

In order to raise funds for the centre, IWC has committed itself to donating 10 per cent of all sales made at the IWC boutique in The Galleria on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi between 9 and 19 October 2013. Lending a star-studded touch to the initiative, celebrated French philanthropic former footballer Zinédine Zidane will support the IWC initiative by attending the grand opening of the IWC boutique in The Galleria as a guest of honour; he will also announce the commencement of IWC's exclusive benevolent endeavour in the region.

As a successful and globally active watch company, it is part of IWC's philosophy to take social responsibility seriously. Commenting on the venture, Karoline Huber, Brand Director IWC Middle East & India, says: “We applaud the Special Care Centre for the remarkable work they have been doing. It is our immense pleasure to be able to support the local community by collaborating with such a selfless group of philanthropists, as we seek to do our bit for these children.”

Nisha Thomas, the Special Care Centre's Headmistress, comments on IWC's support for the Special Care Centre: “It is heart-warming to see a renowned company like IWC Schaffhausen so committed to social responsibility. All of us at the Special Care Centre, including the children, thank IWC for all their support.”

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world's leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design.

As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions worldwide in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.

SPECIAL CARE CENTRE

Established in 1989, the Special Care Centre provides educational and therapeutic services to people with special needs in Abu Dhabi. Operating from a modest residential villa, the centre is at full capacity enrolling 65 students, with more than 140 on the waiting list. The Special Care Centre admits students of any race, colour, religious affiliation, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the school. Students may be admitted at any time depending upon their appropriateness for the program and available space. Currently, the centre provides services to children from 17 different nationalities, from the following countries: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.