Haakon Gaarder-Larsen (last row, middle, in dark suit), General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya, poses for a group photo with the orphans from ‘Charity Committee for Orphan Care' during an Iftar feast.RIYADH – Celebrating the Ramadan spirit of unity and generosity, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya hosted over 50 orphans from "Charity Committee for Orphan Care" for an Iftar feast at their main banquet venue, Olaya Hall, last night. Management and department heads of the upscale yet affordable hotel joined the orphans and their chaperones for a sumptuous Iftar buffet, during which the children were given gifts from the hotel as a keepsake. "Ramadan is that time of year where everyone's focus turns towards charity, prayer and giving back to the community," said Haakon Gaarder-Larsen, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya. "It was wonderful to share this spirit and spend time with these remarkable individuals to see how their personal hardships have not dampened their spirits or their ambitions for the future." Established in 1996 with the support of Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Ensan Charity Committee for Orphan Care fosters orphans in Riyadh and provides them with healthcare, education and social support to ensure their wellbeing and integration into the society. Commenting on the partnership with Ensan Charity Committee for Orphan Care, Gaarder-Larsen added: "We are proud to be partnering for the first time with such a prestigious institution, and share their noble aims to provide support for the less fortunate in our community. We hope that this will be the first of many initiatives between our two entities, and look forward to further similar events in the future." Launched in July 2009, the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya marked the entry of Hilton Hotels' first mid-market mid-priced brand into the region. The brand, which has more than 500 hotels spread across the US, Europe and Central America, predominantly targets the fast-growing business tourism segment, and has proved a popular hotel for business travelers in the Capital. – SG
