Latest news with #FrancoisReihani
Malaysian Reserve
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
TOMS ANNOUNCES LA LA LAND KIND CAFÉ TAKEOVER AND FIRST-EVER FAMILY CASTING CALL
LOS ANGELES, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Iconic footwear brand TOMS is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with La La Land Kind Café as a continuation of its Moments of Joy campaign. Launching May 8, 2025, TOMS will host a limited-time cafe takeover at two of the top La La Land Kind Cafés in Los Angeles at Santa Monica and The Grove locations. In addition to the pop-up, TOMS will launch its first-ever Family Casting Call, inviting families across the U.S. and Canada to share their stories for a chance to be featured in the company's next marketing campaign. TOMS' cafe takeover will bring moments of joy in more ways than one. To start, customers can sip on the exclusive TOMS' 'Cup of Joy' drink: an iced vanilla latte or matcha topped with a signature blue spirulina foam, exclusively served at select La La Kind Café locations. The space will also encourage customers to share their experience on social media, with cute TOMS-branded decor, photo-worthy moments, and a peek at some of their most popular shoes from the Spring 2025 collection. To kick things off, the first 100 customers to visit each location on May 8 for the grand opening will receive a free pair of TOMS sunglasses with their TOMS Cup of Joy purchase. TOMS has made a name for itself with its cool, laid-back LA roots, combining versatility, comfort, and on-trend style. TOMS has also woven giving back and community empowerment into its mission since the beginning. Today, TOMS purchases help support children's education, health and well-being, giving kids everywhere the gift of better tomorrows. The partnership with La La Land Kind Café reflects this brand ethos, aligning with their own mission of spreading kindness and making a lasting impact. To celebrate the collaboration, TOMS is donating to the La La Land Foundation to help benefit foster youth in our communities. 'At La La Kind Café, our mission has always been to spread kindness and uplift youth aging out of foster care. Partnering with TOMS—another brand deeply rooted in purpose—amplifies that mission in such a meaningful way,' said Francois Reihani, CEO and founder of La La Kind Café. 'Together, we're not just raising awareness this month; we're creating real opportunities and lasting change.' In tandem with the pop-up, TOMS is introducing its first-ever Family Casting Call, running May 8 through May 30. The brand believes every family has a story worth celebrating – one filled with joy, confidence, and purpose. TOMS is searching for real families who embody these values to feature in its next marketing campaign. Families can participate in two ways: Enter Online: Submit up to three family photos and answer a few short questions about how your family embodies TOMS' core values by visiting between Thursday, May 8 – Friday, May 30 , 2025 Submit up to three family photos and answer a few short questions about how your family embodies TOMS' core values by visiting between , 2025 Enter in Person ( Los Angeles only): On Saturday, May 17 at La La Land Kind Café The Grove and Sunday, May 18 at La La Land Kind Café Santa Monica , families can stop by to snap a free professional family photo, receive a printed and digital copy, and enjoy a complimentary TOMS Cup of Joy latte with contest entry. 100 families will be selected for a public voting round. The top 10 will move into a final round, with one grand prize winner receiving a professional LA-based photo shoot experience, a spot in TOMS' next marketing campaign and a $1,000 TOMS gift card. Two runners-up will take home TOMS gift cards. TOMS X LA LA LAND KIND CAFÉ TAKEOVER LOCATIONS La La Land Kind Café The Grove – 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles La La Land Kind Café Santa Monica – 1426 Montana Ave, Santa Monica 'Everything we're doing, from the café takeover to the casting call, is about bringing joy to real people in real moments,' said Amber Tarshis, Chief Brand and Impact Officer at TOMS. 'Whether it's through a joyful latte or meaningful family story, we want to celebrate the everyday ways our brand shows up in people's lives. And we couldn't think of a better partner to help us do this than La La Land Kind Café.' TOMS has deep roots in the LA community and is excited to extend that even further with the La La Land Kind Café collaboration. TOMS' newest collection – which will be highlighted at the pop-up – is available to shop now at . Media Contact: TOMS – Sarah Lundgren – slundgren@ La La Land Kind Café – jamie.w@ ABOUT TOMS SHOES, LLC We bring effortless style and endless comfort to your everyday life. From little moments to big adventures, our shoes empower you and yours to take on each day with confidence, joy, and purpose. TOMS makes the in-between moments matter as much as the destination – every step is one worth celebrating. Born in the heart of Venice Beach in 2006, our laid-back, easygoing spirit is woven into every pair. It all began with the Alpargata – our iconic slip-on that became synonymous with simplicity, comfort, and community. Today, we offer styles for everyone, with a variety of designs for wherever your day takes you. But TOMS is more than shoes – we're in business to improve lives. Your TOMS purchase helps support children's education, health, and well-being. Together, we've positively impacted over 105 million lives. As a Certified B Corp, doing good is literally in our soles. About La La Land Kind Café La La Land Kind Café is a mission-driven coffee shop founded by social entrepreneur Francois Reihani to 'normalize kindness' through hospitality and purpose. Launched in 2019 in Dallas, Texas, the café is known for its sunny yellow branding, organic ingredients, and feel-good energy—but it's more than just great coffee. La La Land Kind Café is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting foster youth aging out of the system, providing paid internships, mentorship, and real-world job training through its nonprofit, the We Are One Project. With a growing footprint of locations across Texas and California, the café's motto—'Kindness first, coffee second'—is at the heart of everything it does. Learn more at . About La La Foundation The La La Foundation is the nonprofit arm of La La Land Kind Café, created to empower and uplift foster youth aging out of the system. Founded by Francois Reihani, the Foundation provides critical life skills, paid job training, mentorship, and long-term support to help young adults transition successfully into independent living. At the heart of the La La Foundation is a belief that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and given a fair chance. Through its holistic programming and community-driven approach, the Foundation works to rewrite the narrative for former foster youth—one act of kindness at a time. To learn more or get involved, visit La La Land Foundation . View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE TOMS
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TOMS ANNOUNCES LA LA LAND KIND CAFÉ TAKEOVER AND FIRST-EVER FAMILY CASTING CALL
LOS ANGELES, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic footwear brand TOMS is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with La La Land Kind Café as a continuation of its Moments of Joy campaign. Launching May 8, 2025, TOMS will host a limited-time cafe takeover at two of the top La La Land Kind Cafés in Los Angeles at Santa Monica and The Grove locations. In addition to the pop-up, TOMS will launch its first-ever Family Casting Call, inviting families across the U.S. and Canada to share their stories for a chance to be featured in the company's next marketing campaign. TOMS ANNOUNCES LA LA LAND KIND CAFE TAKEOVER AND FIRST-EVER FAMILY CASTING CALL TOMS' cafe takeover will bring moments of joy in more ways than one. To start, customers can sip on the exclusive TOMS' "Cup of Joy" drink: an iced vanilla latte or matcha topped with a signature blue spirulina foam, exclusively served at select La La Kind Café locations. The space will also encourage customers to share their experience on social media, with cute TOMS-branded decor, photo-worthy moments, and a peek at some of their most popular shoes from the Spring 2025 collection. To kick things off, the first 100 customers to visit each location on May 8 for the grand opening will receive a free pair of TOMS sunglasses with their TOMS Cup of Joy purchase. TOMS has made a name for itself with its cool, laid-back LA roots, combining versatility, comfort, and on-trend style. TOMS has also woven giving back and community empowerment into its mission since the beginning. Today, TOMS purchases help support children's education, health and well-being, giving kids everywhere the gift of better tomorrows. The partnership with La La Land Kind Café reflects this brand ethos, aligning with their own mission of spreading kindness and making a lasting impact. To celebrate the collaboration, TOMS is donating to the La La Land Foundation to help benefit foster youth in our communities. "At La La Kind Café, our mission has always been to spread kindness and uplift youth aging out of foster care. Partnering with TOMS—another brand deeply rooted in purpose—amplifies that mission in such a meaningful way," said Francois Reihani, CEO and founder of La La Kind Café. "Together, we're not just raising awareness this month; we're creating real opportunities and lasting change." In tandem with the pop-up, TOMS is introducing its first-ever Family Casting Call, running May 8 through May 30. The brand believes every family has a story worth celebrating – one filled with joy, confidence, and purpose. TOMS is searching for real families who embody these values to feature in its next marketing campaign.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How La La Land Kind Cafe Is Redefining Hospitality To Heal A Broken System For Foster Youth
La La Land Kind Cafe, North Shepherd Francois Reihani was 20 years old when he opened his first restaurant in Dallas—and thought he had it all. After transferring from USC to SMU, he immediately saw an opportunity. 'A lot of people, not a lot of good places to eat,' he remembers. Despite having no experience in hospitality, he created a sushi-style concept, pitched it to a friend's family, recruited a chef from Nobu, and secured a prime spot in one of the city's busiest centers. From the very first day, the restaurant was packed. 'Thank God it did very well. The line was out the door from the first day.' Success came fast—and so did the lifestyle that often follows. It was the moment many young entrepreneurs dream about: financial success, a Porsche in the driveway, and a hot new restaurant at the center of Dallas nightlife. But something didn't feel right. 'Up until that point, opening that store, my whole life, I was so centered around just making a bunch of money. And in that moment was the big realization for me — I was no happier than I was before.' Francois Reihani, Founcer of La La Land Kind Cafe That internal reckoning sent him down a new path. His sister invited him to a meeting hosted by CASA, a nonprofit supporting children in foster care. That night, the topic was youth aging out of the system. Reihani walked in unaware—and walked out transformed. 'I had never heard anything about that before,' he says. He listened as young people shared stories of being moved through a dozen foster homes, medicated, mistreated, and ultimately abandoned at 18. 'These kids didn't even get a first chance. And the biggest shock? No one even knows it's a problem.' That night, he stayed up researching until 4 a.m. Soon after, he walked away from the restaurant business. Or so he thought. At first, he planned to start a nonprofit to fix the system. The solution seemed straightforward: provide therapy, housing, education, and job placement. 'That's all you got to do. Delusion,' he admits. It didn't work. 'Even if we put youth in great therapy and housing, 99% of the time, they couldn't get or maintain a job. A Taco Bell manager isn't going to have patience for that or care what they've been through.' It was a moment of painful clarity. But also, a breakthrough. That was the lightning moment: what if he could build a business that was the support system? 'It was like this lightning moment: what if I create the place where we not only hire and mentor those kids, but I also get to bring my love for hospitality into it?' And just like that, La La Land Kind Café was born. 'My passion met my purpose at that moment. It was like a clear route for me.' But Reihani wasn't interested in just another mission-driven coffee shop. 'I didn't want to just open a coffee shop that hires foster youth — I wanted to create a program that other companies across America could replicate.' The brand itself is as intentional as the mission. 'La La Land was about creating this heaven that someone walks into and you say, 'Hey. This is how the world should be.'' From white interiors and yellow pops of color to heartfelt customer interactions, every detail is designed to spark joy and human connection. But the real magic lies in what you don't see. 'You can walk around any La La Land store and you won't see one banner about what we do. We're not shoving it in anyone's face. We don't use it as marketing. It has to be at the core of the company.' That commitment to authenticity extends to the hiring process. 'We hire only based on personality, never the resume. We don't care if you've worked in coffee for 10 years. We want to know who you are.' Because, as Reihani points out, 'The only strangers most people talk to are inside restaurants. That places a big responsibility on hospitality workers — they're kind of representing humanity.' Intern Graduation in Santa Monica Each La La Land store now serves as a training hub. Every 10 weeks, a new group of foster youth begins a fully paid internship—learning financial literacy, adult life skills, and job-readiness, all supported by dedicated youth directors and store managers. After graduating, they transition to other La La Land locations or roles that suit their lives better. It's a model built on learning from failure—and evolving with care. 'These kids have already been through so much failure in life, we never want to be another one.' So while Reihani is ambitious about the future—'Of course I hope one day we're hiring thousands of youth and really making an impact on American kids'—he's also deliberate. 'I'm delusional when it comes to business growth — but careful when it comes to our program because we're dealing with real lives. They've already been through so much failure we don't want them to go through more.' Because for Francois Reihani, growth is only meaningful if it starts at the heart. Invitation to A Whimsical Affair: Tea & Dreams in La La Land This May, in honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, La La Land Kind Café and The La La Foundation are inviting supporters to go beyond the cup and into the heart of their mission. Join them on May 4th for A Whimsical Affair: Tea & Dreams in La La Land—a magical brunch fundraiser in Dallas celebrating the strength and resilience of foster youth. With handcrafted drinks, live music, and a silent auction featuring exclusive experiences, the event is a powerful opportunity to support the young lives La La Land is helping transform every day. Tickets and more information are available at
