Mamadou 'Sav' Savanè
Lexington, KY – An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people paid $5 each Monday night to attend a fundraiser for Mamadou ‘Sav’ Savanè who sustained burns to more than half of his body in a kitchen accident two weeks ago.
A campaign launched last Tuesday quickly achieved its goal of $50,000 initially intended to be raised over a three-month span to act as a bridge for Savanè, owner of two campus area businesses. Savanè is married to another small business owner, and the funds will help the family cover out of pocket expenses in for his medical treatment and to bring on help at his restaurant and ice cream shop.
The online fundraising campaign (https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/tfv4/feast-of-love-4-sav) is currently at $62,000, the $50,000 goal was reached within the first 36 hours of launch.
Business Lexington
The Monday event at the offices of parent company Smiley Pete Publishing coupled a watching party for both the USA’s improbable victory in World Cup action and FOX’s airing of MasterChef featuring Lexington home chef Dan Wu and a fundraiser complete with silent auction and donated beverage sold to attendees with all proceeds going toward the Savanè fund.
Word of Savanè story has reached national news media with coverage by the Associated Press and an article on the Today Show’s website. Savanè is home recovering from a skin graft operation and greeted those in attendance Monday night via FaceTime.
His restaurants, Sav’s Grill & West African Cuisine and Sav’s Chill, located on opposite corners of Limestone and Maxwell have remained open since the incident.