Rama Duwazi had committed to donating the earnings from the T-shirts he created to support grassroots charities in Gaza, but sources indicate he has yet to forward the $2,000 he raised.
As the one-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel approaches, New York City’s first lady has designed a shirt intended to aid Dahnoun Mutual Aid, an organization in Gaza that provides necessities to displaced Palestinians, as mentioned in various social media updates.
The shirt, priced at $47, showcases a bird above a woman’s head along with the Arabic expression “Khair Ya Tair” (“Good news, bird!”). It was sold through Everpress, a London-based platform that collaborates with charities for fundraising products.
Duwazai pledged that all proceeds from the T-shirts would go toward the cause, generating about $2,000, according to sources. This amount was deposited into the company’s “creator” account.
Everpress attempted several times to get Duwazi to provide banking details for transferring the money, eventually asking him to remit it to a charity, as reported.
“That’s how it goes,” a source mentioned, explaining that the company, which ceased operations in May, traditionally works with significant charities like Warchild and UNICEF. “Everpress collects funds on behalf of creators and later sends it for charitable causes.”
Despite the repeated communications from the Everpress team through her personal email and Instagram, officials stated that Duwazi did not reply and the $2,000 remained untransferred.
“At that time, we didn’t realize who she was, but if you promise to donate, you really should follow through,” the source noted. “Initially, we thought she might have made the donation herself, but we couldn’t find any evidence of that.”
A spokesperson from the mayor’s office reassured the Post that Duwazi does not retain any earnings from T-shirt sales.
“First Lady Rama Dowaj created the shirt and all proceeds will be directed to Dunoon Mutual Aid for Gaza,” stated Dora Pekek. “The shirt was sold through Everpress, a third-party site that enables independent creators to market clothing without upfront costs. The funds never stayed in the First Lady’s account but are held at Everpress headquarters, awaiting transfer to mutual aid organizations.”
However, the company had issued numerous alerts to “creators” about their impending shutdown in May. “Due to increasing expenses and a tough market, we had to make the hard decision to end operations,” read an Everpress message shared by a former creator recently. Sources indicate that Duwazi’s campaign is scheduled for continuation in 2024, giving her up to two years to pass donations to charities.
The online fundraising effort for Dahnoun Mutual Aid shows no record of contributions from Duwaji. The charity has raised $1.1 million towards its $2 million target. The organization did not comment on inquiries this week.
“Hail Ya Tile embodies a question of hope, a gentle reassurance, and an open gesture,” Duwazi described her T-shirt design. On the Everpress site, she mentioned that the bird symbolizes freedom and resistance against borders. “Every cent earned from this garment will assist in providing winter clothing in northern Gaza through Dahnoun Mutual Aid.”
Duwazi, 29, is depicted on the platform as a “Syrian illustrator and animator based in Brooklyn, New York.” “She employs painted portraiture and movement to explore the complexities of community experiences and sisterhood.”
In the past, Duwazi has faced backlash for engaging with social media posts that praised Hamas. She has expressed regret for previous remarks, including a 2015 comment that expressed her frustration about Tel Aviv’s existence, along with other problematic statements.
