News & Events
Sponsoring of Rotary Foundation Centennial Gala Dinner
In order to celebrate the Rotary Foundation's centennial, a gala dinner was held on the 2nd of December at the Hilton Beirut Metropolitan in the presence of former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, former First Lady Mona Haraoui and United Nations Coordinator In Lebanon Mrs. Sigrid Kaag.
The dinner was introduced by former Governor Sheikh Jamil Moawad with a video review of all the works and projects carried out by District 2452 which groups 8 countries: Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Lebanon, Palestine and the Emirates.
He then spoke about the beginning of the Rotary Foundation 100 years ago:
In 1917, while the world was engaged in a war, Arch Klumpf reached the podium of the Rotary International convention in Atlanta Georgia and proposed the creation of an endowment fund for Rotary; to do well in the world through philanthropy, education and all that will serve the community: the endowment of Rotary was born.
A few months later, the fund received its first contribution from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, for $ 26.50.
Since the first donation of $ 26.50 100 years ago, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $ 3.5 billion to date.
More than 1.3 million individuals have been honored with the Paul Harris Fellows Award, which recognizes anyone who makes a donation of at least $ 1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or on whose behalf it is paid.
The General Director of Rotary International Mr. Cornelliu Dinca recalled the importance of the Rotary Club in all regions, cities and villages to help improve the living standards of the inhabitants.
Mr. Najib Mikati thanked Rotary for its efforts in all areas and especially in the filtration of water in all public schools.