At 8 pm, under a clear starry October sky, 600 persons joined the fourth yearly fundraising gala dinner event of the ‘Happy Childhood Foundation – Lebanon’, hosted at the Music Hall in Beirut’s Waterfront.
The event, supported by several sponsors including gold sponsor ‘Bank Med’ and silver sponsor ‘Banque Bemo’, was animated with various performers and entertaining shows. The Vice-President of the Foundation, Mr. Anthony Iliya, delivered a speech that outlined the foundation’s main achievements to date and future plans, with in the background a moving video clip that showed the impact the foundation is making in the lives of many children. A tombola with more than 175 prizes, and a pledge for donations, enhanced the proceeds of the event.
The funds raised during this event will finance the various children programs of the foundation in basic necessities, health, education, protection and recreation, including the extension project of the Laetitia Hatem Rehabilitation Center at Hôtel-Dieu de France hospital in Beirut. This extension will increase the total area of the center from 400sqm to 1,000sqm to add a
therapy pool and more rehabilitation space; a healing garden immediately adjacent to the center, designed by landscape architect and fellow board member of the Happy Childhood Foundation – Lebanon, Vladimir Djurovic, will also provide serenity and peace.
The ‘Happy Childhood Foundation – Lebanon’ is affiliated to the “Philippe Hatem Foundation for a Happy Childhood – Geneva”; its purpose is to provide happiness to underprivileged and abused children throughout the country, one smile at a time.