Tag Archives: fundraising

Many heartfelt thanks to the friends who helped this year

We would like to thank with all our hearts the friends who helped this year (Dec 1st, 2020 – Nov 30th, 2021)

 Your generosity goes far and makes a difference!

• Mick Halpin & family (Dublin & USA), for the constant generosity & encouragement
• Alfonsus Baars, very generous (unknown) supporter
• MC Ferraro & A Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy)
• Martina Merkle (Zurich, Switzerland), loyal & generous friend and supporter
• The pupils and the teachers Ms Kron & Ms Holmes of the A1f class of the Schulhaus Stägenbuck (Dübendorf, Switzerland)
• Fam Bertolotto-Della Penna (Genoa, Italy)
• Luca Baur (Zurich, Switzerland)
• Ole Vossnack (Zurich, Switzerland)
• Enrico & Lilli Bertolotto (Genoa, Italy)
• Fam. Aquini (Arquata Scrivia, Italy)
• Iolanda Bianchi (Genoa, Italy)
• Giovanna Lottero-Pellegrini (Genoa, Italy)
• Fam. Ricci (Arquata Scrivia, Italy)
• Patricia Meade, loyal & generous friend (Ca., USA)
• Fam Prola-Smith (London, UK)
• Fam. Ponzano (Arquata Scrivia, Italy)
• Catherine Poeydomenge (Zurich, Switzerland)
• John & Shannon Zuzek
• Giorgio Margotti (Livorno, Italy)
• Silvana Falaschini (Livorno, Italy)
• Fam Zappavigna (Marina di Massa, Italy)
• Stefano Cocurullo (Genoa, Italy)
• F & M Cocurullo & fam (Genoa, Italy)
• Amazon Inc.
• Clarisse Mauer, Karina Browne (Apple Inc)
• Alexandra Ertmane (PayPal Inc)
• Jad Al Abdallah (Google Inc)
• Sarah Abdelhadi (Google Inc)
• All the lads at Hoistech Engineering (Dublin, Ireland)
• Paul’s Barber Shop, Crumlin (Dublin)
• All the generous Walkinstown friends in St Peter’s Crescent and St Peter’s Drive for their constant support
• McCormack’s Cycle Centre (Dublin)
• O’Neill’s House of Sport (Dublin)
• Paul Reid Dental Laboratories (Dublin)
• Kelly’s Welding & Engineering Supplies Ltd (Dublin)
• Gerard Kelly (Dublin)
• All the lads at Bisset Engineering (Dublin)
• Big Mick (Dublin)
• Brenden & staff at Lilliput Stores (Dublin)
• Pat Stafford of Stafford Engineering (Dublin)
• Dolphin Furniture Sales (Dublin)
• QK Living Kitchens & Bedrooms (Dublin)
• ProWeld (Dublin)
• Griffin Digital Print (Dublin)
• The Terence Welding Company (Dublin)
• Romilda Cocurullo (Genoa, Italy)
• Luisa & Roberto Fontana (Genoa, Italy)
• Philip Kinsella (Dublin, Ireland)

what we did in 2021

What we did in 2021

 

Dear friends and supporters,

For the second time since our beginnings in 2008, we were not able to travel to Lebanon this year.

The year 2021 was no better than 2020 for Lebanon. The country has been grappling with an economic and financial meltdown since the fall of 2019; the severe repercussions of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion; the continued effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and the spill-over effects of the ongoing Syrian crisis.

The currency has lost over 95% of its value, prices have skyrocketed, the government no longer subsidises essentials like medicine, bread and fuel; electricity and water are available for only a few hours per day. The situation continues to get worse, poverty is increasing dramatically, and the hardships of ordinary people are becoming insurmountable. The value of the minimum monthly salary is barely above 20 dollars (17 euro) now.

According to the latest UN data, 82% of the population now live below the poverty line (and 34% live in ‘extreme poverty’).

In this tragic scenario, what we can do is really a very little – but still more than nothing.

In total, we sent 25’100 dollars, equally split between FAID, the school for deaf children that we have been supporting since 2008, and Association Najdeh, working in Lebanon’s refugee camps.

FAID used the funds to

  • Buy fuel for generators and heaters (4 tonnes, USD 3200)
  • Finance a speech therapist, who teaches the deaf children to speak and lip-read (USD 9350)

Najdeh used the funds to

  • Cover (part of) the running costs of the kindergartens of the refugee camps of Shatila (in Beirut) and Burj el-Shemali (in Tyre); this includes operational expenses such as staff salaries and children’s meals
  • Buy educational materials and books for the children

Below, the children of FAID show their appreciation for our work & send a big THANK YOU to all:

This year we manage to disburse slightly more than last year, but unfortunately our fundraising did not match the entire sum. It was heart-warming, however, to see that so many friends are very generous. Thank you!

One of our volunteers raised funds by taking painting commissions: here you see some of the artwork. Commissions are open! All proceeds in favour of Lebanon Trust.

         

Income: donations to Lebanon Trust (Euro) (Dec 1st, 2020 – Nov 30th, 2021)

Fundraising initiatives, private donations, corporate sponsorships
Total 19276.37

(Year close Nov 30, 2021; EUR/USD/CHF currency exchange rate: as applied by our bank in Ireland)

Expenditure: Disbursements to the supported institutions, expenses (Euro)

Bank and PayPal fees, web hosting & domains 180.87
Donation to FAID 11224.39
Donations to Association Najdeh (refugee camps) 11224.39
Total 22629.65
Difference -3353.28

(*) Permanent TSB Forex, PayPal

We received many donations through Benevity, The Irish Online Giving Foundation and The UK Online Giving Foundation (thank you Mick!).

The Three Peaks Challenge – an update

An update on Kevin’s Three Peaks Challenge

Dear friends,

not even a global pandemic can stop Kevin and his challenge (described here) – this daring  adventure has just been delayed by a few weeks. It is now going to take place on Saturday July 25th, 2020.

We hope that many of you will support Kevin’s fundraising to help our projects, especially in this difficult time: Lebanon has been hit not only by the Coronavirus pandemic, but also by a terrible economic crisis which has seen its currency lose a staggering 60% of its value. Prices have become sky-high and a large part of the population cannot afford basic goods. Of course, the poor and the refugees – the most vulnerable – have been affected disproportionally hard.

You can donate on Kevin’s  Just Giving page or directly here.

Many heartfelt thanks to Sam, Gerardine Gardezi, Andrea, Marion O’Mahony, Trevor Devereux, Peter White and the many anonymous friends who have donated generously so far! The world is wonderful because you are in it.

Thank you!