Time and again, LAU alumni have risen to the challenges facing Lebanon and their alma matter. The dynamic, professionally diverse members of the university’s London Alumni Chapter are no exception.

On November 26, they hosted a Solidarity and Support Dinner at One Great George Street in London to benefit the LAU Emergency Relief Fund and honor Basim and Karen Lorenz Ziadeh (BA ’72) and Rima Maktabi (BA ’00; MA ’03), distinguished alumnae and longtime LAU supporters.

Attendees included the Ambassador of Lebanon to the UK and Northern Ireland Rami Mortada, LAU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Philip Stoltzfus, LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah, LAU Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Lebanon and the Middle East Gabriel Abiad, LAU Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Abdallah Al Khal, as well as alumni and friends of the university. The dinner raised funds to support LAU through the main sponsor of the event, Credit Financier Invest (CFI), as well as a donation from Mrs. Latifa Saidi Kosta (BA ’73), the sale of tickets and a raffle draw.

Welcoming the audience, Co-Presidents of the London Alumni Chapter— Director of Alliances for Growth Markets at Salesforce Karim Boulos (BS ’06) and Professor of Oncology at Kingston University Shereen Nabhani (PharmD ’01) —shed light on the challenges that face Lebanon and the region, underlining the significance of this event in supporting students and patients in Lebanon. They also pointed out that LAU, “which has been providing outstanding education for 100 years,” remains steadfast in its commitment to Lebanon.

Ambassador Mortada described the evening as “an act of defiance and a glimpse of hope, optimism and solidarity in the face of one of the most brutal attacks against Lebanon.” He noted that the university has long been a center of excellence which, along with similar institutions, will “chart the way for the country, capitalizing on its graduates’ magnificent skills and talents.” The ambassador further wished Dr. Abdallah well on his appointment as the new LAU president, and expressed his confidence that under his guidance, the university will maintain its rich legacy.

Drawing a connection to the evening’s honorees, the Ziadehs and Maktabi, Stoltzfus remarked how “the true merit of an individual is the weight of the impact they have on their community, the way they contribute to our common good and the lifelong applications of their beliefs and values.”

Speaking of the impact that institutions can have, he pointed out that what LAU faculty, healthcare providers, staff and students have done in this centennial year of LAU—which coincided with the toughest of circumstances in Lebanon—is nothing short of miraculous.

“LAU is a trusted institution because it acts in the right way for our community and for Lebanon, armed with the mission and values of our founders, which are renewed with every generation,” said Stoltzfus. “The belief in the infinite possibilities of a future we cannot imagine is what animates this mission.”

Reflecting on the power of education in transforming trajectories, Dr. Abdallah gave the example of his mother’s determination to educate him and his seven siblings, and how this led him to connect with a university that was founded on the promise to educate women at a time when that was illegal in many parts of the world.

Connecting this with LAU at present, the president affirmed that the continuity of learning is paramount during a crisis, as it “not only provides hope but also real positivity for the future of Lebanon.”

Dr. Abdallah further underlined that universities strive for excellence through teaching, producing research and contributing to economic development. To that end, he presented some recent figures. Around 60 percent of tuition is covered for LAU students thanks to the robust financial aid offering, which further grew beyond the initial grants due to the crisis, and two LAU mobile clinics have catered to the health needs of more than 1,200 children, women and elderly among the displaced communities across Lebanon.

Pledging to stay true to LAU’s noble mission, Dr. Abdallah said: “Being here with you tonight gives me hope that we will emerge a better, stronger institution and that we will deliver on the promise that we have made to our students.”

Honoree and Al Arabia UK Bureau Chief, Maktabi shared her own connection to the university, thanking her mother for pushing her to pursue both a BA and a master’s degree at LAU, despite having a full-time job at the time. She stressed the value of education, noting how “countries can be rebuilt from the rubble, but making up for years of lost education is close to impossible.”

Maktabi also appealed to attendees to support LAU and Lebanon, as “it is our mandate to keep education institutions in Lebanon on their feet during these trying times.”

Musical Theatre Artist and alumna Dona Atallah (BA ’22) was joined by pianist Sami Saade and violinist Leyth Almani for a performance at the event that was supported by the Peace and Prosperity Trust.