The recognition ceremony of the Heartbeat Association was held for the second consecutive year in the Nadège and Henri Obegi amphitheater at the Hotel-Dieu de France. This year, the association honored its main partners in recognition of their commitment: Prof. Christian Brizard (Director of the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne), Maxime Chaya (Explorer - Bank Audi Corporate Ambassador), Prof. Alain Deloche (Founder of The Chain of Hope, France), Antoine Nasrallah, Tony Salameh (Aïshti Group CEO) and Prof. Roland Tomb (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at USJ).
The large family of Heartbeat, including sponsors, members, and friends gathered upon the invitation of the organizers. Dr. Jad Habib welcomed the audience, before introducing a documentary about the activities and budget of the association. In 2013, Heartbeat achieved the difficult challenge of raising funds to save 252 children suffering from heart disease, at a cost exceeding $ 1.4 million.
As the master of ceremony, Dr. Jad Habib invited Leila El Solh, main partner of the Al Waleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation, and the Reverend Father Salim Daccache, President of the USJ, to present the awards with him at the podium. Designed and offered by industrial designer Karim Chaya, the award trophies, representing the Heartbeat logo, were offered to the six recipients.
Heartbeat wanted to distinguish two of its donors for outstanding service rendered to the association, namely Antoine Nasrallah who has been there and ready to help ever since the beginning of Heartbeat's operations, and Tony Salameh, president of Aïshti Group, who embraced the cause and has made great efforts to contribute to the reputation and image of the association.
The association also honored Maxime Chaya, Bank Audi Corporate Ambassador and renowned explorer with prestigious records, who has always volunteered to animate and present the association gala dinners and concerts at the Casino du Liban.
Dr. Victor Jebara, as vice-president of the association, paid tribute to two of his colleagues; Dr. Alain Deloche, professor of cardiac surgery, co-founder of Doctors Without Borders and Doctors of the World, and founder of the Chain of Hope, who traveled the world devoting his time to sick children in poor countries; and Dr. Christian Brizard, one of the most prominent pediatric cardiac surgeons, Professor at the University of Melbourne, who has just signed an agreement for cooperation and scientific exchange with the Hotel-Dieu de France (Beirut).
Dr. Ramzi Ashoush, president of the association, also paid tribute to Prof. Roland Tomb, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the USJ, in recognition of his services within the university hospital, the institution which hosts the vast majority of Heartbeat patients. Dean Tomb answered with a very clever speech, showing that he knew quite well the language of the heart.
ABOUT HEARTBEAT -- The Chain of Hope
Heartbeat - The Chain of Hope is a humanitarian organization with a mission to provide the highest level of advanced surgical technology and expertise to treat children with heart disease. Founded in 2005, Heartbeat raises its funds through concerts, gala dinners, and through the generous support of donors, sponsors and partners. Heartbeat treated to date more than 1,400 children in Lebanon, including more than 250 in 2013.
FOR YOUR DONATIONS
Heartbeat - Bank Audi (Sofil Branch) | USD Account No. 325179/02 | IBAN: LB49 0056 0003 2517 9462 0020 0902
