The Rene Moawad Foundation USA held its 16th Annual Miami Benefit Gala at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Coconut Grove, Miami, FL on April 12, 2025 with the ongoing theme of “Preserving Hope” for Lebanon and the Lebanese.

In her welcoming remarks, Rima Otrakji, RMFUSA’s Vice President and the Miami Gala Chair, thanked each and every donor and volunteer for coming together to preserve hope for Lebanon and for their generosity and compassion which empower RMF to achieve its mission of promoting the inherent rights of the underserved in Lebanon to food, shelter, health care, work opportunity and above all human dignity. Click here for Project Presentation, and here for Project video.  She also thanked the honorees for having made Lebanon proud and called the event this year the year of the Audis/Awdehs. 

Adib Kassis, RMFUSA’s new Board President thanked the diaspora for their generosity to RMF noting that “for Lebanese Americans, giving generously to Lebanon in support of needy Lebanese has never been a duty but has always been a privilege and source of pride’, adding “May your gifts be returned to you 100 fold and may they blossom into a beautiful gift of permanent peace or Lebanon”.

RMF honored two Lebanese Americans, Dr Richard Awdeh CEO and Co-Founder of CheckedUp, a physician focused company that actively engages patients, caregivers and physicians at the point of care, who received the IMPACT. In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Awdeh attributed his success to the Lebanese values and culture of hard work, discipline and no short cuts in life.

The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award was extended to Mr. Joseph Audi, Chairman of InterAudi Bank. In his acceptance remarks Mr. Audi said "You are not honoring me tonight but honoring all of you who are part of this amazing country the US while keeping your roots and hearts and affection for our beloved Lebanon."  He paid tribute to the leadership of Michel Moawad who “inherited the leadership and principles of his martyred father (former President of Lebanon) and the courage and grace of his mother Nayla..who founded this organization” 

Keynote Speaker Michel Moawad, Director of RMF Lebanon and a member of the Lebanese Parliament highlighted the crucial role played by the Lebanese American diaspora noting “RMF is not the goal, it is the path. RMF is proudly a professional transparent platform spread all over Lebanon built to help you better help your homeland Lebanon and the Lebanese people with a clear mission: Preserving Hope and Keeping the Lebanese rooted on their land.” He attributed the success of the Medchronics program which enabled RMF since 2023 to provide chronic patients with medicine and follow up care for 5,000/month to their generous support. “Now, building on this experience, and with the support of INGOs, institutional donors, and you — the diaspora — RMF is launching a bold, five-year vision to scale its impact and build a sustainable wholistic nationwide healthcare initiative, anchored on three pillars: 1: supplying hospitals and health centers with medicines and medical disposables, to help cover treatment costs for the sick and vulnerable through an exchange mechanism with partner institutions. For this RMF plans on sending 20 shipments of medicine and medical supplies per year from the US. 2: Establish health care centers all over Lebanon which will be the first point of contact to better serve those in need. 3- Developing a full-fledged home care service. Click here to view RMF Health video

The benefit dinner was masterfully emceed by Dr. Julio Gallo, prominent plastic surgeon and Stephanie Sayfie Aagard prominent media personality in Miami. 

The evening’s feature performer Sarney Bejjani along with her pianist Yves Abi Aad provided the audience with a beautiful mélange of the sounds of Lebanon, France and the US.