Houston, TX Benefit Gala (2013)

Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013

Location: The Royal Sonesta Hotel; Houston, Texas

This year, the Gala honored a very deserving Lebanese-American, prominent Houston resident Mr. Nijad Fares, Chairman of Wedge Equities Incorporated, a Houston based international investment firm with interests in real estate, manufacturing, oilfield services and a publicly held equity portfolio. Mr. Fares received RMF’s Distinguished Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Community Service Award from the hands of Her Excellency Mrs. Nayla Moawad. Special guest, H.E. Ambassador Antoine Chedid, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US introduced Mr. Fares.

The gala brought together a large number of Lebanese-Americans and other Arab-Americans, as well as American Friends of Lebanon, all united by the common will of promoting peace and stability in Lebanon through development. Past honorees in Houston include Dr. Philip Salem, Mrs. Laura Stoma Ward, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Abercia, Drs. Huda and William Zogby and Mr. Munzer Hourani.

The evening was co-chaired by RMF Board member Mrs. Lina Jazi Chehab and Houston Lebanese-American resident Mrs. Yasmine Ballantyne.

The gala also featured a fashion show by the rising Lebanese Designer Rony Richa. The proceeds of the gala were earmarked towards RMF’s educational programs in Lebanon, specifically its newly launched vocational school.