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<h1><font size=5 color="#9c0000" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Four of America's Corporate leaders launch Lebanon
rebuilding effort<o:p></o:p></span></font></h1>
<h2><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Four executives of
leading U.S. companies today announced the creation of the U.S.-Lebanon
Partnership Fund to provide critically needed resources to assist in the
reconstruction effort in Lebanon following the recent conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Tuesday, September 26 - 2006<br>
<br>
The four leaders directing the fund are: Craig Barrett, Chairman, Intel
Corporation; John Chambers, President and CEO, Cisco Systems; Yousif Ghafari,
Chairman, GHAFARI, Inc.; and Dr. Ray Irani, Chairman, President and CEO,
Occidental Petroleum Corporation. <br>
<br>
The goal of the U.S.-Lebanon Partnership Fund is to raise a significant amount
of money to support the reconstruction effort in Lebanon. Through the fund, the
four leaders will galvanize a nationwide effort to raise awareness and
resources to help Lebanese communities rebuild following the war. <br>
<br>
Members of the delegation recently returned from a trip to the region in which
they had the opportunity to survey the relief and reconstruction efforts, meet
with Lebanese officials and business leaders to address the devastation and
assess where U.S. donor assistance is most needed. <br>
<br>
'It's important that the people and the business community of the United States
support Lebanon through concrete actions, not empty promises,' said Craig
Barrett, chairman of Intel Corporation. 'This partnership will provide a means
for the U.S. private-sector to help rebuild the social and economic
infrastructure of Lebanon as its residents and businesses restore their lives
and look towards the future. We hope the American people will join us in this
worthy effort.' <br>
<br>
'At Cisco, we believe we have the responsibility to give back to others who are
less fortunate or are facing difficult challenges - regardless of race,
religion, gender, ethnicity or political persuasion. It's not about right or
wrong; it's about doing what is needed and making a difference,' said John
Chambers, president and CEO, Cisco Systems. <br>
<br>
'Cisco's philanthropy has spanned many areas - from establishing networking
academies around the world to providing support in the wake of natural
disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Southeast Asia tsunami. The
situation in Lebanon is of great concern to us, and it is our goal to support
the reconstruction effort in Lebanon and in turn help provide greater access to
education and economic opportunity. By focusing on long-term solutions, we hope
to contribute to a better future for this region.' <br>
<br>
'This is a very personal mission for me; I was born in the region of Lebanon
that was most dramatically impacted by the conflict between Israel and
Hizballah,' said Yousif Ghafari, chairman, GHAFARI, Inc. <br>
<br>
'The village where I was born was bombed, my family had to evacuate - together
with thousands of others. I want to help in the physical reconstruction of
Lebanon, but I want to accomplish more than that. We need to help Lebanon
rebuild its infrastructure, but more fundamentally we need to help re-establish
an economically strong, democratic Lebanon that has hope for a bright future. <br>
<br>
'The Lebanese people need to know that the American people are not indifferent
to their plight, but that we have compassion for their situation and are
willing to help them. Our mission is more than a government grant of funds, it
is an outreach by the people and business community of America. This effort can
be a strong component in our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.' <br>
<br>
'This initiative will allow the American people once again to demonstrate their
generosity by helping those in need,' said Dr. Ray Irani, chairman, president
and CEO of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. <br>
<br>
'I am honored the President has asked me to share a leadership role in this
important humanitarian effort. Occidental has been very active in numerous
countries in the Arab Middle East, and we have supported a wide range of
educational, health care and charitable organizations throughout the region,
including Lebanon. It is my hope that our efforts to help stimulate Lebanon's
rapid recovery from the ravages of war through this initiative ultimately will
help promote lasting peace and stability in the region.' <br>
<br>
The U.S.-Lebanon Partnership Fund will be administered by Global Impact, a
not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 of the most respected
U.S.-based international charities. The Fund will be led by an advisory
committee consisting of the four corporate leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:gray;font-weight:bold'>Related
Information:</span></font></b><font size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:gray'><br>
For more information about the fund and contributing to the effort, visit
www.lebanonpartnership.org <br>
<br>
About Intel Corporation <br>
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of
computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about
Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom. <br>
<br>
For more information please contact: <br>
Rola Zaarour <br>
Intel Corporate Communications Manager, GCC <br>
(971) 4 22 47 111 <br>
<br>
Or <br>
<br>
Riham El Adl <br>
Gulf Hill & Knowlton for INTEL <br>
Account Manager <br>
p: +971 4 3344930 ext:112 <br>
c: +971 50 7282539 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:gray;font-weight:bold'>© 1996-2006 by AME Info
FZ LLC / Emap Communications. All rights reserved.</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:gray'><br>
This story was posted by Janeta Novakovic, Assistant News Editor<br>
Tuesday, September 26 - 2006 at 14:42 UAE local time (GMT+4) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color=gray face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:gray'>Print Date: Wednesday, September 27 - 2006 -
01:11:22 GMT+4<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Find this article at:</span></b><br>
http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/97453.html <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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