[LCM Articles] [Leb4ever] Lebanon Partnership Fund: Corporate leaders launch rebuilding effort

Tue Sep 26 17:20:29 EDT 2006

Four of America's Corporate leaders launch Lebanon rebuilding effort

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.

Tuesday, September 26 - 2006

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. 

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. 

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. 

'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.' 

'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. 

'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.' 

'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. 

'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. 

'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.' 

'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. 

'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.' 

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.

Related Information:
For more information about the fund and contributing to the effort, visit
www.lebanonpartnership.org 

About Intel Corporation 
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. 

For more information please contact: 
Rola Zaarour 
Intel Corporate Communications Manager, GCC 
(971) 4 22 47 111 

Or 

Riham El Adl 
Gulf Hill & Knowlton for INTEL 
Account Manager 
p: +971 4 3344930 ext:112 
c: +971 50 7282539 

Print Date: Wednesday, September 27 - 2006 - 01:11:22 GMT+4

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