In the midst of a deepening crisis, Lebanon finds hope once again in the solidarity of a group of Lebanese and American benefactors from the city of Peoria, Illinois, USA.

When world-class pianist and art collector Dr. Antoine Karam was invited to give a piano concert there, in the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion he felt any such event would be trivial if it didn’t contribute to relief efforts.

The concert idea quickly grew into a manifestation of solidarity by the people of Peoria with the people of Lebanon and has blossomed to include more than 20 artists who, in remembrance of the August 4 explosion, will be exhibiting over 100 pieces of their work in support of underprivileged patients at the LAU medical centers and in support of students of our Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine.

Our gratitude for this unprecedented effort goes to Dr. Karam, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Scottish Rite Theatre and the Itoo Society.

The Lebanese American University is a qualified U.S. 501(c)(3) institution.