Region | Lebanon
Telethon raises Dh33m
A telethon to gather funds for Lebanon has raised Dh33 million, with some of Dubai's prominent businessmen putting in millions of dirhams in donation.
- By Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Dubai: A telethon to gather funds for Lebanon has raised?Dh33 million by 8:40 pm on Friday.
Abdullah-Aziz Al Ghurair, the executive director of Mashreq bank called to donate the generous amount of Dh5 million?as soon as the telethon's lines opened at 3pm on Friday.
Ahmad Abdullah Al Shaafar and sons donated Dh1 million to the cause shortly afterwards.
Dubai-based television channels Dubai TV, Sama TV, Dubai Sport Channel and the English language One TV are airing the 10-hour telethon.
The programme will run until 1am on Saturday, accepting donations by phone and fax from around the world.
Hussain Lootah, CEO of campaign organiser Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), called on viewers to remember to help the Lebanese people at a time of crisis.
"We are calling on anyone and everyone to donate, even if it's a single dirham,"?Lootah said.
At least 50 volunteers from DMI, the Red Crescent Authority?and the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation are receiving calls from viewers wishing to make donations.
Forty prominent Arab personalities have backed the fund-raising drive, including renowned Egyptian actors Adel Imam, Yusra, and Hanan Turk.
Veteran Kuwaiti actress Hayat Al Fahad, are expected to make appearances during the telethon to make an appeal for donations.
Celebrities taking donors' calls in the studio are Dubai-based Lebanese singer Diana Haddad, and UAE singers Hussain Jasmi and Mohammad Al Mazem, as well as Middle East rally champion Mohammad Bin Sulayem.
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A number of political personalities are also expected to issue statements.
The initiative is part of a campaign, Towards Healing Lebanon's Wounds, which has been organised by DMI in cooperation with the Shaikh Mohammad foundation and the UAE Red Crescent Authority.
The Shaikh Mohammad foundation and the UAE Red Crescent Authority will be responsible for distributing the donations to the appropriate parties in Lebanon in cooperation with the Emirati Lebanese Friendship Association.
Donations: Facility can handle 300 calls at once
DMI has set up a dedicated call centre which will be taking up to 300 calls simultaneously, and callers will be required to provide full name, contact details, and the amount pledged.
The phone lines will close at 1am UAE time but the campaign will continue to accept donations for those who do not get a chance to donate in the ten hours assigned for the telethon.
Other payment options include bank transfers, cheques and through direct deposit to the Shaikh Mohammad foundation account at the Dubai Islamic Bank. Account details will be provided on screen during the telethon.
Television: Channels to watch
The telethon will run from 3pm?Friday to 1am Saturday, and will be aired on the following channels:
Dubai TV, Sama Dubai, Dubai Sport Channel and One TV
Numbers - Donors can make their pledges through the following numbers:
Phone: 97143670011
Fax: 97143670188 and 97143670189
All lines will open at 3pm UAE time
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