Rafi Manoukian Supports AUB Community Vaccination Drive

Businessman and philanthropist Rafi Manoukian made a donation to support the American University of Beirut (AUB) Community Vaccination Drive. “As soon as I heard that AUB would be organizing a community vaccination drive,” he explained, “I knew that I wanted to support this wonderful initiative. My hope is that my donation will encourage others to do the same.” Manoukian’s gift will fully vaccinate 2,500 American University of Beirut (AUB) students and 375 Haigazian University students.

These are among the 45,000 people that AUB expects to fully vaccinate as part of its $1.8 million campaign. Vaccines will be administered to AUB students, faculty, and staff, and some of their dependents; and to staff and students from selected universities, including Haigazian University, public and private schools, the banking/finance sector, and other sectors considered vital for the re-opening of the Lebanese economy.

The campaign was organized, under the strong leadership of AUB, by the University Hospitals Consortium (AUBMC, St. Joseph University’s Hôtel-Dieu de France, the St. George Hospital University Medical Center, and the Lebanese American University’s Medical Center-Rizk Hospital) to vaccinate the members of these university communities, and some of those in Lebanon who are most vulnerable, against COVID-19. Consortium members have agreed that all funds that are needed for this nationwide vaccination drive will be secured by the members and from charitable donations. All vaccines will be administered at no cost to the individuals themselves.

This is an extraordinary commitment especially given the devastating economic and financial circumstances in Lebanon and the region that are imposing unprecedented challenges for all consortium members. As President Khuri explained when he announced the vaccination drive, “AUB has a long history of demonstrating leadership in times such as the ones we are currently experiencing, and we are committed to extending that leadership into the foreseeable future.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mr. Rafi Manoukian for his generous and timely support,” said VP for Advancement and Business Development, Imad Baalbaki. “The success of this vaccination drive is critical to enabling our university as well as other universities and academic institutions to reopen for in-person classes in the fall – and for the recovery of our country of Lebanon as well.”