“That better understanding among men may prevail”

Since its founding in 1945, The Salaam Club of New York and its membership have had a strong appreciation for the community to which they belong.

Recognizing the blessings received in the new land courageously chosen by the immigrants or descendants of immigrants who became its individual members, the Club always had a sense of pride based on heritage as well as a sense of give-back to its new chosen community. Many notable people had visited the club throughout its 70 years of rich heritage, such as:

  • President Camille Chamoun, President of Lebanon
  • President Amin Gemayel, President of Lebanon
  • Faris Bey Khoury, Prime Minister of Syria
  • King Faisal, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
  • Caroline Ziade, Charge D’affair, Lebanese Mission to the UN
  • Dr. Bashar Al Ja’afari, Ambassador to the UN, Syrian Republic
  • Mr. Antoine Chedid, Ambassador, Republic of Lebanon
  • Mr. Majdi Ramadan, Consul General of Lebanon in NY
  • Mr. Antoine Azzam, Consul General of Lebanon in NY
  • Mr. Mouhamad Haraki, Consul General of Lebanon
  • Mr. Rami Mortada, Consul General of Lebanon in NY
  • Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of St Maron Eparchy
  • Metropolitan Philip Saliba, Metropolitan of Antiochian Orthodox Church in the USA
  • Archbishop Jeanbart, Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria
  • Dr. Bayard Dodge, President of the AUB
  • Robert M. Haddad, former President of the AUB
  • State Senator Marty Golden
  • District Attorney Dan Donovan
  • District Attorney Joe Hynes
  • Congressman Vito Fossella
  • Congressman Michael Grimm
  • Congresswoman Susan Molinari
  • Assemblywoman Nicole Maliotakis
  • Borough President Marty Markowitz
  • Borough President Eric Adams
  • NYC Commissioners in different administrations
  • Mrs. Pamela Brier, President, Maimonides Medical Center
  • Many NYC Police Captains and Commanders of Precincts
  • Many Commanders of the Fort Hamilton Army Base
  • John Zogby, Founder of the national "Zogby Poll"
  • Philip Kayal,Phd, Professor of Sociology Seton hall University

The Club rose to new levels when it began to combine its capacity to fundraise for local charities with its annual Holiday Gala. This grand initiative utilized arduous efforts to rally the membership and the Club's friends and associates as well as the community at large toward the objective of making a significant charitable contribution at Christmastime in connection with the Holiday Gala.

In this capacity, The Salaam Club of New York has donated proceeds from the annual Holiday Gala to selected charities and needs in the community for the last several years. The following are some beneficiaries:

  • Annual scholarship funding; for past 15+ years, to many students achievers from Middle Eastern heritage families
  • St Jude Research Hospital & St Jude Hope & Heritage Fund
  • Fort Hamilton Army Base, Soldiers
  • Heartshare Human Services
  • St Nicholas Home
  • Calvary Hospital
  • Syrian Relief Funds
  • Khalil Gibran International Academy
  • Melkite Diocese of Alleppo, Syria
  • Children Of the City
  • Our Lady Of Lebanon Cathedral
  • St Jude’s Research Center
  • Church of the Virgin Mary
  • Al Kafaat Foundation
  • St Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral
  • Caritas Catholic Foundation
  • Salam Arabic Lutheran Church
  • Schools in Lebanon thru foundations
  • Verrazano Rotary Club
  • Guild for Exceptional Children
  • Maimonides Medical Center
  • Eden II School
  • CNEWA - Catholic Near East Welfare Association
  • French Institute Alliance Francaise
  • International coordination meeting of youth org. ICMYO
  • Lebanese Education Association Fund
  • Brooklyn Boro President Thanksgiving drive for 1000
  • Children with Autism foundations families; every year for past 12 years
  • Ambulance to Hospital in Damascus, Syria
  • Fort Hamilton Army Base, Thanksgiving & Christmas
  • Salvation Army Holidays drive; every year for past 12+ years
  • Sandy Relief Funds – families and groups
  • New Penn League
  • 100s of families in need during the holidays
  • St George Syriac Church
  • Diocese of Newtown
  • Supported numerous nonprofit organizations in their missions and fundraising events

Just in the endeavors mentioned here, the Salaam Club of New York and Foundation, through the support of its membership and the community consisting of friends and associates and each and every one of you here tonight, has raised and distributed over 900,000.

Congratulations and thanks to all of you.