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Our story begins when Lebanese – American entrepreneur Anthony R. Abraham decided to give back after achieving great success as a business man. Abraham grew up in less than modest means and was a tireless worker. As a young boy, he made a vow that if by the grace of God he ever could, he would feed the poor and help the sick. Throughout his life, Abraham was able to live out that vow and was devoted to helping others and was an honored leader in children’s philanthropy. He was a benefactor of numerous orphanages and children’s medical facilities throughout the world including ones in Lebanon and Haiti and was the last living founding member of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Both his wife Genevieve and Anthony R. Abraham devoted their lives to helping others through the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation they established in 1976. The foundation donated millions to numerous worthy causes and non-profit charities around the world, helping ease poverty and building hospitals, orphanages, and medical research facilities along the way.

After Mr. and Mrs. Abraham passed away, their children took care of that role and mission. Today, the Abraham siblings, Thomas, Norma Jean, and Judi, as well as other family members on the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation’s board, work tierlessly to offer aid in parts of the world hit by crisis. Thomas G. Abraham currently serves as Chairman and Norma Jean Abraham serves as Vice-Chair.

Among the local organizations supported by the foundation are Christopher Columbus High School, Camillus House, Miami Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami, America’s Second Harvest, Miami Children’s Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Florida Heart Research Institute, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Alonzo Mourning Charities, Cancer Link, The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, and Boystown Catholic Charities.

Some of the few international organizations supported by the foundation are The Genevieve Abraham School of Nursing, The Lebanese Hospital- Geitawi, The School for the Blind and Deaf, The Spastic Center, The Creche St. Vincent de Paul, The Rene Moawad Foundation, The Children’s International Network, Doctors without Borders, and Little Sisters of Nazareth. And through the Brothers of the Good Shepherd in Haiti, the foundation has built a school, a farm, and housing for children.

On August 4, 2020, a catastrophic blast in one of the oldest cities in the world, Beirut, shook the globe. A giant explosion at a warehouse, in which a cache of an explosive material called ammonium nitrate was stored, sent a shock wave through the capital city’s east and downtown. It left behind tremendous damage to the surrounding neighborhoods and nearby buildings. Nearly 200 people were killed, more than 6,000 were injured, and 300,000 were left homeless.

The aftermath of this disaster was heartbreaking, overwhelming, and impossible for the people of Lebanon to overcome single handedly, especially that Lebanon was – and still is – going through a devastating and unprecedented economic, political, and healthcare crisis. All sectors of society within and beyond the explosion’s 6-mile epicenter were confronted with lasting physical and psychological damage that required immediate attention. The Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, joined by friends and alliances, took a proactive initiative to join the Lebanese people in their effort to overcome this tragedy, creating the Help Us Rise Beirut Relief Effort.

Through Help Us Rise, the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation is committed to secure the necessary funds and resources, via fundraising initiatives and community partnerships, to help the people who lost their loved ones, homes, and businesses due to the blast, in any way possible. All funds raised through Help Us Rise are going directly to a list of Lebanese local NGOs working on the ground and supporting different causes.

These NGOs include Al Fadi Center – Chabrouh, Beirut Marathon Association, Lebanese Red Cross, Roads for Life, Teach a Child, Société St. Vincent De Paul– Conference St. Roch, Anta Akhi, Paradis D’enfants, St. Aphrem Church, Creche Saint Vincent, Orphanage of Saint Charbel, Al-Younbouh, American Task Force For Lebanon, Lebanese American University, Peace For Lebanon, Rene Moawad Foundation, SEAL, Teach For Lebanon, Missionary Sisters of the Very Holy Sacrament, Oum el Nour, SESOBEL, Antonine Social Orientation School in Mrouj, Lebanon, IRAP The Institute for the Education of the Deaf, Cenacle de La Lumiere (CDLL), and Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross.

The Anthony R. Abraham Foundation is also contributing half a million dollars in matching funds, supporting Help Us Rise, which means that for every ten dollars contributed to the initiative, the foundation will donate one dollar, up to half a million dollars.

“We cannot do this alone; join us with any contribution no matter the amount; every penny, every dollar, every donation will help bring hope and relief to the hundreds of thousands who have been innocent victims of this inhumane catastrophe,” said Thomas G. Abraham, Chairman of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation.

Visit the Help Us Rise website for more information or to donate.

A Safe Haven for Newborns is a not for profit organization dedicated to saving the precious lives of newborns from infant abuse and abandonment, as well as assisting pregnant girls and women in crisis. It was established in 2001 in Miami and reaches across all 67 Florida counties.

It offers free of charge services through community outreach campaigns, education, and a community service app, all dedicated to reaching pregnant girls and women before they reach the crisis stage, offering them assistance as they make their decision in the best interest of their baby and themselves, whether with counseling, parenting, health related issues, adoption, or confidentially placing the Safe Haven Baby with their “forever home.”

Through A Safe Haven for Newborns and its strong alliance and partnerships with hospitals, Fire and EMS stations, the private sector, and other agencies, hundreds of Safe HavenBabies now have a future, and over 5,000 women were helped in their time of need.

We encourage you to check out A Safe Haven for Newbornswebsite where you can find different ways to help them. The Anthony R. Abraham Foundation is a proud supporter of this organization. Here’s a video message from Thomas G. Abraham, Chairman of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation explaining why.