Gino’s Blog is Giving Away 6 Tickets to DSC’s Fundraiser: FILM CINAMA

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Donner Sang Compter is holding a fundraiser on the 17th of February, 2012. That’s next Friday! Joe Kodeih is a hilarious performer and after the critical acclaim of “Ashrafieh”, “Film Cinama” reviews so far point out that Joe has outdone himself yet again.

I’ve been a DSC supporter since the start, and have used this blog and you guys’ kindness and selflessness to help support the blood donation NGO. That’s why Gino’s Blog has bought 6 tickets to Film Cinama next week, which I’ll be giving away to you guys!

All you have to do is:

  1. Like their page and show your support
  2. Go donate blood, or go with someone if you can’t
  3. Upload your photo to Gino’s Blog
  4. The first three people to upload their pics will get two tickets each! =D

PS, the donations need to be done this week. The point is to encourage everyone to donate now. Please don’t post old photos. Thank you for understanding! See you all next Friday!

Filed Under: NGO/Charity

Le Manitou by Clan SJS: Affordable Food, Wholesome Atmosphere and To Top It All Off a Noble Cause

July 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

Many of you might know I am a proud member of the Saint Joseph School Cornet Chehwan Scouts Group. The 450-strong 45-year-old group is one of Lebanon’s most prominent and most active volunteer organizations. Each year, Clan and Caravelles SJS organize a charitable project that touches hundreds of lives from across Lebanon. This year’s project is the 5th edition of the Colonie summer camp for severely underprivileged children.

The colonie brings together over 100 children from all across the country. The children welcomed to the 15-day summer camp often experience indoor plumbing and other luxuries you and me take for granted, for the first time with the clan and caravelles members. This heart-wrenching experience though, has several major goals and benefits. At the top of that list is making sure the kids have as much fun as humanly possible. Two, ensure they’re exposed to as much wholesome activities and programs as possible. And three, transform the volunteers working with the children, ultimately putting life in perspective

Scouts though, is of course a non-profit volunteer organization. And a massive project like the Colonie needs plenty of financial and logistical support. One amazing way of fundraising is through the Manitou restaurant. The scouts-run restaurant has been serving food for decades now and many of its volunteers are now food and beverage magnates. Most prominent of which is of course Chef Anthony Maalouf, CEO of the Casper and Gambini’s empire. Roadster Diner, Deek Duke and Shtrumpf also comprise ex-Manitou staff in their executive positions.

The Manitou is run by the Clan and Caravelles, who take turns doing shifts daily from 5:30 PM till Midnight all throughout the summer. The meals available include a selection of burgers, sandwiches and pizzas. The prices are also very affordable, with the signature Manitou Burger (beef patty, ham, cheese) costing only 5000LBP. Apart from the insanely cheap prices, the atmosphere is far from what most of us are used to. Smoking, arguilehs, and alcohol are forbidden. Cursing and ill-mannered behavior is heavily frowned-upon. That, together with the fun-loving, volunteering spirit creates a wholesome, family atmosphere that you wouldn’t expect to find in a restaurant.

Here, I would like to take the chance to thank the Cornet Chehwan municipality for generously offering the Manitou’s current venue, which relocated back from Rabieh’s Botanical Garden, to its original venue at the center of Cornet Chehwan. The new venue offers a wider menu, larger capacity and loads of amenities and of course a BABYFOOT table (Fussball).

Le Manitou also organizes theme nights, such as Karaoke Night and Family Night, keeping things interesting and fun whilst you don’t go broke, but help fund the 2011 Colonie. So, I invite you all to come visit the Manitou and challenge us to a Babyfoot match! Follow Le Manitou on Facebook to stay up to date with special events and new additions to the menu. And if you would like to know more about the 2011 Colonie, make sure you like our page and find out how you can help.

Vedict: A wholesome, unadulterated restaurant for a good cause

Price: 10000-12000 LBP should be more than enough for dinner for two with coke

Atmosphere: Upbeat, livened up by theme nights and the fussball table

Music: On theme nights

Staff: Scouts! They do it out of love =)

Location: Cornet Chehwan, 7 minutes from Antelias highway.

Filed Under: Food, NGO/Charity

The Roads for Life Initiative

June 29, 2011 By 4 Comments

In the absence of a functional government, comprehensive traffic laws and the naive Lebanese mentality when it comes to driving, The Talal Kassem Fund for Post Accident Care: Roads for Life, is on an important mission.

Defunct governments and institutions, and unfortunately tragic losses and deaths, push individuals and groups in Lebanon to fill in the void with volunteerism and goodwill. For those of you who don’t know, Talal Kassem is a 17-year-old IC student that was killed when a raging driver hit him on the corniche road in front of IC.

The untimely death of this young man has catalyzed the Roads for Life initiative. The main goal is of course updating Lebanon’s traffic law, and actually implementing (versus being harassed by KFC-loving thugs dressed as police officers). Unfortunately, that goal is a very long-term one, and in the meantime, thousands of people will die on the streets.

That is why, the Roads for Life initiative’s focus now is on the Advanced Trauma Life Support course, or ATLS. RFL hopes to give this course to Red Cross volunteers and ER doctors and caregivers from across Lebanon. The course is mandatory in many developed nations and Lebanon is the 42nd country to start giving this course thanks to RFL.

The first class of ATLS course should graduate later this year. The class of 16 is located at the AUBMC, where equipment and expertise are available. The plan though is to train and equip a lot more people and hospitals in Lebanon. The idea is, if we can’t stop accidents, we might as well improve the chances of accident victims in the crucial 60 minutes after trauma.

Personally, I loved this initiative. Apart from being a noble and much-needed cause, it is refreshingly specific. This helps us, and them of course, gauge the success and progress of the NGO. Other NGOs “promote awareness” or “help people” but, it never is really clear and observable. The ATLS course, its graduates and impact will be felt and real, which makes it all the more worthy of everyone’s support.

On Saturday, two French-Algerian artists, Algerino and Faudel, performed at the Zouk Roman Ampitheater. Faudel is famous (as Hady tells me =P) and Algerino’s presence is a more meaningful one. His song “Trinite”, is the song Talal sent to his mother the night before he died. Moved by this touching story, Algerino made his way to Lebanon to help launch Roads for Life amid the bitter-sweet tears shed by Talal’s family, classmates, friends and strangers alike.

The music was upbeat and rap-like, but unfortunately for me, in French! However, I did enjoy it immensely and admired the dedication and resolve of the people behind this project. I wish them all the best and urge you to keep up with their events and activities.

Make sure you check out their Facebook Page, their website and follow their Twitter and YouTube accounts, which my dearest friend Sana Tawileh is helping make awesome. I’d also like to thank Hady Chehlaoui and Deek Duke team for allowing me to get to know the RFL initiative better and help spread the word.

Filed Under: NGO/Charity

1362 Donors and Friends Break the Guinness World Record with Donner Sang Compter

June 29, 2011 By 1 Comment

Donner Sang Compter is the NGO this blog has adopted since its conception, and on Sunday, that very same NGO got into the world record books!

Donors, volunteers, friends and even people whose lives were saved thanks to someone’s selfless gift of blood flocked to my alma mater, Saint Joseph School Cornet Chehwan. Upon entry to the school grounds, participants signed up and got their red t-shirts.

Inside, plenty of stands made sure the hot, sunny day went by faster. Refreshments, cakes and muffins replenished the tummies of volunteers, as well as the people who donated blood on the spot for the St Jude’s Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon at AUBMC.

Billboards and banners with photos of past events, donors and DSC volunteers (including of course me on virtually every one =P) were scattered everywhere with DSC’s mascot hopping around and making for awesome photo-ops!

A truck-load of blood for the CCCL wasn’t the record-breaker though! At noon, all those present went onto the greenfield and sat in the booth. After several innovative crowd-wave patterns, the football-match atmosphere gave way to an orderly, single-file procession that made up the massive blood-drop shape.

Dozens of cameras were capturing the historic moment. A massive winch caught the frontal shots, but I was standing on the roof of the middle-school building. Here are the shots I managed to take.

Also, on the behalf of the DSC team, I’d also like to thank each and every one of you who showed up and made this day a success!

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Filed Under: Leb, NGO/Charity Tagged With: , ,

Last Call for Donner Sang Compter’s SUNDAY Record-Breaker + Details You’ll LOVE

June 20, 2011 By 2 Comments

Donner Sang Compter is probably the adopted NGO for this blog. It is one very dear to my heart and I always make sure you my dearest readers are up to speed about what we’re doing and how you can help.

If you read this post, you’ll know that THIS Sunday June 26, DSC will be shattering a Guinness World Record at my old school, Saint Joseph School Cornet Chehwan. To get there, simply exit the Beirut-Tripoli highway at Antelias, and keep going towards Bikfaya. 7-8 minutes later, you will see several signs “Saint Joseph School” and “Saint Joseph School Theater” follow them and you’re there!

The details have been finalized and we’re glad to share with you the following:

  1. If you still haven’t, please do RSVP on Facebook
  2. The event is of course for FREE.
  3. It will begin at 9:00 AM and end at 12:30 PM
  4. Wear some sneakers and jeans, we will provide you with RED tshirts once you get there (and yes, there are large enough sizes for people like me! =D)
  5. We know you’ll all get thirsty and hungry, so plenty of free drinks and snacks will be distributed throughout the event
  6. We know you don’t need one, and that you’re doing this out of the kindness and compassion in your heart, but each and every participant will get a certificate of participation in this record-breaker
  7. A sneak-peak of DSC’s upcoming movie will be screened
  8. A short presentation will introduce the event and elaborate on blood donation topics
  9. And last but not least, the AUBMC crew will be on-site, accepting donations from whoever is willing. The blood bags gathered on the day will go to Saint Jude’s Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon
Thanks in advance guys, and REMEMBER we’re not actually making a large drop of blood from blood. It’s US standing in the SHAPE of a blood drop!
Filed Under: NGO/Charity Tagged With: , , , , ,

For Every Twibbon You Add, Roadster Diner Donates 1000 LBP to Heartbeat

June 15, 2011 By 10 Comments

Heartbeat is a non-profit non-governmental organization that seeks to treat children born with heart diseases. 1 in every 100 children born has a heart defect and often requires expensive and lengthy surgery and treatment. To help affected families cope with this heavy burden, Heartbeat relies solely on donations from people like you and me. I’ sure most of you have been to a Heartbeat fundraiser event in the past, and they’re doing it again THIS Friday June 19. Here’s the Facebook event link.

Roadster Diner has been a constant supporter and sponsor for this organization with a noble cause, and in the run-up to Friday’s concert, Roadster has launched the #RdHeartbeat Twibbon to further support this event.

My twibbonified twitter picture!

A “Twibbon” is a small icon added to your Twitter profile, similar to the cancer/AIDS ribbons (hence the name tw-ibbon). This can of course be used for your Twitter account or your Facebook profile picture, or both! For every twibbon added, Roadster will donate 1,000 LBP to Heartbeat.

The tally is at 286 supporters and we gotta get that number higher guys… So, go here and log in via your facebook or twitter account, and add the #RdHeartbeat twibbon. You can place it wherever your want in the photo and alter its size (in the twibbon editing segment, there is a slider that reads “twibbon size”)

So, add that twibbon and buy that ticket and help with the fight against heart disease =)

For the Lazy People Who Don’t Read

  1. Go to http://twibbon.com/cause/RdHeartbeat/
  2. Click “Add to Facebook” or “Add to Twitter” (or both!)
  3. Log in or “authorize” Twibbon with your Twitter or FB account
  4. Place the icon wherever you want in the picture
  5. Resize it using the “resize” slider
  6. Go to facebook, click on the pic Twibbon just uploaded to your profile and click “make profile picture”
  7. Congrats, you just raised 1000 LBP for Heartbeat =)
Filed Under: NGO/Charity Tagged With: ,

Let’s Break the Guinness World Record with Donner Sang Compter

June 1, 2011 By 3 Comments

Everyone knows about Donner Sang Compter (DSC) and for those of you who don’t, punch in Donner Sang Compter in the search field above and read up on it.

The impact DSC has had on thousands of lives in the past few years has been massive, and on June 26, 2011, we plan on letting the rest of the world know about our selfless donors.

Every day, dozens of people from across Lebanon head down to give a pint of their own blood for someone they have never met. The patient’s lives often count on that precious blood bag. The enormous initiative of saving a stranger’s life is truly the hallmark of responsible and compassionate citizenship in a country where blood is often spilt for honestly stupid and naive causes.

That’s why we’re all coming together on June 26 to hold hands and form history’s largest human blood-drop formation. The unsung heroes of blood and platelet donations in Lebanon and the world deserve the recognition, and breaking the previous record of 1051 people is our goal! In fact, we’re hoping that 3,500 volunteers, donors, patients and friends will join us in this massive record-shattering feat.

So, RSVP on Facbook NOW and spread the word as best you can! Be part of this historic day at Saint Joseph School Cornet Chehwan’s greenfield

Filed Under: NGO/Charity

Twestival Beirut 2011

March 28, 2011 By 4 Comments

For all my homosexual friends who thought I had crossed over when they saw me wearing that pink wig, I have bad news for you, I’m still very much straight =D

The reason I was wearing it was, because it was extremely cool, and because it was for a nobler cause. This isn’t a review for my tweeps as much it is a review for my non-twitter friends.

Tweetup, Follow, Tweep all sound weird and geeky. Hashtag, handle and mentions sound pretty much foreign. But, Twestival is an event that groups one’s online presence on Twitter, with a very real impact on the ground.

Twestival is an annual day celebrated globally by the world’s twitter communities. The main goal behind the day of celebration is to raise money to support a certain cause or charity. Twestival has been going on for a few years in Lebanon and this year, Twestival 2011 was fundraising to support the NGO Faire Face, which provides free mammograms and psychological support for breast cancer victims.

The venue was Tawlet Souk El Tayyeb in Mar Mikhail, where only healthy, traditional Lebanese dishes are served, made by some of the tweeps themselves like @sdkaaa and @gabdallah. @sdarine, @funkyozzi and @coo1pink all took the mic and introduced this year’s cause, shared life testimonies and promoted awareness about several issues that plague women with breast cancer.

After that, everyone enjoyed a delicious meal, plenty of arak and exquisite live jazz music.

Later, the tombola draw, which featured prizes that included everything from meals at Deek Duke, desginer t-shirts, Meen CDs and the grand prize: a brand new shiny Nokia N8.

The N8 was instead auctioned, and was sold for $400 to @o_sane, making the grand total fundraised this year 16,400 USD, all of which went to Faire Face who will use it to provide free mammograms for women who cannot afford it.

I won’t bother posting photos taken from my mobile, just look at the amazing Flickr gallery by @ritakml here

So, twitter isn’t just for revolutions and killing time, it’s a whole lot more =) so follow me @GinoRaidy

Hady Chehlaoui - Me, supporting One Wig Stand

Filed Under: NGO/Charity Tagged With: ,

Autism Speaks Till The End of March

March 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

My Dearest Readers,

After the awesome feedback on Meggie Bassil’s guest blog post, “A Handful of Stones“, I’ve decided to employ WordPress’s SocialVibe widget to try and help fundraise for research into Autism.

This widget enables bloggers to choose a specific charity from those available, once chosen, readers of the blog can choose to do “activities” on the widget, which include trivial tasks chosen by advertisers, such as answering a poll or question, or liking a facebook page or tweeting it. Every task you do earns the equivalent of 1 minute of behavioral intervention research for Autism Speaks.

So, you will notice on the right of the page the “socialvibe” widget, so please, spare a minute to click the activities, and help us raise some money for this charity, that aims to fund research into understanding, preventing and treating autism. Let’s try to get to 1,440 minutes, or 24 hours of research by the end of this month =)

Thanks in advance everyone =)

Filed Under: NGO/Charity Tagged With:

Adyan’s Documentary, Aaks El Seir: For A Secular Lebanon

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I doubt you will find anyone more opposed to our archaic confessionalism-based political and social framework. My birth into a Maronite family makes it near-impossible to divorce, whilst my friend and fellow citizen, from a different sect, is free to do so. How can equality or justice even remotely exist when we rely on these islands of ignorance and radicalism?

But, religious entities and figures are not always the radicalizing and corrupt factors we have come to regard them as, and several prominent figures in recent Lebanese history, have disobeyed the unwritten norm, and instead of promoting intolerance and strife, sought to utilize faith itself to counter radical mentality and employ faith in breeding tolerance between Lebanon’s 18 sects.

Adyan is a Lebanese NGO for interfaith studies and spiritual solidarity. It seeks to highlight main advantages and common ground between religions, especially in the framework of pluralistic societies where different sects face common social and political challenges. The NGO also strives on strengthening solidarity and constructive interactions via interfaith dialogue and common interests.

Aaks El Seir is a documentary highlighting the power of faith against radicalism and fanaticism; the movie sheds the light on personalities highly respected and valued within their religious communities. Adyan stresses on the efficient and positive role played by each of them to ensure communication and solidarity with other groups during times of crisis and confessional conflicts. Among these personalities: Prince Abdul Kader Al Jazairi, Bishop Salim Ghazal, Imam Moussa Al Sader and Reverend Makram Kozah.

With the secular movement in Lebanon gaining momentum in Lebanon, this documentary comes at the perfect time… I share this with you in the hopes religions will one day be eradicated from politics and government, and that all Lebanese, indiscriminate of gender, age or beliefs can be truly equal under law.

March 11th, UNESCO Palace, 6:30 PM

The screening will be followed by a debate

Filed Under: Leb, NGO/Charity

Donner Sang Compter’s Blood Brothers Bracelet: A Lifesaver In More Ways Than One

March 2, 2011 By 14 Comments

My Bracelet, O Neg =)

Donner Sang Compter is a key player in an issue which has been plaguing Lebanon for many years now. DSC acts as a link between healthy donors, and patients in need of blood. Despite the basic and obvious necessity of such an organization, the existing institutions that deal with this issue had serious shortcomings. At this point, I would like to salute the Lebanese Red Cross and their blood bank, which has and continues to save lives of thousands of people each year, and makes sure Lebanon has enough blood to keep it going, God-forbid any disaster may befall us. Read my post about the DSC, which I am a former board member of, and current active member in, here.

Since then, DSC’s success has skyrocketed, and at the end of March, we’re preparing a MASSIVE surprise for you all, which will be very visible, everywhere… (can’t say anymore now =P)

Anyway, I know that most of my dear readers are donors and volunteers with DSC and that this post is not a call for action, but merely a friendly update about what’s new and our latest fundraising project.

After a string of successful events, from Joe Kodeih’s “Ashrafieh” to Robin Hood’s Avant Premiere and “The DJ Saved My Life” at The Basement, we’re launching the Blood Brothers Bracelet. This engraved bracelet is available for all 8 blood types, with the blood type on one side and the DSC logo on the other.

Apart from being insanely cool, this bracelet might come in handy in case any of us is ever in trouble (hopefully no one, and never) the paramedics and doctors will have no problem knowing what your blood type is, instantly, if need be. At the end of the day, the proceeds of these bracelets will go to fund our blood donation NGO, which relies on donations and fundraising to stay afloat and successfully fulfill our immense responsibilities.

The price is just 5,000 LBP and readily available for anyone interested =)

All you have to do is pass by our offices in Dekweneh, or call/sms 70314868 or 03128824 and they will put you in contact with our university representatives or closest volunteer (including lil’ol’ me at AUB)

Thank you for your support everyone =)

Filed Under: Extras, NGO/Charity Tagged With: ,

Donner Sang Compter’s Party for a BLOODY Cause!

October 25, 2010 By 1 Comment

Donner Sang Compter needs no introduction. The NGO promoting responsible citizenship through blood donation and awareness has expanded to include most Lebanese territories. Day by day, more and more volunteers sign up with thousands of lives already saved thanks to the generosity of our donors and the commitment of our members. Here’s a 10-month-old entry about DSC.

DSC is of course a non-profit organization and therefore relies heavily on fundraising and donations. This halloween, DSC is holding a costume party at Beirut’s Chocolate Club. The entrance is $40, with 3 drinks! The numbers for info and reservations are listed above on the poster.

However, promoting this party for a noble cause is not my only purpose for this post…

Michel Karsouny is a fellow blogger who is also a DSC member. Michel was never the most fit of people (better than myself of course) and some two months ago, he decided to conduct an experiment demanding exceptional will-power and unfathomable perseverance, with his own body! Michel set a goal for himself: to look like 300′s King Leonidas in just 65 short days!

Day number 65 is this Friday, and he will be hitting Chocolate Club dressed as, you guessed it, Leonidas! Will he be able to meet his goal of looking like the legendary King of Sparta? I’ll find out this Friday and let you know =)

Here’s Michel’s Blog

This is the DSC event

See you all there =)

Filed Under: NGO/Charity Tagged With: , ,
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