Strategic brand, marketing and PR agency, Example, has joined forces with Lebanese dining institution El Phoenician, Hotel Palisade’s Natalie Ghosn and other members of the Lebanese-Australian community to launch Lebathon, a social media silent auction in support of Lebanon.
Live on instagram now until 28 August, Lebathon was created in response to the catastrophic events in Beirut last week that saw many lives lost and a large part of the city blown to rubble. The social media initiative is auctioning goods, services and time donated by members of the Australian-Lebanese diaspora to raise crucial funds for Impact Lebanon, a fund run by a non-profit organisation that brings the global Lebanese community together to pursue initiatives that deliver impact.
Example co-founder of and family member of El-Phoenician Andy El-Bayeh said: “After years of corruption, conflict and economic chaos, Lebanon is broken. Last Tuesday’s incident was only the tip of the iceberg; the average citizen lives in insecurity and fear for themselves, their loved ones, and their futures”.
He continued: “Our heritage has always been a source of great inspiration and pride. It is devastating to see a country that has given so much to us experience unbearable pain and hardship. As we have been trying to deal with the grief of seeing this beautiful city crumble, we wanted to come together and give back as a united Australian-Lebanese community”.
Australians now have the opportunity to bid on a number of sought after experiences generously donated across a range of industries including: a non-commision house sale by The Agency in Sydney’s Inner West (valued at $40,000), wedding entertainment package (valued $10,000-$16,000), 20-person banquet function at El-Phoenician restaurant, the first ever private home baking experience from Knafeh Bakery, an experience for 10 people in Henry Deane lounge at Hotel Palisade, a private dining experience at Gerard’s Bistro, Shop til you drop boutique experience from celebrity fashion designer Lillian Kallouf and a wash, cut and blowdry from leading hair artist Natalie Anne.
All funds raised will be donated to Impact Leabon which is aiming to raise $13m AUD to provide disaster relief after the explosion in Beirut. The funds raised will be provided to carefully selected NGOs, ensuring that they are apolitical and non-sectarian, are registered and recognised, have ongoing initiatives to address the crisis and have passed an audit test.
