It is hard to imagine a Middle East without AUB. It has played such an enormous role throughout its history as an educator of generations of young men and women who live and work in the region; as a provider of health care services through good times and bad; and as an institution that – as we state in our Mission Statement – “believes deeply in and encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue.”     Although AUB has been important in the history of Lebanon and the region, I believe strongly that it will play an even more critical role in the future. I also believe that a gift to AUB benefits not only the University but Lebanon and the region as well. I urge those of you who feel the same way to support AUB as I do.     I am delighted to report that many of you have already chosen to do so. During the Campaign for Excellence, which ended on December 31, 2007, AUB received gifts from 12,593 donors including 9,453 gifts from first-time
donors. Although all groups within the AUB family were well represented in the campaign, I am proud to report that my fellow alumni responded in record numbers! Alumni donors continued to contribute in record numbers in fiscal year 2008 when for the first time in its history, AUB raised more than $30 million.     Many donors have gone one step further and decided to become regular contributors to one of the University’s four annual funds or to join AUB’s premier donor group, the Daniel Bliss Society. Their names may not be familiar to you, but their support is critical to our ongoing success – and is absolutely essential to the health of this University.     AUB is proud of its record of service to the people of the Middle East and embraces the opportunity to continue to serve for years to come. But it will need our help. Everyone who cares about the future not just of AUB, but of Lebanon and the region, should make a gift to the finest educational institution in the region: the American University of Beirut.