Lebanon Still Soars

•December 7, 2024

Despite years of ongoing electricity disruptions and the current war to the south, Lebanon functions. Despite more than a million internally displaced and disruption of schools, hospitals, farms, and businesses. Our partner villages of Ain Arab and Maamariyeh struggle on in darkness each night and during the day with only sporadic, costly electricity. Middle Eastern Airlines, the national carrier, is celebrated for maintaining operations despite bombardments. Despite grinding hardships, the fortitude of the Lebanese compelled Illumi-Nation Global to divide any donations during much 0f 2024 between the Lebanese Red Cross and The Phoenix Initiative. Here’s hoping that relative calm will continue.

With just a one-time contribution, you will support The Phoenix Initiative and gain a tax deduction, unlike a remittance. (Of course, we welcome more than one tax-deductible donation.)

Instead of helping people purchase diesel fuel for their solar generators, you will be investing in the Initiative’s bulk purchase of photovoltaic battery systems to store excess energy produced by sunlight.

With the availability of stored energy, blackouts will be a thing of the past for Lebanese households, businesses, and schools. Just think of the cleaner air people will breathe! 

And by reaching the level of 100,000 renewable electricity micro-grid and energy storage systems across a large number of villages, residents will have access to electricity at half the cost per kWh paid today to run private generators.

Suggested giving levels: $5,000-Platinum Donor; $3,000-Gold Donor; $1,000-Silver Donor; $500-Green Donor. No amount is too small or large. Many of us already include donations to Lebanese nonprofits, international or U.S. relief organizations, or particular villages. Some of those entities are not tax-exempt. None of them provides the direct, sustainable, comprehensive support that The Phoenix Initiative does to meet the electricity needs of the battered people of Lebanon. If you send a monthly remittance of $500 with no tax deduction, why not allocate half that amount per month that is deductible?

Whether you prefer to donate monthly, yearly, or once, Illumi-Nation Global will seek your permission to recognize you on an individual brass plaque affixed at the entrance of the Ain Arab and Maamariyeh Town Halls.

 

Put every ray of the sun to work for Lebanon!

Two Stories of Need…

 

 

 

Ain Arab is situated in a valley protected, yet isolated, by three mountains. Geography and culture necessitate cooperation in managing the village’s spring and well for agriculture. With affordable and reliable solar, Ain Arab’s farmers will have a more predictable water supply and be able to grow enough fruit and vegetables to feed their families and livestock, sell, and trade.

 

In many of the homes of Maamrieh, residents struggle with extreme weather. One summer day in 2024, a woman died there because she could not afford to pay her exorbitant electricity bill. Residents of Maamrieh, Ain Arab, and throughout Lebanon want to pay their fair share for this essential household utility, but they should not have to wait any longer.

Previous PostNext Post