Hassan Halaby – Supporting a cause he believes in
January 25, 2021
“I believe that we should all follow our hearts and support the causes we believe in,” says successful Texas-based Lebanese-American businessman Hassan Halaby. For Halaby, one of those causes is the American University of Beirut. Although he is not an alumnus, he has a deep appreciation for AUB. “It is an icon in Lebanon,” he says. “I believe in the institution. It has always had a good reputation – especially for its medical graduates who have excelled.” Halaby counts some of those graduates among his friends.
In August 2018, Halaby made a gift to AUB to establish the Hassan Mohamed Halaby Endowed Scholarship. Proceeds from this endowed fund provide financial assistance to students majoring in economics or political science. “I chose these majors,” explains Halaby, “because I think Lebanon especially needs people with expertise in these areas in order to improve the situation.”
Nagham, who is majoring in economics, is one of two students who was selected to receive the Hassan Mohamed Halaby Endowed Scholarship in spring 2021. Her dream is to become “an economist who helps to build a strong economy for the citizens of Lebanon.” Nagham is also looking forward to being able to help her parents financially so that her siblings will benefit from “the good education that was provided to me.”
“We are so grateful to scholarship donors like Hassan – especially today, when the need is so great,” said Associate Director of Development Angela Abboud-Khoury. “There are so many students like Nagham at AUB today who need assistance.”