House Of Lebanon Timeline
Cool Timeline
Co-Chairman Mike Ahmar, Co-Chairman Dr. Paul Wakim, and President Joseph Karaki founded the Young Leaders Group as a place where young professionals of Lebanese descent can discover and develop relationships with other successful Lebanese and Lebanese Americans in Southern California.
The Lebanese American Foundation hosted its annual gala, titled “Sharing Our Dream & Unveiling Our Future”, and invited members of the Lebanese community to learn about the future of the House of Lebanon and celebrate the beginning of renovation for the newly designated building.
Executive Board Member Joseph Karaki prepared permits for the property to serve as a cultural center, and submitted them to the city of Los Angeles for approval. Gensler, which ranked 1st in the world’s top 20 largest architecture firms in 2017, was hired to prepare designs of the HoL building.
On July 29, 2015, the day before the US Premiere of the movie The Prophet, Dr. Paul Wakim interviewed the film’s producer and world renowned actress Selma Hayek about her new film. The interview also shed light on her Lebanese roots and what inspired her to make the film.
The Ray R. Irani Pride of Heritage Award was presented to Philanthropist and Civic Leader Harry H. Nadjarian.
On May 28, 2013, the House of Lebanon moved from their previous Studio City office to the new location at 4800 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. This fateful property has been designated as the House of Lebanon, the first Lebanese American Cultural Center in the United States of America.