The San Francisco chapter of SEAL (Social and Economic Action for Lebanon) once again turned out for Lebanon on Sunday, October 18, 2026, raising close to $800,000 for Lebanese farmers at its annual benefit gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto.
The nonprofit has worked from the U.S. East Coast for more than a quarter century, and this year marked its fifth consecutive gala in California. More than 200 guests and donors filled the ballroom, hosted by Roula Tamer, chair of SEAL’s board of directors, alongside fellow board members and the event committee.
The evening showcased two sides of Lebanese talent: technology, represented by entrepreneur Fadi Daou, and culture, brought to the stage by violinist Maria Bassil, whose program moved between French, English and Arabic music.
- Honoring a Veteran Entrepreneur -
Each year, SEAL honors a Lebanese figure who shares its mission, excels in their field and raises Lebanon’s profile. This year, the organization chose Fadi Daou.
A serial entrepreneur with nearly four decades of experience in optical and electrical engineering, Daou has built his career around making a difference at home. While many Lebanese look abroad for their future, the founder and CEO of MultiLane has gone the other way, placing his company’s main design and manufacturing center in his home village of Houmal. The move gives young engineers an international career without having to emigrate.
“Above all, it’s about creating jobs so our children can come back and build their careers at home,” Daou said. He sums up the philosophy in four words: “Export products, not people.”
Daou’s ambitions go beyond slowing the brain drain. He aims to make Lebanon a global technology hub, and has expanded local opportunities through the Houmal Technology Park, an innovation center that brings together offices, a startup incubator, an applied training center, research labs and a program to grow the next generation of venture-backed Lebanese tech startups. In recognition, SEAL presented him with its 2026 SEAL Award for lifetime achievement.
“We are honoring a leader whose vision has proven that investing in human capital can transform an entire community,” board member Khaled Nasr said as he presented the award. Daou’s path, the organization noted, mirrors SEAL’s own mission: betting on Lebanon’s potential so that talent, opportunity and prosperity take root at home.
In his speech, Fadi Daou reveals the four pillars of sustainable impact in Lebanon that he seeks to generate, notably through human development, education, and the creation of local opportunities.
“We've completed the law of the Special Economic Zone that's going to make Lebanon very competitive,” he notes. “We won't have to worry about customs, what would be a free zone status, employment at will, that will make Lebanon super competitive and attractive for anyone to set up shop there.”
Daou also outlines the second pillar: “We're developing campuses throughout the country that will be able to house 10,000 people, with a new factory of hyperscale capacity of 30,000 square meters to be ready in Q1.”
The third focus is building the ecosystem and forging international partnerships, notably a partnership with Teradyne and an upcoming Q1 joint venture with an interconnect company to build hyperscale interconnect products for the AI market at the Safra Technology Park.
The fourth pillar is “investing in human resource development by offering training through universities and partnering with the René Moawad Foundation (RMF),” as well as launching “LCH: Lebanon Calls You Home,” a program to bring back young professionals in their early-to-mid career, featuring a December event in Houmal to create jobs and build a better future in Lebanon.
In her own speech, Tamer described SEAL’s mission as centered on food security and built on four pillars: “water and irrigation, support for farmers, stronger food production, and investment in human capital.”
- Investment, Not Charity -
Tamer set the tone early: this was not a conversation about charity.
“Our model is driven by local demand,” she said. Cooperatives, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations come to SEAL with a specific need, and SEAL funds the equipment that helps them earn a living, from water reservoirs and solar pumps to shared tractors and food-processing machinery. “We evaluate these projects as investments, not donations,” she said, adding that the organization selects projects that strengthen livelihoods, generate income and create jobs.
Turning to the 200 guests, she added: “Your support isn’t charity either. It’s an investment in Lebanon’s dignity, resilience and future.”
Tamer also highlighted a feature that sets SEAL apart: its board covers all operating costs, so every dollar donated goes directly to projects on the ground. Over 29 years, the organization said, it has raised $20.5 million and funded more than 280 economic development projects across Lebanon.
- A Violin That Lit Up the Room -
The evening’s other highlight was Las Vegas-based violinist Maria Bassil, known for her magnetic stage presence and her blend of elegance and skill. She did not disappoint. Moving easily between classical, Middle Eastern and international hits, Bassil carried the audience back to Lebanon. Guests, stirred by nostalgia for home, were soon dancing around their tables.
Elegance, emotion and enthusiasm made for a memorable night.