It was in my heart to help a little
because I was helped much.
Khalil Gibran
The Naef K. Basile Foundation was established in 1998, in order to fulfill the vision and complete the plan of Dr. Naef Khoury Basile. A son of Lebanon who loved his native land as well as his adopted home in the United States, Naef Basile appreciated all he had received in life and spent his adult years striving to share those blessings with others. (Learn more about his life and work.)
Dr. Basile envisioned providing for Lebanon a cancer center that would rank among the world's best, with the full range of the most advanced cancer treatments. He also hoped to be able to provide that quality of care to those who cannot afford the financial burden of the medical treatment they need. Helping those who were given less opportunities to help themselves was a lifelong theme of his efforts in many areas. Today, in addition to establishing and supporting the development of the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute (NKBCI) at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, the Foundation continues to seek effective ways to continue his legacy of giving.
defeating cancer:
a fight we can win together
In 2018 , over 18 million people worldwide were diagnosed
with cancer, one of the top two causes of death globally,
second only to cardiovascular diseases.
In addition to the toll it takes on so
many patients and their families,
cancer affects broader communities
and entire nations by contributing
to poverty and impeding
development. The World Health
Organization has said that the rise
of cancer in less affluent countries
is an “impending disaster.”
Lebanon, a land that has long shared its cultural legacy with the world, is also renowned for the medical excellence it provides for its people and the larger region. But, in the fight against cancer, there is so much more that must be done, in Lebanon and throughout the world.
Lebanon’s fight against cancer must be tackled on multiple fronts, by multiple partners. The advances made internationally every year by doctors and scientists through cutting-edge research and promising new treatments, new approaches in holistic care for patients and their families, new opportunities for advanced oncological training: all these must be provided to the people of Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, without delay.
Our Commitment
With the establishment of the Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute at the AUBMC,
the Naef K. Basile Foundation has become an important partner in Lebanon's fight against cancer.
We are dedicated to providing and supporting:
➤ the most advanced and effective cancer treatments available in the world today,
➤ groundbreaking clinical and scientific research initiatives,
➤ public awareness of healthy practices for cancer prevention and the need for early detection,
➤ outstanding education and technical training for medical professionals,
➤ assistance for those who cannot afford the financial burden of the medical treatment they need,
and through all these strategies,
reducing the enormous impact of cancer on the people of Lebanon and the Middle East.
12 June 2019 – A major fundraising event for for Lebanon's Cancer Support Fund is held at La Résidence des Pins in Beirut.