The History of The Salaam Club of New York
The history of The Salaam Club of New York reflects the heritage of our great forefathers from the Middle East who brought their dreams and families with them to America. These pioneering individuals settled here and excelled in their professional or business fields. In June 1945 the Salaam Club was formed as a dedicated cultural fraternity of men of Middle Eastern descent. The first elected president was Dr. Fouad Akl, an eminent surgeon, Vice-President was prominent businessman Mitchell Hadad. An executive committee was appointed and the by-laws were drawn. The charter members were Aziz Atiyeh, Abdallah Barsa, Shikri Couri, Brahim Corhan, Abdul Wassh Hadad, Henry Hadad, Milham Hawie, Fayad Jabara, Wadih Kadri, Abraham Lian, Saloum Makarzel, Rafic Rasmony, Elias Sayour, and George Sayour. To raise their visibility in the community, The Salaam Club sponsored a banquet in September 1945. At this gala reception at the Ritz-Carlton, Dr. Bayard Dodge, President of the American University of Beirut, was feted. Since then many other notables have been honored as “Man of the Year” for their outstanding accomplishments and their dedicated work with our people.
Over the years, the Salaam Club has had many distinguished guests at many functions including His Excellency Camille Chamoun, former President of Lebanon, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, as well as leading American families such as the Vanderbilts, the Dodges, the Dulleses, and the Whitieys. Among the distinguished members in the early Salaam Club years was Faris Bey Khouri, former Prime Minister of Syria, who helped draft the charter of the United Nations and later became president of the United Nations Security Council.
In 1978, in honor of Father Albert Gorayeb and desiring to fill a great need , the Salaam Club sent a 15-passenger mini-bus to St. Paul’s Orphanage in Damascus.
Since 1981, The Salaam Club and the St. Nicholas Home have held joint annual meetings and enjoy a special relationship.
In recognition of the Salaam Club’s commitment to higher education, a scholarship was awarded to an outstanding student of the community.
In 1994, the Salaam Club Community Fund was established.
The Club holds various fund raising functions.
Our main events are:
• The Annual Christmas Dinner Dance
• Ladies Night Out
• The Annual Golf Outing
• Annual Youth Career Day
The Club’s general membership meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the historic Fort Hamilton Officer’s Club in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.