I am Guilda Asmar, and my journey in the United States began in 1989. I am happily married to Soly Asmar, and together we are blessed with three wonderful children: Cynthia, Joanna, and Joseph. Upon our arrival in the States, we learned about this remarkable organization through my cousin, Anis Garabet. Subsequently, my husband became a member, and I soon followed suit.

Throughout the years, we actively participated in numerous events organized by the organization, often accompanied by our children. From joyful picnics and exciting trips to engaging conventions and unforgettable parties, we had the pleasure of meeting many remarkable individuals, forming enduring friendships, and establishing meaningful connections.

As a gemologist, jewelry has always been my professional passion until I made the conscious decision to dedicate myself fully to motherhood. However, my deep-rooted inclination to contribute to worthy causes has remained unwavering, inspiring me to invest my time and boundless enthusiasm in making a positive impact.

Over the past decade, I have served as a chair for the Trivia Challenge fundraiser hosted by the Glendora Library Foundation, contributing to the betterment of the community. Additionally, I have taken on various responsibilities in organizing events for my children’s schools, recognizing the importance of fostering a supportive and engaging educational environment.

Family holds immense significance in my life, and I value each and every person who has crossed my path. I firmly believe that we are here in this world to relish its beauty and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Soly Asmar was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and embarked on a transformative journey when he immigrated to the United States in 1989 with his wife Guilda and daughter. Settling in Glendora, California, Soly’s pursuit of success and his dedication to community engagement would shape his remarkable life.

Early on, Soly’s professional career began in downtown Los Angeles, where he worked as an accountant for a prominent wholesale diamond and jewelry company. Through hard work and determination, he steadily climbed the corporate ladder, eventually assuming the roles of comptroller and general manager.

In 1999, Soly transitioned into the insurance industry, becoming an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance in Covina. His commitment to excellence quickly earned him recognition, and in 2002, he was bestowed with the prestigious honor of being named the “Personal Lines of California Agent of the Year” out of a pool of 3,200 agents.

Family has always been a pillar of Soly’s life. Alongside his wife, Guilda, Soly is the proud father of two daughters, Cynthia and Joanna, and a son named Joseph. He cherishes the time spent with his loved ones and derives immense joy from witnessing their growth and achievements.

Soly’s dedication to community service and philanthropy is truly remarkable. He has been an active member of the Azusa Rotary Club since 2006, passionately contributing his time and resources to various humanitarian initiatives. Soly’s commitment to service extended to his leadership within the club, where he served as the immediate past-president for the years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

Over the years, Soly has played a pivotal role as the treasurer of the WLCU (World Lebanese Cultural Union), demonstrating his financial acumen and commitment to supporting cultural endeavors. Additionally, he devoted his time and expertise to the Boy Scouts organization, serving as a leader and positively influencing the lives of countless young individuals.

Outside of his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Soly finds solace in leisure activities. He enjoys playing golf, indulging in camping trips, and participating in hunting excursions. Soly’s love for sports is evident in his unwavering support for Southern California teams, with a particular fondness for the Lakers.

Soly Asmar’s warm and sociable nature has allowed him to forge lasting friendships with individuals from all corners of the globe. His generosity and philanthropic spirit have become well-known and continue to inspire those around him. Soly’s remarkable journey leaves an indelible impression, and his impact on the lives of others will never be forgotten.

Anise Garabet, the son of Leon and Margaret Garabet, was born in Beirut, Lebanon before his family moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1972.

They moved again to settle in Los Angeles, California in 1979.
Anis earned a Civil Engineering B.S. degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in 1978 and terminated the graduate program towards a Master’s Degree in Seismology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1980. He is a registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California since 1982. He joined the staff of NASA’s space shuttle program working for Rockwell International in 1979 and received an award from Columbia’s first mission astronauts, John Young and Robert Crippen, for successfully testing the Thermal Protection System for the space shuttle. Anise is also involved in construction and land development.

In January 1973, he joined The World Lebanese Cultural Union [WLCU] in New York City. In 2000, he was one of the proud founders of the House of Lebanon in Los Angeles, and he served on its Board of Directors until 2018.

In May 2005 he was elected in Sydney, Australia as the World President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), the sole Lebanese official representative of the Lebanese Diaspora. He successfully applied for the WLCU to become an NGO associated and accredited at the DPI and ECOSOC of the United Nations. He has participated in numerous UN conferences dealing with the Millennium Developments Goals (MDG’S) and subsequently the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). In November 2007 he joined the Board of the Lebanese American Renaissance Foundation (LARP) based in Washington, DC. In 2014, he proudly participated, with the support of a brilliant WLCU team, in donating the statue of Gibran Khalil Gibran to the City of Los Angeles, the statue was unveiled at the LA Central Library. He received numerous awards from WLCU affiliated institutions in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia and South Africa. He was selected as the Man of the Year at the LA Lebanese Kataeb Gala in 2007 and has been named as the recipient of the Annual Humanitarian Award for the WLCU California Ladies Organization in 2014.

In 1983, Anis Garabet married Leila Tohme who is originally from Rashaya Elwadi, Lebanon. They have three beautiful children, two daughters, Margaret and Pauline and a son, Jonathan. Coming from a family of jewelers, Anis founded Golden Pacific Jewelry in 1984 after earning a degree in gemology from the Gemological Institute of America, GIA. In 2010, he acquired Golden State Jewelry, located in the fashionable Los Angeles Downtown Jewelry District.

Anise loves to design jewelry. He speaks five languages, writes Lebanese poetry, he is also a pianist who is very much influenced by Feyruz and the Rahbani brothers.

BIO

Ferris Wehbe was born in Lebanon September 15, 1957, and at 17 had to leave due to the Civil War, arriving in the United States. Knowing he may never be able to return, Ferris emerged himself in the American Culture and system. His natural inclination towards social service led him to community activism and American Citizenship. Ferris fully embraces American Democracy and the entrepreneurial spirit while continuing to work for the betterment of others. Ferris is a longtime member of Rotary International, serving on Club and District Boards.

Ferris knows that change doesn’t happen overnight; it happens step by step. As a longtime resident, business owner, and community leader in Hollywood, Ferris walked the neighborhood to meet local residents and business owners; he brought everyone together to walk the streets when the area was overrun with crime, and he knocked on doors when a young candidate named Eric Garcetti was first running for City Council.

Since 1983, Ferris and his wife Debbie have operated F&D Properties, one of the few real estate companies willing to invest in Hollywood when others were abandoning it. During this time, Ferris and Debbie owned and operated the acclaimed Hollywood Schoolhouse (founded by Debbie’s family in 1945) which served as a safe-haven for neighborhood children, and now serves as a national model for creative learning for grades K-6.

In 1988, Ferris co-founded the Hollywood Sentinels Neighborhood Watch program to address the drug dealing, gangs, and prostitution that had overrun the neighborhood. For over six years, he led local residents on nightly patrols of the area until they had taken back their streets.

Recognizing that tackling crime would require a holistic approach, Ferris spearheaded several programs to serve neighborhood children. As a founding member of the Hollywood Youth Charities, Board of Governors, Ferris was instrumental in raising over $300,000 for youth activities. During his time as President of the Hollywood Police Activities League, membership rose from 25 to 1,300 children, with four full-time officers serving six community locations, including the Hollywood Schoolhouse.

Ferris also launched the Hollywood Youth Collaborative, an inter-agency program that provides after-school activities for children, and he raised over $200,000 to replace outdated LAPD computers and other vital equipment needed to protect the neighborhood. The LAPD attributes many of Ferris’ efforts to a 60% reduction in youth-related local crime. These efforts to tackle neighborhood crime earned national attention and still serve as an example for neighborhood empowerment Citywide.

In addition to his early community organizing, Ferris was integral to the launch of several other efforts to improve Hollywood. The Hollywood Beautification Team, a highly acclaimed program that cleans and beautifies neighborhoods across Los Angeles, was conceived in Ferris’ living room in the early 1990’s. Now renamed HLABT, it serves entire communities by: planting trees, designing and implementing resource conservation projects, improving school campuses, neighborhoods and business districts.

Ferris is a founder of the Hollywood Media District, Business Improvement District (BID) first established in 2000, and continues to serve on the board. The mission of the Hollywood Media District is to enhance the security, cleanliness, beautification and commercial desirability of the area.

As Co-Chair of the Hollywood Redevelopment Project, Community Redevelopment Agency Los Angeles, Ferris oversaw the 1,107-acre Hollywood Redevelopment Plan goals including encouraging economic development; promoting and retaining the entertainment industry; revitalizing the historic core; preserving and expanding housing for all income groups; meeting social needs of area residents; providing urban design guidelines; and preserving historically significant structures.

Over time, Ferris’ community organizing segued into political action. Frustrated by the lack of accountability for problems in local neighborhoods, Ferris served as President of Hollywood VOTE, a group formed to explore the feasibility of forming an independent City of Hollywood. Hollywood VOTE collected 38,000 signatures to put the issue to the voters on the 2002 ballot.

Ferris is a founding member of the Los Angeles Beirut Sister City Committee, and currently serves as its Chairman. He led the Citizen Delegation to Lebanon in 2006 where the official documents were signed. The Los Angeles Beirut Sister City Committee was established to create a bridge of understanding and friendship between the residents of these two great cities, and to foster cultural, social, and business exchanges.

Ferris dedicates numerous hours to volunteer organizations benefiting his local community and international projects. In 2006, Ferris served as the Senior Assistant Governor for Special Projects, Rotary International District 5280, where he was charged with chartering 3 new clubs: Historic Filipino Town Rotary Club, Thai Town Rotary Club, and Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club. His service to Rotary continues through Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club as Treasures and International Grant writer having raised $200,000 for clean water projects in Lebanon.

In 2013, Ferris served as the Finance Chair for Eric Garcetti’s Super PAC, Lots Of People Who Support Eric Garcetti, and raised $2.4 million in 90 days.

A strong supporter and user of public transportation, Ferris served as the Co-Chair of Measure M supporting a tax increase for the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan. He envisions a future of greater access to affordable public transportation for all, less traffic, and a cleaner environment.

He serves on the board of the House of Lebanon, and has been instrumental in locating a permanent structure for the organization and its activities.

He is currently serving as: Treasurer of the Getty House Foundation; Vice President of the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council; Co-Chair of the Hollywood Community Police Advisory Board; Advisor to the President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union; Treasurer, Los Angeles Cedars Rotary Club; Board Member, House of Lebanon; Board Member, Media Business Improvement District.

Ferris and his wife Debbie still reside in Hollywood where they have raised their four children: Ethan, Eric, Laila, and Nadia. Ferris enjoys visits from his grandchildren, Rocco and Kingsley, who attend the Hollywood Schoolhouse. When Ferris is not working, he can be found hiking the trails of Griffith Park and walking the streets of his beloved Hollywood.

Anise loves to design jewelry. He speaks five languages, writes Lebanese poetry, he is also a pianist who is very much influenced by Feyruz and the Rahbani brothers.

Nelly Toumayan joined the WLCU organization in May 2017 and served as Vice President to the LA Chapter in May 2020. Nelly continues her service to the organization as newly elected Vice President to the LA Chapter in May 2023. Nelly also joined and helped organize many functions and fund raisers, such as The Courage Award and Christmas fund raiser.

Michel born in Rayak, Lebanon, studied until high school in Lebanon, immigrated to Toronto, Canada where he completed his Aerospace engineering studies. He traveled and worked in Seattle, WA, and then recently relocated to Los Angeles area.

Michel founded the Lebanese Toronto Club, Lebanese American Society of Seattle; founded many schools and taught children from variety of ages different subjects including the Lebanese language.

Michel has a bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering from Canada and Master of Business Administration from USA. He has Twenty plus years of engineering leadership experience at Aerospace companies around the world such as Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus, and Collins Aerospace. He is currently working as a Manager of engineering at Boeing, California.

Rayan Karim, a highly dedicated educator, a devoted wife, and a loving mother, has embarked on a remarkable journey in shaping young minds and nurturing her own family. With a Masters’ degree in Education and her role as a wife and as a mother to two wonderful boys, Rayan embodies the perfect blend of professional expertise and a nurturing spirit.

Rayan has been actively involved in the WLCU organization for the past two decades, dedicating her time and effort for its mission and goals. Her unwavering commitment and contributions have made a significant impact on the organization’s success and growth. In addition, Rayan is married to Edward Karim, who has served with distinction as a WLCU/California president and North America vice president. Together, they have formed a formidable team, working hand in hand to promote the organization’s values and initiatives. Their combined passion and leadership have been instrumental in fostering unity, community engagement and positive change within the WLCU and beyond.

Rayan was born and raised in Lebanon. She migrated to the United States at the age of seventeen where she discovered her passion for learning and teaching at an early age. Rayan’s passion for education led her to pursue higher studies and she earned her Master’s degree in Education from a prestigious university. Through her studies, Rayan gained valuable insights that she applies in her teaching practice. Armed with her academic achievements and a burning desire to make a difference, Rayan joined an elementary school in 2003 as a passionate educator, where her dedication and innovative teaching methods quickly made her a beloved figure among students and colleagues alike.

While Rayan’s dedication to her students is unwavering, her most cherished role is that of a mother and wife. Balancing her teaching career and her responsibilities at home, Rayan demonstrates incredible resilience and organizational skills. She skillfully navigates between school and family life, ensuring that her family receives the love, care and guidance they need to thrive. Rayan’s ability to nurture her own family while positively impacting the lives of her students is a testament to her remarkable strength and unwavering commitment.