Gilbert Chagoury and Philanthropy
Louvre, St. Jude Childrens' Research Hospital, scholarships

Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury have never taken for granted their good fortune and are now internationally known for their philantrophy.

Each year, Gilbert and Rose-Marie support further education for disadvantaged young people with a number of scholarships enabling many international students to continue with higher education, including numerous post-graduate degrees. They have funded international affairs scholarships at Ivy League schools in the US as well as a variety of undergraduate degrees in the US.

Committed to the welfare of his Lebanese community, Gilbert Chagoury is very active in charitable endeavours in health, education and infrastructure in Mizyara, Lebanon. After donating substantial funds towards infrastructure development in the village, the main square was renamed the Ramez Chagoury Square in honour of Gilbert's father. To promote educational development within the village, Gilbert has created a foundation which funds numerous educational scholarships.

One of Gilbert and Rose-Marie's favourite charities is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee, USA, founded by Danny Thomas, an American of Lebanese descent. St. Jude is a non-fee hospital, which takes a holistic approach to the treatment of leukaemia and other cancers affecting children. It is today the foremost internationally recognised institution for its pioneering research of childhood cancer and its treatment programme involving patients and their families.

Gilbert is an avid lover of the arts in general and first became a benefactor to the Louvre Museum in Paris.

He donated a famous 16th century six-part tapestry, sewn with gold and silver threads representing sea divinities, which was commissioned in Paris for Colbert de Seignelay, then Secretary of State for the Navy. By purchasing the piece, Gilbert ensured this national treasure did not leave France. In September 2000, the Louvre Museum dedicated the "Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury Gallery" to display these tapestries.

In 2002, Gilbert made another significant contribution to the Louvre, with the acquisition of an exquisite pair of pink-ground Sèvres vases that formerly graced the Palais Bourbon under the reign of Louis XVI.

On 22nd February, 2007, Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury received the Gold Medal of Honour bestowed upon major donors by the Ministry of Culture and Communication Paris for helping to restore the famous Richelieu Aisle at the Louvre Museum.