Geraldo Rivera, Among Others, to Be Honored in Birmingham

Prominent national figures will converge on Birmingham next week to ‘Celebrate Friends of Lebanon’ when the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce holds its Sixth Annual Golden Cedar Awards Gala Spectacular featuring a 'Night of a Hun'dred Stars!, at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at .

The Pillar of Baalbek Honorees include Fox news personality Geraldo Rivera, for excellence in broadcast journalism and his many years of live coverage from Beirut, His Holiness Pope John Paul, II, (posthumously) commemorating his visit to Lebanon to celebrate Catholic Mass in the mountains, with Cardinal Edmund Szoka accepting the award, and Automotive Legend & Philanthropist Martin ‘Hoot’ McInerney, as Businessman of the Century, for his longtime support to the Lebanese American community in the Motor City.

In addition, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will deliver the keynote address, and WJR AM-760 Personality Paul Smith ‘The King of Talk Radio in Detroit’ will serve as celebrity master of ceremonies for the evening. Celebrities and notables scheduled to appear include:

• Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih
• US Congressman Charles Boustany
• Michigan Third Circuit Court Judge James Chylinski
• Lawrence Technological University President Lewis Walker
• Internationally Renown Recording Artist Laith Alattar
• Dr. Patricia Maryland, CEO of St. John Providence Health System.

Attending from Beirut will be His Excellency Houssam Diab, Consul General of the Republic of Lebanon, ANB News Anchorwoman Mirna Makhoul and author Karim Koussa.

The annual foreign affair is nationally co-chaired by Jacques Nasser, former Ford Motor Company CEO and Peter MacPherson, chairman of the Dow Jones and is the chamber’s black-tie signature event. Throughout the evening, patrons will enjoy benefiting the chamber’s only fundraising function: networking with dynamic professionals, movers and shakers, and business and civic leaders. There will also be a Detroit sports-themed silent auction, a surprise celebrity toastmaster, Mediterranean musical performance, an exclusive Khalil Gibran Art Exhibit, a book-signing, a photo booth, an Ameen Rihani poetry reading and an evening of culture and inspiration celebrating longtime friends of Lebanon, along with local business achievers.