Toufic Baaklini was born in Dhour El Choueir, a mountain town in Lebanon with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea. Now a proud American citizen, he has devoted much of his life to giving back to both Lebanon and the United States.
To this end, he has committed years of service to preserving the historic Christian communities of the Middle East. He has testified before Congress, briefed officials at the State Department and National Security Council, and met with other high-ranking leaders.
Mr. Baaklini has received numerous honors for his service to Middle Eastern Christians, including: an honorary doctorate degree from the Catholic University of America in 2018, knighthood in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great by Pope Francis in 2014, and the Medal of St. Maron in 2017, the highest honor in the Maronite Catholic Church, for his service to that community.