Khalil Kanaan is a founding member of FLFS-USA. Khalil emigrated from Lebanon to the United States in 1993. What began as a student experience in America led to a 25-year successful career in financial services. Khalil invests and supports many humanitarian and educational efforts. He was instrumental in establishing the St. John Paul II Maronite Catholic Church in Westchester, served as a bord member for Teach-For-Lebanon-USA and promoted the launching of the LAU NY Alumni chapter. Khalil was deeply moved by the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross in Lebanon after getting acquainted with them in 2017. With the dramatic deterioration of the economy in Lebanon, Khalil, and his wife Rita, answered the “Cry for Help” call of the Sisters and vowed to raise awareness and provide substantial assistance for the largest community of mental health patients and students from underprivileged backgrounds Khalil and Rita Makhlouf Kanaan live in New York City and are parents to four young adult children.