The Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel has opened its water-basketball tournament, a yearly charity project which raises donations for a different party every year, The Daily Star reported on Thursday.

This year's tournament is expected to raise more than 7,000 dollars and the sum will be donated to SOS Children's villages. Last year the beneficiary was the Children Cancer Hospital, said the report.

"It was a great opportunity for us, especially that our sole source of funds are corporate's or individuals' initiatives," Nicole Barghoud, SOS's fund raiser, was quoted as saying.

In addition to the money they will receive during the closing ceremony (July 26), the event was a chance to hand out leaflets and promote their association.

"We encourage the Lebanese to support us as we provide our children high standards of accommodations and high-standard schooling which are costly," Barghoud said.

LASCV, founded in 1964, is an independent non-profit organization that provides alternative family care to children with no families in 131 countries.

In Lebanon the LASCV provides care to 1,270 children through four children's communities, seven youth homes and two social centers in the country. The first community was founded in 1969 in Bhersaf village in Metn and the latest in Ksarnaba of the Bekaa two years ago.