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Comedy for a Cause: Refugee Relief Tour raises over $50,000

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by: Jasmine Hasni Henderson
Outreach and Communications Coordinator ICNA Relief- Muslim Family Services, Detroit MI

ICNA Relief USA – Muslim Family Services held a Comedy event to help raise funds for their Refugee programs in Wayne, Mich. Saturday October 7. Approximately $50,000 was raised during this event by generous supporters.

The affair was a well attended success with over 400 guests present and a volunteer presence that was full of enthusiasm and dedication. Local organizations such as Helping Hand, Mechanic One, Zaza’s Mediterranean Grill, Abdu Market, BNG Mulitservices, and The Muslim Observer were generous enough to sponsor and attend the event.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Hasni Henderson and Joseph Figlioli

The atmosphere was electric as attendees were ready to laugh their hearts out! The anticipation of the past few weeks had finally been met with smiles and eagerness as guests registered and were ushered into the Oak Room at Wayne Tree Manor. Muslim Family Services (MFS), in collaboration with Young Muslim Brothers, had decided to take this fundraising event and turn it into “Comedy for a Cause”.

“Having a different approach to fundraising is always a good change,” said acting Administrative Director of MFS Summi Akther said. “We wanted to give our donors, sponsors, and volunteers an event that they could enjoy and remember for years to come!”

With this idea in mind, ICNA Relief-MFS did indeed put the “FUN” in FUNdraiser! As the emcee, Faizan Mumtaz welcomed and introduced the program. guests were filled with delight to see the first comedian walk up to the stage, Jeremy McLellan started off the program with a bang!

Photo Credit: Jasmine Hasni Henderson and Joseph Figlioli

McLellan signed on with ICNA Relief USA to do an 11 city tour to collect funds for ICNA’s refugee programs. Detroit was his 10th stop. The biryani-loving comedian is known for writing about his love for biryani and his humorous commentary on American politics, immigration, Islamophobia and race. His understanding of Islam, diversity of Muslims and Pakistani culture has made him popular among the South Asian population.

This show was not only a single act, but a double, as Stand-Up Comedian Azhar Usman took the stage for round two of ultimate laughs. Laughter did not cease for the next 45 minutes as Usman cracked jokes about the different ethnic groups among the Muslim community.

Usman’s “I said it, but you thought it” approach makes his act something everyone can relate to. ICNA Relief-Muslim Family Services Detroit’s addition of Azhar Usman made the show even better! Funnyman Azhar Usman was an attorney by trade, but now is a stand-up comic, actor, writer, playwright and producer.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Hasni Henderson and Joseph Figlioli

He is one of Chicago’s top standup comics; CNN called him “America’s Funniest Muslim,” and Georgetown University identified him as “one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World.”

In 2010, standup icon Dave Chappelle–for whom Usman has opened over 50 times–commented “Azhar is untouchable!”

As the co-founder of the international comedy showcase “Allah Made Me Funny–The Official Muslim Comedy Tour,” he has toured over 20 countries, on five continents. His comedy has been profiled/reviewed by over 100 major world media outlets including The New York Times, The Economist, British Broadcasting Corporation, The Guardian, National Public Radio, TIME Magazine, Al-Jazeera, USA Today, and Fox News.

After the comedians had concluded, a hearty late lunch was served consisting of: lamb biryani, butter chicken with naan, pasta with Alfredo sauce, veggie makhni, hummus, fattoush salad,  AND dessert- everyone ate to their heart’s content.

“An afternoon out for families and friends is something we all need once in a while and this event not only was fun and entertaining, but it was for a good cause! Money well spent and donated!” one attendee said.

Photo Credit: Jasmine Hasni Henderson and Joseph Figlioli

Overall, the Refugee Relief Tour: Comedy for a Cause 11-city tour grossed a quarter of a million dollars to benefit ICNA Relief’s refugee programs nation-wide.

For more information on ICNA Relief- Muslim Family Services programs or if you would like to volunteer or donate,  visit their website here or call their Detroit office at (313)-366-6800.

*All proceeds of the fundraising event will go toward ICNA Relief USA- Muslim Family Services Refugee programs.

#HappyPeriodDetroit

#HappyPeriodDetroit Provides Female Hygiene Products to Local Shelters

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by Nargis Rahman

Recently #HappyPeriodDetroit, a local chapter of the social movement #HappyPeriod which provides female hygiene products to those in poverty or homelessness, and Youth of Ummah sisters’ youth group teamed up to collect $1,100 worth of products and prepare them for distribution in Metro Detroit. There were products for 863 periods, including 301 kits containing one week’s supply of pads, tampons and panty liners.

YOU Outreach Coordinator Mehruba Akthar, 26, organized Michigan’s first packing party at the Islamic Organization of North America. Mehruba said, as Muslims, it is important to do our part.

“Helping the community is something YOU is passionate about. It is our goal to make a positive impact on the community through initiatives like Happy Period Hygiene Kit Drive,” she said.

Discussing periods is a taboo topic across cultures, including Muslim and South Asian homes, although the lack of female hygiene products is the most prevalent problem for women in homelessness and poverty. It is one of the less-thought-about factors of homelessness, which affects people’s everyday life, wellbeing, and dignity.

According to the Family & Youth Services Bureau, 80 percent of mothers facing homelessness fled domestic violence. Women also are more likely to get sexually assaulted and have dependents while homeless. Lack of access to female hygiene products adds to a load of stress in an already unpleasant situation.#HappyPeriodDetroit

#HappyPeriodDetroit’s founder Jessica Marie Bertollini, 28, of Farmington Hills, stepped up to change that last year by opening the local chapter of #HappyPeriod, which began in California in 2015. She was inspired by its sisterhood.

“What I love about #HappyPeriod is the support and comradery it encourages among women,” she said.

I was introduced to Jessica by a mutual friend after posting a Facebook status about getting involved in the cause locally.#HappyPeriodDetroit

Jessica asked her best friend Danielle Poulin, 29, from Sterling Heights to join the movement. Danielle was drawn to the cause for its simplicity to give back and raise awareness about the taboo topic of periods.

Danielle said, “No one wants to feel dirty, when they don’t have something as simple as a pad.”

#HappyPeriodDetroit collects products throughout the year and distributes them according to need at local shelters.

Contact Jessica at happyperioddetroit@gmail.com to collect products or host a packing party event. Visit hashtaghappyperiod.org to learn more about the cause.

palestine foundation

The Palestine Foundation Provides Funds to Help Palestinians Help Themselves

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by Susan Shwartz

Throughout the civilized world, people of good will, people who place a high value on justice and decency, hold the beleaguered people of Palestine close to their hearts. The resilience and steadfastness of the Palestine people further enhances their stature.

There are many organizations that work to bring the plight of the Palestinians to public attention and many organizations that are directly involved in their struggle. Now a new group has appeared on the scene and holds the promise of great success.

Late this past year a new organization was founded by veteran activists in the noble Palestinian cause. The Palestine Foundation was formed by Palestinian-Americans with many humanitarian organizations in attendance at the home of Lily and Karim Karam in Southern California. The Karams were also among the founders of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), the world’s largest children’s charity for medical relief.

The Palestine Foundation believes that the people of Palestine will “better benefit from tools than handouts.” They strive to help Palestinians to help themselves.

Foundation grants are available upon presentation and approval to work in such fields as teaching children Palestinian history; training in education; public health; the establishment of public medical clinics, and habitat and water projects for refugees. The list is not complete.

The Foundation seeks to promote the three values of sustainability, stewardship, and joy.

To cite but one example, the Palestine Foundation has supported efforts by the Lajee Center which teaches Palestinians how to test their water supply to assure proper sanitation.

The Palestine Foundation has announced its first event/fundraiser. The concert took place on April 2nd of this year in Placentia, California and featured Dalal abu Amneh in Ya Sitti.

Activists in the Palestine Foundation have graciously consented to be interviewed by The Muslim Observer. Herewith is their story.

You refer to your organization as an umbrella organization. I assume that means there are other groups involved. Can you name these other groups?

There are no set organizations that are under our theoretical umbrella. What we mostly mean by being an umbrella organization is that we can bring in a number of organizations that work on different kinds of long-term sustainable projects in Palestine. Being a foundation gives us a kind of flexibility that other linearly-focused groups would not have.

When approximately did this group begin?

The idea of creating the Palestine Foundation has been floating in our heads for about a year now. Palestine has never been a nation of beggars. For thousands of years, it was always the crossroads of exchange in goods, culture, and ideas. We want to reinvigorate that spirit in Palestine, because under the clouds of the occupation is a population full of brilliance and savvy. Ideas in sustainability have to be a litle (sic) creative because of the terrible political circumstances, but if anyone can do it, it would be the Palestinians. So our group solidified its ideas around that concept and then we applied nonprofit status.

Have organizations and/or individuals already applied for grants?

The Palestine Foundation is currently accepting inquiries. We had a major concert benefit event on April 2nd with Palestinian star singer Dalal Abu Aminah and Comedian Amer Zahr that kickstarted our funding campaign. Organizations have been submitting inquiries and we encourage orgs to continue doing so.

In implementing the programs, do you expect any harassment from the Israelis?

As much as the nonprofit world would wish to be able to separate politics from humanitarian work, we can’t. However, most of the Palestine Foundation’s board members and officers have vast prior experience working in organizations that help Palestinians so we are prepared to deal with what comes our way as efficiently as possible. Because, in the end, we want to make sure that the people are able to implement their sustainable solutions on the ground and maintain them worry-free.

When you approve a grant, does the person/persons who lead the grant carry out the particulars with your supervision? How much autonomy does the grant recipient have?

Organizations have full autonomy in implementing their sustainable solutions. The Palestine Foundation’s supervision will not be hands-on but rather arms-length only to ensure that the funds are being utilized to achieve the objective.

Could you give us specifics about programs already underway?

Palestine Foundation’s four focus areas for sustainability are education, health, habitat and the arts. We are currently concentrating on habitat and creating sustainable solutions for quite possibly the most pressing issue in Palestine: water. There are number of organizations that are trying to tackle the water issue in a number of refugee camps. Currently one of our applicants is working in the Aida refugee camp to retain rainwater and create rooftop gardens in which residents can grow crops. They have proven successful so far and want to extend the project to a dozen more refugee camps.

Could you run our readers through a hypothetical project from acceptance (with funding) to completion? For example, if one receives a grant for a project does he or she work with a contact in Palestine; does he work through people like yourself who have had experience dealing with the political situation in Palestine; does he travel to Palestine himself to oversee the implementation?

Hypothetically, upon full acceptance, funding will depend on the number of phases in a project. It is usually best practice to fund a project in phases rather than give the full amount outright in order to ensure that the funds are being utilized properly throughout the project and minimizes the risk of waste. Every dollar raised is precious and should be treated that way.

We have also realized how important autonomy is when an organization works on a project. More importantly, we do not want to be another foreign organization that tells locals how they should do things when they would know much better than anyone else. The reason why we chose to fund a project by an organization is because our in-depth analysis makes us confident it can accomplish its goals.

There will be a committee within the Foundation that will be tasked with ensuring the phases are on track to be completed and provide resources and support where need be. Phase completions will be confirmed by the organization and then reviewed through the means of technological communication or personal visits by the committee. A report will generated and given to the executive committee. The executive committee will then send an approval request for additional funds to the board for the following phase along with a disclosure from the organization that it is not receiving funds from another organization for the same phase about to be funded.