Islamic Relief Raises Funds for Pakistan’s Development Projects
Pictures by YKKB

Above Left : Speakers at the Islamic Relief fundraiser in San Jose. Right : Shahid Afridi reads Pakistan Link

Buena Park, CA: US aid agency Islamic Relief hosted its first series of benefit dinners to raise funds for development projects in Pakistan this past weekend. Over $540,000, including pledges, was raised from donors who attended the three dinners in Dallas, TX, Chicago, IL, and Meadowlands, NJ.
Over 1,200 guests attended the dinners to lend their support to Pakistan and to see Shahid Afridi, the world-renowned cricket player and member of the Pakistan national cricket team, speak on his experiences of working with Islamic Relief in Pakistan.
Afridi joined Islamic Relief to visit Baluchistan, Pakistan, in July of 2007; one month after a devastating cyclone struck Baluchistan and caused severe flooding that left over 250,000 people displaced. During his stay in Baluchistan, Afridi assisted aid workers in distributing over $100,000 worth of essential food and non-food items.
“We were moved by the touching scenes that we witnessed out there,” Afridi said on his return. “I believe it is our responsibility to come to the rescue of those people who have lost their dear ones, their homes and their livelihood.”
Islamic Relief has been working in Pakistan since 1992, and then has established many emergency and long-term development projects throughout the country. These projects include social mobilization, reconstruction of homes, water and sanitation, health, disaster preparedness, sustainable livelihoods, education, orphan sponsorships and food distribution.
In 2005, Islamic Relief was one of the first aid-giving agencies to respond to the earthquake that devastated areas of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Two years later, Islamic Relief remains one of the few organizations that continue to provide support to the earthquake survivors.
To date, Islamic Relief has raised over $70 million in aid for earthquake victims, $20 million of that aid came from donors within the United States.
Combined, Islamic Relief’s projects have benefited nearly two million people across Pakistan.
The dinners continued in San Diego, CA on February 22; San Jose, CA on February 23; and Anaheim, CA on February 24. More information about the tour can be found at www.irw.org/pakistan.
National sponsor for the tour were Amana Mutual Funds.
Covered by Pakmusic & Pak Cricket.com Team

 

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