Helping Hand Appreciation Dinner for Southern California Community
By Fatima Farooki
Pictures by Anwar Khawaja
Helping Hand for Relief and Development, West Region, Southern California Office held their first Appreciation Dinner to award and appreciate the support from the Southern California community in 2011, says a HHRD Press Release. It adds:
The invitees, who supported our efforts in 2011, were from all over the southern California area and represented the Masajid that were awarded plaques from Helping Hand and the wonderful volunteers, who were given certificates.
The event started with recitation of the Glorious Qur’an by Qari Youssef Edagouch and was moderated by Br. Ashar Shah, West Region Southern California Coordinator.
Br Shahid Hussain, our West Region Regional Director, began his address with an introduction of the event by welcoming and thanking the guests for coming and expressing thanks to Allah Subhana Ta’Ala for the good results of 2011 and to our elders who gave their support in many ways. The guests were then invited to enjoy their dinner.
Br. Ashar Shah then gave a great presentation on Helping Hand’s programs and accomplishments in 2011.
Our President and CEO, Br. Farrukh Raza, was introduced to the guests; he spoke eloquently about the national Helping Hand organization.
Certificates were given to 15 top volunteers to appreciate their efforts on behalf of Helping Hand. They were handed out by Br. Farrukh Raza.
Our keynote speaker was Dr Zahid Bukhari, President of ICNA, who was introduced by Salman Syed, ICNA So Cal President who spoke eloquently about ICNA projects and their support of the efforts of Helping Hand and the appreciation of the community-wide support, the building of Masajid and Islamic Schools and our Muslim community’s need to develop the Community Services infrastructure now.
11 of the most helpful organizations were honored with plaques including Masajid, MAS – Greater Los Angeles, Halal Project and the Shura Council of Southern California and handed by Dr. Zahid Bukhari along with Br. Farrukh Raza.
Helping Hand International Disaster Relief in 2011 focused on Japan, Haiti, Africa, Libya and Pakistan. Other programs presented were, Orphan Support Program, Skill Development, Health Care, Education Support, Physical Rehabilitation, Infrastructure Development, Seasonal Programs, Water for Life, Women’s Empowerment, Public Advocacy & Youth Development, Matching Gift Partners Program, and Inkind Donations. The Feature program that will receive much more attention in 2012 is the Interest Free Microfinance program. In this program Helping Hand gives micro loans to recipients for small enterprise. Fundraising programs will be advertised very soon, God Willing.
The program concluded with Naseed and Dua by Qari Youssef Edagouch.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
