Human Development Foundation of North America Fundraiser in Buena Park
This year’s Human Development Foundation of North America Fundraiser at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel in Buena Park on Sunday Sept. 18 th, 2016 once again vividly testified to the community’s sustained drive for improving the lot of the underprivileged people of Pakistan. The select group of community members raised money to support various projects of the HDF in all four provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
As usual, the program started with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Faisal Qasim and its English translation by Sean Khan. Dr Imran Qasim, emcee of the program, conducted it admirably.
Opening remarks were presented by Dr Yasmin Qasim who had once again successfully brought the leading lights of the community to the event, including Ashraf Habibullah, Syed Javaid Anwar, Dr Sana Khan, and Consul General Abdul JabbarMemon. DrAttiya Khan, Chairperson of HDF, made a passionate appeal for help. She expressed her gratitude to all donors and described how their donations were instrumental in helping educated boys and girls in the poorest areas, providing care to over thousands in 9 health centers, and facilitating small business micro-loans for creating self-sufficient families and building water filtration plants and a model village.
In a span of 16 years, HDF has an impressive array of achievements to its credit. It has established adult literacy centers for women, built schools for underprivileged boys and girls, health care centers in rural areas of the country, and provided micro- loans. The Foundation continues to help people help themselves by working in the most desolate areas of Pakistan, and most importantly, giving people the light to see their potential to better their own lives.
The keynote speaker, Mr Ashraf Habibullah, CEO of world famous Computer Structures Inc., delivered a scintillating speech on how giving and helping others makes the giving person happier than the person receiving. His speech was laced with jokes and songs that delighted the audience.
The event’s Chief Guest, Syed Javaid Anwar, who made a special appearance on Dr Yasmin’s request, is a renowned philanthropist, an enterprising Pakistani-American businessman, who has made his mark in the American oil and gas industry. He is greatly admired by the community. A man of integrity who believes in honesty, education and hard work. A man with a big heart who has generously supported many charitable causes locally and in Pakistan to fund hospitals, schools and many organizations. Mr Anwar made a generous contribution to HDF again this year.
In his address, he emphasized the need for a better world and how we as individuals can make that happen. He appreciated HDF’s and Dr Yasmin’s efforts and impressive achievements in the many areas HDF is involved in.
The Special Guest, Consul General Abdul JabbarMemon, stressed the need to help Pakistan alleviate poverty through a structured approach. He lauded HDF’s focus on the education sector, especially education of girls.
Guests who were sponsors and made generous donations included Dr Sana and Safura Khan, MrSaleem and Yasmeen Adaya, DrImdad and Parveen Ahmed, Dr Khalid and Ghazala Khan, and DrTahiraAkram. Others present also made generous donations.
Dr Yasmin Qasim has successfully organized HDF fundraisers in Southern California for the last many years and each occasion has been a memorable one. This year’s event was an afternoon occasion and her team members comprising Ghazala Khan, ParveenImdad, Fatima Khan, and DrTahiraAkram, are to be commended for their efforts. Congrats to DrQasim for her hard work and continued support of HDF. Ghazala Khan and ParveenImdad and DrTahiraAkram played a prominent role in organizing and sponsoring the event, their contribution is greatly appreciated.
The guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner catered by Mr Dara Khan of Shahnawaz Restaurant. After dinner, the guests enjoyed a highly entertaining musical program pesented by famous singer Lena Benjamin and the Karavaan Band.
