Many people don’t know that the first ten days of Dhu Al-Hijjah are better than all the other days of the year, the 10 best days with no exception. They are even better than the days of Ramadan, SubhanAllah!
BURBANK, CA (January 9, 2006) – Islamic Relief has awarded a $30,000 grant
to the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston (IMGH) for its relief work
related to Hurricane Katrina. Half of the grant will pay for recovering expenses
for hurricane relief efforts carried out through Operation Compassion and the
Neighbors2Neighbors program. The other half will go towards the Office of
Disaster Preparedness and Response (ODPR).
Operation Compassion was Houston’s effort to provide volunteers to serve
food at the George R. Brown Convention Center shelter housing Katrina
evacuees. The mayor’s office asked IMGH to manage the Neighbors2Neighbors
program, which existed to house hurricane evacuees and their families with
Houstonian families. The Islamic Relief grant will help cover some of the costs
related to IMGH’s disaster relief efforts.
The $15,000 grant for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Response will
go towards recruiting and training 300 faith communities and congregations to
make themselves “disaster resistant” and prepare them to respond to future
disasters. IMGH President and CEO Elliot Gershenson said, “That [IMGH] was
able to muster the support of over 40,000 volunteers within a five day period
[for Katrina relief] is a testimony to the importance of this program.”The Islamic Society of Greater Houston is also a partner of the work IMGH
does. More than 2,000 members of Muslim community volunteered to help
Katrina victims at the Convention Center.
Islamic Relief began helping displaced citizens in Houston as soon as they
arrived in the city within days of Hurricane Katrina. Working with local
organizations such as IMGH, the Healing Hands Foundation, the Second
Baptist Church, United Way, the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH),
and many more, Islamic Relief provided displaced citizens with emergency
shelter, food, educational supplies, and more.
Islamic Relief has committed to implementing a $1 million comprehensive
emergency aid project for displaced citizens in Houston.
Media Contact:
Arif Shaikh
Islamic Relief USA
(310) 351-3931 mobile
(818) 238-9520 office
(818) 238-9521 fax
**Notes for media professionals**
Islamic Relief immediately responded to the needs of the victims of Hurricane
Katrina – one of the greatest natural disasters in United States history.
Islamic Relief has committed $2 million for Katrina relief projects, which
include working in the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Houston
and Dallas, TX.
Islamic Relief is an international relief and development organization, with
partner offices in 30 countries across the world. We operate a wide range of
emergency relief and sustainable development projects across the world,
including healthcare, water and sanitation, education, income generation, and
orphan support. For more information, please call or visit our website,
Islamic Relief USA is recognized as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator, its
highest rating. Charity Navigator is America’s largest charity evaluator.