ANAHEIM, California (January 11, 2005) – Despite stormy weather conditions,
over 1,600 people packed the ballroom in the Anaheim Hilton on Sunday,
January 9, to attend a fund-raising benefit dinner for tsunami victims. The
event was organized by the coalition of Mosques and Islamic organizations in
Southern California, known as the Islamic Shura Council of Southern
California, and Burbank-based charity Islamic Relief USA.
Over $700,000 was raised at the event. The funds will be used to provide
emergency relief to the victims of the tsunamis.
Islamic Relief USA is implementing several emergency relief projects to help
the tsunami victims in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. The projects include
emergency medical aid, hygiene kits, emergency shelter, water and
sanitation, and distribution of food and clean water.
Among the speakers at the event were local and national Muslim leaders, as
well as the Consul Generals of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Elder Randall Huff from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also
spoke at the event. The Mormon church partnered with Islamic Relief USA in
sending a cargo plane filled with emergency aid for tsunami victims in
Indonesia on January 1, 2004.