#Uncategorized
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Young, Muslim and Charitable in The United States? You’re part of America’s Generation of Influential Philanthropists
Americans gave an estimated $358.58 billion in charity in 2014. This number is the highest charitable contribution ever, according to Giving USA, perhaps the most authoritative report on philanthropic giving in the country. In fact, more Americans report giving charity than carrying out any other ‘moral’ activity, like going to church or mosque. And to complement this trend, about a third of charitable giving in the United States is towards religious institutions. In this short piece, I focus on the factors driving youth philanthropy and what it says about the changing landscape of giving, more generally.
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These Smart Giving Tips Can Lower Your Taxes
Dear Giver, it's true. The end of the year is a good time for charities. That’s why they ask you for your money at this time the most (along with every kind of company with any kind of product to sell). And it should be a good time for you too.
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Are You Tricking Yourself Out Of Treats That Are Good For You?
Forget, just for a moment, debates about the commodification of Halloween and other days happening in the United States now through the end of the year, and forgive me while I take the idea of "treating" in another direction. I promise I'm not about to encourage or discourage Halloween or any other day. Anyway, I think there's something really disturbing about joining the innocence of babes and their love for sweets and zombie-creatures roaming around with blood and gore and … you know what I mean.
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How to Bring Faiths Together, Peacefully
Want to know how to unite people of different faiths for a good cause? The Walk DC is an annual interfaith event that makes this happen every single year. This year, ten different faith communities opened their doors as open houses to walkers of all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. This is a step-by-step of how to bring people of different faiths together, peacefully (for real).
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What do Muslims at Islamic Relief USA Really Do?
Nada Shawish is communications specialist at Islamic Relief USA. What happens when a radio show host meets with the Islamic Relief USA marketing team? Well, Success Freaks co-Host Mordant Mahon found out when he came to Islamic Relief USA headquarters to record the episode: “My Favorite Muslim”. Yup, we’re a rambunctious bunch of humanitarians here at Islamic Relief USA marketing, and many of us also happen to identify as Muslims. With media trends and current politics we sometimes get a bad rep. Especially with “Islamic” in the organization’s name, our charitable tagline “working together for a better world” gets lost in the great abyss of bias. So, here we are, in all of…
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Nepal Earthquake: Working Together Six Months On
Islamic Relief has been working in Nepal since double earthquakes tested villagers there six months ago, and as a winter warning has been issued for Nepal’s earthquake survivors, Islamic Relief teams are pushing resiliency efforts on the ground. When the earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, millions of people were affected. Pictures showed remote villages completely leveled to rubble. The full impact of the earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale, was not known until weeks later as officials and aid workers struggling to reach remote areas. The earthquake took the lives of nearly 9,000 people, and more than 22,000 more were injured. 8 million people were affected and…
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Meet One Of The Most Persecuted People On Earth
Bilal Aslam is programs officer at Islamic Relief USA. He traveled to Indonesia to meet refugees who are stuck in the middle of their planned journeys out of Malaysia. This is the remarkable story of one young man. A minority group in Myanmar have long endured the trauma of not knowing where they’ll live, and not knowing where they’ll find acceptance. It’s a homelessness that has deeply affected their community. Many are deeply tormented by it. To escape the persecution and to search for a better life, many boarded ships with hopes to reach Malaysia or Australia. Many pay more than $1,000 to purchase tickets for the journey. When they arrive to board the…
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When Smugglers Abandon Refugee Boats At Sea
Abdullah Shawky is an Islamic Relief USA Disaster Response Team Member. This is part of the emergency story series from Greece. Salam All, I wanted to share with you all a story of a terrible tragedy that occurred the day before yesterday. Due to Internet connectivity issues, I am only able to send this message today. Today was the most difficult for all of us in the harbor. At around 1pm, we received the first batch of survivors from a terrible accident. Some were injured with cuts and bruises, but others suffered far worse… A makeshift wooden boat (we are now seeing more and more of these show up) was…
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Why You Should Eat Out Today (And Other Tasty To-Do’s on WFD)
Nada Shawish is Communications Specialist at Islamic Relief USA. Hunger is a pretty obvious global problem that most of us are well aware of. But how often do you do something about it? Maybe because such a big problem, we assume, only calls for even bigger solutions—solutions, we also assume, that are just too big for any one person to tackle. Initiatives only work if you get involved in them—and Oct. 16 is World Food Day. And this World Food Day, I’ve put together some doable to-dos that not only combat hunger, but that will also improve your world—and your day. Do these with me, and stay full today, my…
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When I Pulled A Baby From A Sinking Raft in Greece
Abdullah Shawky is an Islamic Relief USA Disaster Response Team Member. He writes from the shores of Lesvos, Greece, where responders try to rescue as many refugees from ocean waters as possible—not all make it. Here is his heart-wrenching story: You don’t have to watch children die at sea, you just have to do something right now. Salam All, It is with a heavy heart that I write the following from Greece. Last night was by far the most terrible moment here on the Island. I say terrible because although we’ve rescued many, we lost one who couldn’t even speak. It began as a light day, as there has been a blockade…
