The legacy and humanitarian spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King shines through in another day of service On a blustery, sunny Sunday, the day before the annual holiday celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, some 400 people packed the fieldhouse at the Episcopal High School in Alexandria.  It was not for an indoor soccer match or field hockey. Rather, it was to volunteer for a supersized meal-pack event organized by Islamic Relief USA’s Volunteer Services Department.  The next day, on MLK Day, dozens of volunteers gathered at mosques in Steelton, Pennsylvania and Long Island, N.Y. to pack 25,000 meals at each location. And, IRUSA employees spent…

IRUSA arrives in Puerto Rico a second time after a devastating earthquake leaves thousands of families without access to essentials such as, electricity, water, and food. Only two years after some of the strongest hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, disaster strikes again on the island, this time in the form of an earthquake. For weeks during the end of December, tremors were felt in the southern part of the Island. On January 7, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the island causing the greatest amount of devastation among them all. Hundreds of homes were damaged and thousands were left homeless.  Once again, emergency was declared on the island. And once again, Islamic…

IRUSA’s Pakistan Celebrity Tour reaches out to hearts and minds while bringing stars to the forefront When Wasim Akram walks into a room full of fans of his legendary career in cricket there’s a charged silence that ripples across the crowd. Whispers saying “That’s him, that’s him” drizzle from front to back and finally he bestows everyone with his grand smile allowing everyone to remind themselves that he’s human. This year Wasim was an honorable guest at IRUSA’s Pakistan Celebrity Dinner tour, and his presence brought what it usually brings, donors who believe in uplifting Pakistan and people who love reminiscing about the incredible plays he made as a phenom…

The Power of Building Bridges is hall-marked by IRUSA Partnership Gala Celebrating the work made possible through alliances with other organizations, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) hosted its 3rd annual Partnership Gala on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Georgetown Marriott in Washington, D.C.  “This is one of my favorite nights of the year,” said Anwar Khan, president of IRUSA. “Tonight is a celebration of love.”  The theme of this year’s gala, “Building Bridges, Creating Community” was aptly symbolized by individuals from different faith-based groups and other entities crossing a small garden bridge to reach the podium and collect their awards.  This year, IRUSA recognized organizations it worked with and to who it awarded some of…

Too many times it can be easy to forget that during the current era in which we live, Yemen is suffering the worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen in decades. Continuous war has pushed adults and children in the country out of their homes and into the grips of famine and disease. I traveled to Yemen recently to see firsthand what families are going through. I also witnessed what Islamic Relief USA’s humanitarian aid contributes, through the help of ordinary people who are compassionate enough to donate toward this unthinkable situation. Below, I share with you my reflections from the 12 days I spent in Yemen in the summer…