MSA University of Utah Donates $500 to Sponsor To Paradise International Relief's Humanitarian Projects

The Muslim Students Association (MSA) of the University of Utah donated half of the money it raised at its annual Fast-a-thon dinner to sponsor To Paradise International Relief's humanitarian projects around the world.

To Paradise International Relief will receive a total of $500 from the event.

For more information on the event check out the article "Students learn empathy toward poor from Ramadan fast " at The Daily Utah Chronicle:

http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/news/1.749520

Students learn empathy toward poor from Ramadan fast

Isadin Hussein said the hardest part of observing Ramadan is not letting his mind wander to negative thoughts, such as his hungry stomach.

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, is a month dedicated to fasting for the 1.4 billion Muslims around the world. They abstain from food, drink and negativity in order to focus on God.

Hussein, a sophomore in pre-pharmacy, said the thirst is what really got to him.“I’d just want a drink—water,” he said. “It was pretty bad.”But after breaking his fast Wednesday night with more than 200 friends, classmates and community members, he said that he’s grown.

Hussein understands the plight of the poor a little bit better, who not only go hungry for a month as he did, but every day.Empathy is the focus of this year’s Ramadan, as observed by members of the U Muslim Student Association.

The fast culminated with a Fast-A-Thon, a banquet at the Officer’s Club in Fort Douglas on Wednesday night to celebrate the breaking of the day’s fast. Anyone was invited to come, including non-Muslim students, to share the experience and donate. About half of the people in attendance were U students and the rest came from the community.Joe Walker, a junior in parks and recreation, partook in the fasting as well.

The hardest part was keeping his mind off negative thoughts, most of which were directed at school, he said.Asim Ahmed, president of MSA, took the podium prior to the breaking of the fast before a crowd of more than 200 people—more participants than they had counted on—and asked them to imagine the food they were about to enjoy. Then he asked them to imagine that it wasn’t coming for another two hours, or even the next day.“That’s what it can be like for the poor,” Ahmed said.The MSA opened its arms for donations to help the poor, both in Salt Lake City and across the world, by taking donations throughout the month and at the banquet.

Two organizations, To Paradise International Relief and The Asian Refugee Center, will receive $500 each from the $1,000 given by students and the community, as tallied Wednesday night. It was a greater sum than they had expected, Ahmed said.The center’s president, Robert Elndur, himself a refugee from Libya, said that their portion will likely go toward purchasing candy and gifts for the children of impoverished Muslim refugee families.

To Paradise International Relief purchases food and clothes for impoverished families around the world.“We can go by and make them happy... and give them a happy end to their Ramadan,” Elndur said.The turnout was so unexpectedly large that the Mediterranean style banquet wasn’t enough to feed the entire crowd.

Fifteen minutes into the feast, Ahmed had to call his MSA team together and figure out how to feed everyone.At the end of the day, while Muslims and non-Muslims alike came to the rescue of impoverished families around the world, Dominos Pizza swooped in to rescue them.

m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu

Ramadan Fundraising Events

Assalamu Allikum Warahamtu Allahi Wabarakatu,

As To Paradise International Relief continues to flourish during its first year, we are advancing our fundraising efforts to be able to help more people Insha'Allah.

On September 17th, 2008 To Paradise International Relief will Insha'Allah be in Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in the Muslim Students Association of the University of Utah's (MSAUU) Fast-a-thon Iftar. http://www.msauu.com/

On September 20th, 2008 To Paradise International Relief will Insha'Allah be in Tampa, Florida fundraising at The Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area. http://www.istaba.org/

On Sunday September 21st, 2008 To Paradise International Relief will Insha'Allah be in Brooksville, Florida for a fundraising event.

If you can help us fundraise in your community, please send us an email at info@toparadise.org

Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

Fundraising Team
To Paradise International Relief

Garage Sale in Virginia

Assalamu Allikum (Peace be Upon You),

This past weekend To Paradise International Relief volunteers in Virginia held a yard sale in Sterling. It was a nice sunny day on Sunday, just one day after Tropical Storm Hanna dumped heavy rain on the DC area.

May Allah (swt) reward all those who participated and give them the best of reward. If you live in Virginia, Washington DC or Maryland and have new or used items in good condition that you would like to donate so we can sell them in upcoming yard sales, please send us an email: donations@toparadise.org Rememeber, your donation is tax-deductible!

Thanks!

The Small Projects Team

To Paradise International Relief

To Paradise International Relief Launches its Website!

Check out the website: www.toparadise.org

Assalamu Allikum my dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

I ask Allah (swt) that this message reaches you in the best of health and iman. Ramadan mubarak to all of you!

Alhamdullah this summer was very fruitful for To Paradise International Relief, but's not about the organization (which is only a means) ... it's really about the widows, orphans and poor people who have benefited.

Through your donations and help, Allah (swt) blessed us and we were able to help many people from Palestine, Egypt and the United States. In the near future Insha'Allah, we hope to start working in Pakistan and Somalia.

Check out much more info on our new website: www.toparadise.org

Watch Abdurhman, the Palestinian Boy after he received the wheelchair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6COSBfGJuM

Watch To Paradise International Relief's volunteers as they deliver food to 700 people in a poor Egyptian village: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfh2yile6os&feature=user

Please help us by making a donation online or by check today or by paying your zakah. Also, you can help us by spreading the website and the videos to all those you know and remember that the one who tells other about something good gets the same reward as the one who did that deed.

May Allah (swt) give you the best of reward.

Wasalamu Allikum,

Ossama Elshamy
President
To Paradise International Relief