Volunteers are the most unselfish individuals. They take precious time from their lives and dedicate it toward helping others and the causes they believe in.
Hundreds of volunteers share tens of thousands of hours giving back to their local communities and to impoverished villages overseas. They extend their hands to feed the homeless, and they create events to raise money to build and rebuild homes. They quench the thirst of their brothers and sisters in places like Mali, Kenya, India and Bangladesh by raising money to build water wells. The water wells not only benefit the people who drink from them, but also the livestock and the soil, helping entire communities grow.
These volunteers are students from different middle schools, high schools and universities. They are teachers, parents and friends, who want to encourage their peers to do what is right and help those in need. To recognize the hard work these volunteers have done, Zakat Foundation of America held its first Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on July 21 at the Unity Center, giving these selfless individuals awards in honor of their work.
“When receiving awards, a lot of people were surprised — it made them feel like it was the special night that they deserved,” said Abdelhamid Omran, Outreach Coordinator and host of the event. “I was very pleased with the turnout. We had a full house.”
Every day, Zakat Foundation of America volunteers give back to humanity. By building schools, water wells, sponsoring orphans, and rebuilding homes in Gaza, Zakat Foundation of America volunteers are using their creativity, energy, and hearts to make the world a better place. After the awards ceremony, Zakat Foundation of America premiered a new video highlighting Zakat Foundation of America volunteers’ efforts. While most of the volunteer groups are based in the Chicagoland area, some made the drive from southern Illinois and Indiana.
After the awards, singer Kareem Ibrahim took the stage to perform a few well-known nasheeds (songs) in Arabic, and was followed by a spoken word poem by Selma Demir.
"As students, we always talk about changing the world,” said Saja Abdullah. “Tonight, my team and I at Loyola University felt like we really helped make a difference in people's lives thanks to Zakat Foundation."
Do you want to make a positive difference in the world? Brainstorm creative fundraising ideas with your student organization or local community! Contact the Zakat Foundation of America Outreach team at [email protected].