21st Night Request: We Need Your Help On 6 Life-Saving Projects & Your Support Of Our IC

as'salaamu alaykum,

I hope you are doing well inshallah and benefiting from Ramadan.  May Allah bless us in these last nights and make us from those who witness and benefit from laylatul qadr.  Ameen.

With the last ten nights of Ramadan upon us, I'm writing to you all to ask for your support of three things:

1. Our Islamic Center
2. Our new independent, permanent space project
3. The different charity initiatives that we have setup for the month.  

If you haven't done so already, please do consider making a contribution to the IC this Ramadan by clicking here so that we can continue to do the work that we do to help others.  We pride ourselves on being a resource for people from all backgrounds and try to do our best to help others in their time of need. In the past year alone we have been able to raise more than $7 Million to provide financial assistance to thousands of people.  This is in addition to being a public voice on major media, putting on programs and services that impact thousands in persons and hundreds of thousands of people logged in virtually from around the world and much more.  

In a typical Ramadan we raise about $400,000 for the Islamic Center of which we've raised this year about one half of so far. Anything you can give to help us reach our goal would be appreciated.  

Donate to the IC Today!

As many of you know, we launched a campaign on Friday night to raise funds to get our own permanent independent space.  Alhamdulillah, we have two generous donors who have committed to donating up to $2.6 Million in a gift match on anything that is raised by the end of Ramadan inshallah.  Help us max out on that gift by donating today at launchgood.com/OurOwnSpace.  For more information on how we will use this space and other ways to donate outside of launchgood, ie wire, benevity, stock transfer, etc., please click here. 

Click Here To Help The IC Get Its Own Space!

We're also running a few different charity campaigns that I would encourage you to support with a contribution inshallah in these last 10 nights.  All together we've raised more than $2 Million across these campaigns and are hoping to raise as much as we can to help our sisters and brothers in need inshallah. 

1. You've likely seen the devastating images coming out of the West Bank. We are working with Refugee Alliance international to support our brothers and sisters in the West Bank of Palestine this Ramadan at launchgood.com/AidaRefugeeCamp. Funds contributed are zakat-eligible and will be used to provide food parcel distribution to needy families, financial support for widows & orphans, and much needed medications and procedures for those who are ill and in need of medical attention.    
    
2. We've had an uptick of individuals reaching out who are survivors of abuse and are working with Pillars of Peace to support the important work they do to provide care and services to women and children facing domestic violence. You can support that work at launchgood.com/EndDomesticViolenceNow. Funds donated are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible.
    
3. We are working with the Zakat Fund of NYC to distribute zakat and sadaqah locally in order to provide monetary relief to individuals and families who are struggling to cover basic living costs at this time - food insecurity, homelessness, medical care and more. Especially in the month of Ramadan - we want to get funds into the hands of those who need it most. With your generous support, last year we distributed more than $500,000 to 800 needy families across NYC.  Your continued support will be invaluable in reaching even more families. Please make a contribution today at launchgood.com/NYCRamadanRelief2024 - Funds donated are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible.  You can also give your zakat ul fitr which is $10/person in your family. 
    
4. Right now more than 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers in NYC without food and water for daily consumption, including suhoor and iftar.  We are working with the Gambian Youths Org in the Bronx to provide Ramadan meals to our migrant sisters and brothers in their time of need at launchgood.com/GYOrelief for $5 to $6 per meal. Funds donated are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible.
    
5. Sudan has been under conflict for almost a year now, but most people are unaware.  The world is failing Sudan and we cannot be amongst those included in that failure.  We are working with SAPA, the Sudanese American Physicians Association, to provide food and clean water at launchgood.com/ZakatForSudan. For $50 you can feed a family of 4 for an entire month.  Funds donated are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible.
    
6. I visited children from Gaza shortly before Ramadan who were evacuated to Turkiye due to critical medical needs and life-threatening conditions.  We are working with Human Concern International to provide food, clothing, therapy for trauma, cash allowance, prosthetics, surgeries and more at launchgood.com/HelpGazasChildren.  Funds are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible and will go directly to assisting these children from Gaza now. 

Jazakallah khair - I am so grateful for this community and for the opportunity to build with you and assist people in their time of need.   May Allah bless you and your loved ones always and accept from all of us, especially in these blessed last nights of Ramadan.  Ameen.

- Khalid
                                                           
Imam Khalid Latif
University Chaplain  |  Global Spiritual Life at NYU 
Executive Director  |  The Islamic Center at NYU 
Senior Fellow & Co-Founder  |  Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership
Adjunct Assistant Professor  | NYU Wagner 
212.998.4712