Global Music Double Fundraiser: PAF Board Member, Fabian Alsultany and Doctors Without Borders Please join us for a party in support of the health, wellness and recovery of our good friend Fabian Alsultany (GlobeSonic Sound System, Persian Arts Festival Board Member & Inspirational Force). Proceeds from this event will directly raise funds in Fabian's name for "Doctors Without Borders" towards their relief efforts in Haiti. - 1/27/10
Child Foundation joins with Mercy Corps to give aid to Haiti's children Child Foundation, consistent with its policy of helping children around the world, is teaming up with Mercy Corps to collect aid for the most vulnerable of Haiti's society - the children. - 1/22/10
The Next Generation of Philanthropists Among the amazing young change makers who captivated the audience at PARSA's 2009 annual awards event were Darrion Sani, Roz Fazli and Roshan Malekmadani. Their individual commitment to philanthropy and the community from such a young age is remarkable and should serve as an example of what every young person in the Iranian diaspora can achieve. - 1/19/10
Iran's Humanitarian Aid Arrives In Haiti Iran's Red Crescent Society says about 30 tones of humanitarian aid including food, tents and medicine in the company of a group of rescuers arrived in Haiti. Iran has also dispatched a group of 30 doctors and rescuers to the tremor-stricken country of Haiti - 1/19/10
PARSA Call to Action: Support Disaster Relief for Earthquake Victims in Haiti As the world gears up to assist Haiti after the devastating earthquake on Tuesday, there are many resources becoming available to help donors find the the best ways to help. PARSA Community Foundation has an updated homepage that directs visitors to some of these resources. - 1/15/10
Young Iranian-American Volunteers Aris Sahba Koumis, Rodd Farhadi and Zaul Moayedian have engaged American civic life in ways and at heights one might expect from politically active adults three times their age. Each has set an example that we can all aspire to and that should be encouraged in all Iranian youth in order to ensure our place in civil society. -PARSA - 1/14/10
Featured Organization: Moms Against Poverty Moms Against Poverty (MAP) is a grass-roots nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was founded in 2008 by a group of compassionate Iranian American mothers who were concerned about the lives and needs of disadvantaged children across the world. - 1/13/10
Dr Hamid Reza Talakoub - A Wonderful Human and a Great Philanthropist Dr Talakoub was a Harvard graduate and came from a distinguished family. His love for his beloved mother had him come back to Tehran and stay with her until his death in March. He started Bayan Salis 25 years ago and his utmost ambition was to make it the best place to learn a foreign language, in particular English, in Iran -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 1/4/10
A Bright, Young Iranian Woman in Need of Bone Marrow Transplant: Message from Mona Zarei I am a 26-year-old graduate of Sharif University in Tehran, currently a PhD student in Electrical Engineering at the Florida International University. Unfortunately after only four months living in America, in November 2007 I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder which has gradually led to bone marrow failure. - 12/28/09
Connecticut Iranian American A Symbol for Civic Participation Although Nina Mohadjer's bid for a seat on the Connecticut Board of Education was 110 votes short, she has since turned her full attention to another cause, one that she has been involved in for over two years. The American Cancer Society's (ACS) Relay for Life - 12/4/09
The Monument For The Disabled Unveiled In Tehran's Mellat Park December 3, 2009 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In honor of this day, the first monument for the disabled has been installed in Mellat Park in Tehran. The monument was officially unveiled on November 29 in the presence of the designer Dariush Mokhtari, the officials of the Welfare organization, and several disabled people. - 11/30/09
PACI Urges Iranian Americans to Give the Gift of Life by Registering as Bone Marrow Donors The Persian American Cancer Institute (PACI) is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 in Southern California by cancer survivor Hoori Sadler to increase the awareness and participation of Iranian Americans in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. - 11/28/09
US Moves to Seize Mosques, Properties of Group Linked to Iran Federal prosecutors continued legal action on Friday to seize properties, including several mosques, owned by a non-profit Muslim organization with alleged ties to the Iranian government. Federal Marshals delivered notices initiating possible seizure proceedings against the Islamic Education Center in Potomac, Maryland just outside Washington. Authorities are moving against properties linked to the New York based Alavi Foundation. - 11/14/09
Support the photographers and the artistic programs at the Omid Foundation, where dreams become reality FROM INCEPTION TO EXECUTION is a virtual exhibition of photographs created by the young women of the Omid-e-Mehr Foundation in Tehran during workshops conducted by Hengameh Golestan and Omid Salehi in 2008 and 2009. All photographs are signed and printed in an edition of ten. - 11/9/09
PARSA: Empowering Iranian-Americans, supporting Persian arts and culture, and building a better future for all What is your favorite Iranian-American organization? What Persian cultural event have you participated and appreciated in the last few years? Which cultural cause is very important to you? Did you know that one particular group, PARSA Community Foundation, has played a big role in supporting Iranian-American groups and activities in the past few years? In fact, according to a report published in September 2009, PARSA has granted over one million dollars since its inception in 2006! - 10/13/09
Iranian-born US Nurse Brings Medicine and Education to Afghan Women In this week's edition of our series Making a Difference, we meet an Iranian-born woman who says education is the best way to help the people of Afghanistan, especially women and children. In 2001, Fary Moini traveled to Pakistan where she volunteered in a refugee clinic, helping to deliver babies. She says the lack of supplies was shocking. - 10/8/09
Light The Way: Our Children Today, Our Guides Tomorrow - - Recognizing Iranian-American Youth Volunteers On October 18, PARSA Community Foundation will hold the Light the Way, the 2009 annual awards ceremony honoring the recipients of the Volunteerism and Action Award and Philanthropist of the Year Award. This event is also dedicated to the Iranian-American children who are engaged in community services. - 10/7/09
Samira Rekabdar's Silent Voice When I arrived home, I had a special feeling. I opened the book quickly and started reading. The first page was a short history about Samira's life. It was then that I found out why she couldn't talk to me. Since she was inflicted with Cerebral Paralysis from childhood. Then I got to her beautiful poems. -Minoo Minaie, Tehran - 10/2/09
Poll: Which US based organization have you supported or will support in 2009? Which one of the selected organizations listed below have you supported or will support in 2009: Iranian Alliances Across Borders, Popli Khalatbari Charitable Foundation, National Iranian American Council, ... - 10/2/09
PARSA Community Foundation Announces 2009 Annual Award Recipients PARSA Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Annual Awards. Forough Hosseini is the recipient of the Philanthropist of the Year award, designed to honor an individual who is self-made, has achieved world-class success in his/her field, and has culminated that success in civic leadership by actively perpetuating the American Dream for others. - 10/1/09
PARSA Community Foundation Hits One Million Dollar Grant Mark Leading Persian Community Foundation Offers 115 Grants Since 2006 To Support Civic Participation, Leadership Development and Arts and Culture in the Iranian-American Community Worldwide - 9/30/09
Light The Way: PARSA Community Foundation's 2009 Annual Awards PARSA Community Foundation presents Light the Way, the 2009 annual awards ceremony. Emceed by actress Yara Shahidi and featuring a performance by pianist and composer Tara Kamangar, the ceremony will honor this year's recipients of the Volunteerism and Action Award and Philanthropist of the Year Award. - 9/27/09
Iranian Woman in Britain Saving Troubled Kids Camila Batmanghelidjh, an Iranian-British woman previously named Social Entrepreneur of the Year and Woman of the Year for her unique and charitable work is the founder of a south London-based youth center that has helped children suffering from various traumas successfully reintegrate into society. - 9/14/09
Recipients of Iranian American Scholarship Fund Scholarships Announced Iranian American Scholarship Fund (IASF) has awarded 2009-2010 scholarships to fifteen Iranian-American students, both Graduates and Undergraduates. Founded in 1997 by a small group of philanthropic-minded individuals in San Diego, California, IASF began as a "Mother Fund" at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), creating the first University scholarship for Iranian- American students supported by the Iranian community. - 9/14/09
PARSA CF Philanthropist: Bita Daryabari a Global Force for Women's Empowerment Bita Daryabari is a philanthropist who thinks and acts both globally and locally. Growing up in Iran in a family that valued philanthropy and providing a hand to those less fortunate, Daryabari fondly remembers that "if a beggar knocked on the door at lunch time, my grandfather would refuse to eat unless the beggar was invited in to eat with the family." -PARSA CF - 9/10/09
Arya Laghaie Indigenous Peoples' Right Scholarship This educational scholarship is established in memory of Arya Laghaie by his family and friends, as well as alumni and faculty of St. Thomas University Law School. An alumn of the Master of Laws Program in Intercultural Human Rights, Arya Laghaie was a young man who tragically lost his life in a hit and run accident, in the town where he was volunteering to assist indigenous peoples. - 9/8/09
Apply for a PARSA Community Foundation Student and Community Across the United States, Iranian-Americans are joining together, sharing our culture and becoming active citizens. Since its inception, PARSA CF has raised funds for two groups that are vital to cultural disseminating and organized action: student groups and cultural centers. PARSA CF is committed to their long term viability and will continue to champion their success. - 9/1/09
Momeni Foundation announces 2009 scholarship recipients It is a great pleasure to introduce the Momeni Foundation's year 2009 scholarship award recipients to you. This year we are awarding $11,250 dollars to 21 well deserving students. - 8/31/09
Profile of a Philanthropist: Dr.Nasser Heydarian, MD, GCKSJ Doctor Nasser is one of the most decorated men I know but not with war medals but rather medals for his humanitarian efforts for which he has been recognized by many nations and yet he goes unappreciated and relatively unknown in these United States of America although he has been living in San Francisco and been a citizen for over 20 years. -Brian H. Appleton - 8/24/09
Watering the Tree of Creativity Misperceptions abound in the corporate-dominated culture of the U.S. and Canada about the nature and importance of creative work. Implicitly at least, we are still taught by most of our institutions that artists of all stripes are a reclusive bunch who prefer working – when they work at all – in isolation. -Alidad Mafinezam, The Mark - 8/19/09
Photos: Historical Houses in Kashan, Iran Switzerland-based Iranian Saba Manuchehri has paid for the restoration of four Qajar era historical houses in Kashan. Manuchehri has purchased the old houses and the structures are currently under restoration, said manager of Kashan's Department of Historical House Renovation, Ali-Akbar Helli. - 8/16/09
In the Spotlight: Iranian Leaders at Nonprofit Organizations This month, PARSA Community Foundation focuses on nonprofit organizations that support non-Iranian causes and are led or founded by Iranians. We sought to better understand what motivates each leader to serve their cause. With a diverse list of personal motivations, these leaders continue to inspire others with their service, advocacy, and focus on making a positive difference in the world. - 7/6/09
Seven-Year-Old Girl Goes Home To Iran After Life-Saving Surgery In Minnesota Heroic Humanitarian Effort Is Foundation's 32nd Case: The Foundation for the Children of Iran announces the completion of its 32nd surgical and/or medical case in Minnesota. Banoo, a 7-year-old heart patient, was referred to the Foundation by a nurse in a town near the village in which her family lives. - 5/26/09
Encyclopaedia Iranica Benefit Gala at Lincoln Center New York, June 28, 2009 - The Encyclopaedia Iranica is a multi-disciplinary reference work and research tool designed to record the facts of Iranian history and civilization. It focuses on the land, life, culture and history of all Iranian peoples and their interaction with other societies. - 5/26/09
Bam: Five Years After On December 26, 2003, an earthquake killed 32,000 people, flattened 70% of Bam's buildings and equally devastated the nearby town of Baravat and 260 area villages. Bam Citadel (or Arg-e-Bam) was reduced from a stunning byzantine garrison, visited by more than 100,000 people yearly, to a canyon of pulverized rubble not much different than the other treeless, rock-strewn mountains that delineate the central Iranian plateau from the southern desert. -Ramin Mazaheri - 5/22/09
The House of Mother and Child Last weekend we were invited to Roudbar in Gilan province, about 270 km from Tehran, to visit and become familiar with the work and activities of the charity Khaneh Modr-va-Kudak (House of Mother and Child). We were shown round by Mr Fotovat, who is the chairman, and we were able to stay at the guest house near to the place. -Paul Sanford and Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 5/20/09
Giving Service, Without Borders Dr. Allen Sossan, a reconstructive spinal and orthopedic surgeon, usually splits his medical time between Yankton and Norfolk, Neb. However, for the last few years he has had a bit longer commute — to Tehran, Iran. He travels there to donate two weeks a year to underprivileged people who, without his knowledge, would live the rest of their lives in pain and in a wheelchair. -Press Dakotan - 5/19/09
The HAND Foundation Announces 2009 Economics Scholarship Awards The HAND Foundation announced the names of the 2009 recipients of its scholarship programs. Maryam Farboodi received the Bita Daryabari Scholarship for Women in Economics and Rasool Zandvakil was awarded the HAND Research Foundation Scholarship. - 5/13/09
Iran's stand at UK World Market fascinates visitors Iran's Embassy in London has erected a stand in the UK World Market, helping the country's International Social Service (ISS) raise fund for vulnerable families and children. - 5/13/09
PARSA CF University: Voluntourism an Emerging Travel Trend for the Medical Community Voluntourism has gained prominence throughout the past few years and in a suffering economy, is becoming an increasingly popular option for travelers eager to make a difference in the world. But just what is voluntourism exactly? - 5/11/09
Dr. Mansoor Emam: A Medical Hero in Utah As a child in his native city of Dezful, in southern Iran, Dr. Mansoor Emam could hardly have believed his destiny. From a city with little or no medical services, Dr. Mansoor Emam dreamed of one day becoming a doctor. With that dream fulfilled, Dr. Emam is now helping others in a new city, far away from his birthplace, and honored as one of America's finest humanitarian physicians. - 5/7/09
Behnam Daheshpour Charitable Organization: An Iranian NGO helping cancer patients Compilation Album of Iranian Underground Music to be ReleasedThe Behnam Daheshpour Charitable Organization is a well known and respected NGO that helps people who suffer from cancer. I have known about them for many years yet have not been able to officially introduce them to Payvand readers for different reasons. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 5/6/09
"Korea, Sparkling Night in Iran" helps raise funds for Iranian children suffering from cancer South Korean Vice Culture Minister Jae-min Shin is convinced that the cultural relationship with Iran has made the two states like two neighboring countries despite the considerable distance separating one from the other. He called Tehran a beautiful city with a combination of the modern and the historical, and said, "Iran has been a bridge between east and west, playing a major role in enhancing its civilization." - 5/5/09
Iranian Scholarship Foundation 2009 Fundrasing Gala Saturday, May 9 in Stanford, California - The main objective of the Iranian Scholarship Foundation is to ensure that the second generation of Iranians growing up in the US, does not forget Iran, and is proud of its Iranian heritage. - 5/4/09
Iranian American Medical Association: Improving Lives and Shaping Futures A group of Iranian-American doctors have not forgotten the residents of Bam, and have embarked on an ambitious effort to build a free clinic in the recovering city. With thirteen-thousand square meters of land donated by the city council of Bam, the clinic will be comprised of four major sections: an advanced general medical facility, a building for specialty services, a same-day surgery unit and a residential unit for physicians and visiting specialists from around the world. - 5/1/09
Neda Farzan: A Medical Student With a Big Heart Many medical students seek volunteer opportunities as part of their required studies. For Neda Farzan, community service is not just a requirement to complete. It is a major part of her life, and a pivotal element in her drive to help others. Farzan has traveled all over the world, which shaped her decision to concentrate in Global Health as a medical student. - 4/29/09
Update from The Foundation for the Children of Iran Since we last gathered together in Washington, DC at our Bahar Ball...we have had two wonderful children here for treatment. We now have 3 young patients waiting to come to the United States. These are confirmed and approved. - 4/28/09
Family of drink-drive crash victim raise £4,500 for Iranian school THE family of a woman killed by a drunk driver have raised £4,500 at a fundraising dinner-dance to build a school in her name in rural Iran. -Times-Series - 4/28/09
Downtown LA Developer Sonny Astani Honored for $17M Gift to USC In recognition of developer Sonny Astani's $17 million gift to the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, the university on Tuesday, April 21 unveiled the naming plaque for the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - 4/27/09
Join PARSA CF for a philanthropy workshop on April 26, 2009 in New Canaan, Connecticut Please join PARSA Community foundation at a philanthropy workshop in New Canaan, Connecticut, graciously hosted by Shiva Sarram. - 4/16/09
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