This week's Jefferson Award Winner is a Peninsula woman helping to make a difference in the battle against extreme poverty in the Bay Area and around the globe. Real estate asset manager Delfarib Fanaie gets ready for her volunteers to pack hundreds of holiday food boxes for low-income families. -CBS, San Francisco 12/2/21

Soraya Motaharnia, an Iranian teacher, has been placed among the top 10 nominees for the Global Teacher Prize 2021. Motaharnia, an outstanding teacher of mathematics, Persian language, art, science, and theology, has been praised in Iran for helping the most vulnerable students in rural parts of the country. She helps students in need of medical treatment and multiple special surgeries and provides financial assistance to hundreds of poor students. 11/4/21

An Iranian teen who recently rushed to rescue two women trapped in a fire in a city in southern Iran, has died of his burns at hospital. Ali Landi, 15, was receiving treatment at Imam Mousa Kazem Hospital in the city of Isfahan. Officials at the hospital said severe infection caused by the burns that damaged 91 percent of his body rendered treatment efforts ineffective. -IFP 9/24/21

Arezou Shah Mohammadi, an Iranian blogger on China's social media, conveyed a "message of love" from China to a special group -- children of Afghan immigrants in Iran. In the southwestern district of Iran's capital Tehran, there is a compact school named Farhang, or culture in Persian, for Afghan children. -Express Tribune 9/3/21

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) started on Tuesday a campaign for the fourth time with the aim of providing sustainable water in four provinces suffering from drought, IRNA reported on Tuesday. The long-standing 20-year-old drought in the region is forcing many to have to provide their water from tank trucks delivering water to the areas. -Tehran Times 8/25/21

For the past 40 years, Iran has generously hosted millions of Afghan refugees, most of them living among the Iranian population rather than in refugee camps or settlements. The refugees enjoy access to basic services, such as education. -Norwegian Refugee Council 8/17/21

Members of Calgary's Iranian community held a festival on Saturday to raise funds to help underprivileged children in the Persian Gulf. The weekend event, held by the Persian Gulf Charity, featured a number of tents filled with all sorts of cultural items as well as works of art. -Calgary News 8/9/21

Sheila Morovati, a first-generation Iranian American, is the president and founder of the Crayon Collection. She helped the organization set a Guinness World Record with the largest crayon donation in history-more than one million were donated to schools and Head Start Centers in Los Angeles. -Red Tricycle 8/5/21

An Iranian-American man wanted to travel by sea from Florida to New York in a homemade vessel to raise money for charity, but ended up in hot water with the Coast Guard instead! 49-year-old Reza Baluchi has run from New York to California twice for charity, but his latest daring excursion came to an abrupt end after only 25 miles on the water. -Tag24 8/2/21

The European Union (EU) has allotted 15 million Euros in humanitarian aid to support those most affected by man-made crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-induced, and other natural disasters in Iran. The humanitarian funding will focus on supporting humanitarian organizations working to assist the most vulnerable Iranians and Afghans in the country. -Tehran Times 7/15/21

School building benefactors have allocated $1.4 billion to construct educational spaces over the past four years. Over the past year, some 50 percent of the country's schools have been constructed either entirely charitable or in partnership with the government and charities 7/8/21

Iranian sisters Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri are using their extraordinary talents for the sake of refugees and the unhoused. For Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri, the meaning of home has always been integral to their practice as family and architects. The sisters came to the United States from Iran to study architecture at Cornell. -Abigail Glasgow, Architectural Digest 6/24/21

Momeni Foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to graduating high school students and full time college students of Iranian descent anywhere in the world. Deadline for receiving the application material for Scholastic Achievement Scholarship and Financial Assistance Scholarship is June 30th, 2021. 6/8/21

Iranian physician, Seyed Nasser Emadi Cheshmi, has won the Florence Nightingale Medal 2021, which recognizes exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster. Emadi Cheshmi is a volunteer physician and a member of MSF (Doctors Without Borders) teams in Africa and West Asian countries, who was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal in the 48th edition of the event. 5/25/21

Kolsoom Faqiri, 39, is a teacher who works in an elementary school in Chaharchenar village, suburb of Gorgan, the capital of northern Golestan province in Iran. Since the outbreak of coronavirus and despite suffering from heart disease, Faqiri has held classes on vast plains and prairies near her house on a regular basis. This dedicated teacher is standing on her feet for long hours, against the advice of physicians, since her students cannot afford buying smartphones or tablets to attend classes online. 5/7/21

Child adoption has increased in the country by 10 percent, following the actions taken to speed up the process, Habibollah Masoudi-Farid, deputy head of the Welfare Organization, has stated. Following the Law on Protection of Children and Adolescents in [the Iranian calendar year] 1392 (March 2013-March 2014), adaption experienced an upward trend. 4/13/21

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect refugees and host communities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is ensuring that another 20,000 refugees can access the country's national health insurance scheme, taking the numbers assisted with health insurance to 120,000. -Reliefweb 4/6/21

This weekend, at least 200 low-income Oakland students and their families will sit down to enjoy a Nowruz, or Persian New Year, meal: turmeric-tinged rice, a salad with pomegranate-molasses dressing, and the Persian-style "meatloaf" preparation known as kebab digi-all provided for free courtesy of Komaaj, a popular Northern Iranian restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District. -KQED 3/19/21

A court in Iran has ordered the dissolution of a prominent Iranian NGO that fights poverty. Imam Ali's Popular Students Relief Society (IAPSRS) announced the court decision on Twitter on March 3 without providing details, including whether it plans on appealing the ruling. 3/4/21

he novel coronavirus has led to the death of a pregnant Iranian nurse before she delivered her baby. The devoted nurse left her infant alone before savouring the taste of being a mother, said the Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei in a note marking the death of Mahshid Goodarz, the pregnant nurse who worked at Tehran's Loqman Hospital. 2/15/21

UK based Popli Khalatbari Charitable Foundation (PKCF) has been founding many projects and good causes in Iran and elsewhere. Following is a list of the projects funded by PKCF in Iran and elsewhere in 2020 along with a brief report of the ongoing activities. 12/30/20

As the coronavirus pandemic ravages Iran, home to the Mideast's worst outbreak, a women's group hopes to empower its members by helping them make and sell face masks. The organization called "Bavar," or "Belief" in Farsi, formed in 2016, allowing women looking for work to make handicrafts with donated sewing machines. -Vahid Salemi, AP 12/29/20

Iran's Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said it is planning to take delivery of a batch of 150,000 coronavirus vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc. Karim Hemmati, the head of IRCS, told IRNA on Monday that the Pfizer vaccines have been donated by a charity group of Iranian people living abroad. 12/28/20

The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO honored actress Jaleh Olov, Iranian actor and voice actor with a lifetime achievement award on the margins of the Selfie 20 Short Film Festival in Tehran on Monday. The 93-year-old Olov expressed her thanks to the organizers in a video message screened during the closing ceremony of the festival, and said, "I am proud of working for the art of this land for 72 years in the different fields of theater, radio, dubbing and poetry." 12/2/20

Abdolhakim Bahar whose voluntary activities to promote book reading have won him a reputation, lives in a remote village in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. It has been ten years now that the Ramin village is known for the library built by Mr Bahar, not for its fishermen and fabulous tourist attractions. -IFP 11/24/20

Hossein Asadi, a teacher in Iran's Khuzestan province, has spent nearly $290,000 that he inherited from his father to educate students in deprived areas. Asadi has provided 153 tablets for financially struggling students to prevent them from being out of school, and he plans to provide another 200 tablets in the coming week. 11/20/20

In response to the request of the Ministry of Interior to address the needs of vulnerable children during the COVID-19 outbreak, UNICEF delivered a number of locally procured hygiene items including 30,000 hand sanitizers, 12,000 sanitizing gels, 30,000 liquid hand soaps, 11,988 sanitary pads, 33,000 detergent powder, 33,000 dishwashing liquid as well as 300,000 masks. 10/15/20

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has stepped up its cash assistance to support thousands of extremely vulnerable refugees whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by the continuing coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But further funding is needed to support many more who are facing increased hardship and destitution. Iran hosts nearly a million refugees, mostly Afghans who have sought safety in the country from a four-decade long conflict in Afghanistan and live side by side with Iranians. -UNHCR 10/13/20

For 30-year-old Samaneh Shabani, a former intern at UN Information Centre-Tehran, COVID-19 suddenly rendered her primary sensory connections to the world. The deathly silence of empty city streets was not only disturbing, but disorienting to her ability to navigate her way, and her need to get her bearings by touching surfaces puts her at greater risk of possible infection. But Samaneh's determination in setting and achieving her goals has never been deterred by her blindness or by society's prejudice toward people with disabilities. She has steadfastly refused to accept any notion of limitation. -UNIC Tehran 9/22/20

I grew up surrounded by good cooks, but I only started cooking seriously in my mid-twenties. I'm Iranian and my family would always make elaborate dinners to bring people together. I was born in Tehran, but we moved to Toronto when I was 12. -Toronto Life 9/16/20

The World Health Organization (WHO), through a donation by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Germany, has provided Iran with over 67,500 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. The tests, which measure the number of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in individuals, will be used for research and surveillance in Iran. 9/15/20

UNICEF has procured 421 pulse oximeters, 293 digital gun thermometers, 76,500 latex gloves, 4,000 N95 masks, 2,354 boxes of diapers and 6,640 litres of surface sanitizers which were distributed among SWO rehabilitation centres and nurseries. -Bahareh Yeganehfar, UNICEF 9/15/20

The University of California, Irvine has received a $1.5 million challenge commitment from the Massiah Foundation to establish the Ferdowsi Presidential Chair in Zoroastrian Studies - the first of its kind in the United States. Additionally, the University of California will support the chair with up to $500,000. The Massiah Foundation was founded by Fariborz Maseeh, Ph.D., an Iranian American businessman and pioneer in the field of microelectromechanical systems who lives in Newport Beach. 9/11/20

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) will launch a campaign for the third time to solicit public donations to ease water stress in four provinces of the country. The long-standing 20-year-old drought in the region is forcing many to have to provide their water from tank trucks delivering water to the areas. 9/2/20

"These devices are important for the evaluation of COVID-19 patients. They will be delivered to many hospitals across the country to be installed in intensive care units and other wards that are treating patients with COVID-19. They have been sponsored by the State of Kuwait and the Government of Japan, at a total value of about USD 3 million, and we are grateful for their support," said Dr. Christoph Hamelmann, the WHO Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 8/18/20

Momeni Foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to graduating high school students and full time college students of Iranian descent anywhere in the world. Award Recipients for year 2020 (Total awards = $20,000 USD). Scholastic Achievement Scholarships (Total = $5,000 USD) 8/12/20

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said today she was alarmed by the Iranian Government's increased pressure on a prominent civil society group working on poverty and social protection, and the arrest of its founding member. Iranian authorities have pressured Imam Ali Popular Students' Relief Society (IAPSRS) to change its structure, in what appears to be an attempt to close down the organisation. 7/31/20

The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered 16 CT scan machines to strengthen Islamic Republic of Iran's emergency response to COVID-19. CT scanning is a key component of clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 patients. The units, worth more than US$ 4 million, were procured by WHO through support from the governments of Japan and Kuwait. 7/23/20

As the pandemic continues to cause unprecedented trauma and profound financial hardship, Pars Equality Center (Pars) strives to support the community through various initiatives. Thanks to the generosity of private donors, philanthropic foundations and government grants, Pars offers the following assistance to qualified individuals and households. 7/3/20

A prominent Iranian NGO that fights poverty says its founder and two other members have been detained. Imam Ali's Popular Students Relief Society said on June 21 that security forces had arrested the group's founder, Sharmin Meymandinejad, at his home. It added that the charity's media-relations director, Morteza Keymanesh, and senior inspector, Katayoun Afrazeh, were arrested, too. 6/22/20

Your generous support has meant that PKCF has been able to do the following. Food and Sanitation Packages, Iran: Our representatives in Iran are distributing monthly packages of essential food and sanitary items to families below the poverty line across five provinces. To date our packages have reached 642 families. Oxygen Producing Unit for Talaghani Hospital, Tehran: In collaboration with Nikan Mammut Charity, our NGO partner in Iran, we purchased an Oxygen Production Unit for Taleghani Hospital, a key COVID-19 treatment centre in Tehran... 6/19/20

Global charity organization Moms Against Poverty (MAP) has sent a shipment worth 25 billion rials (nearly $600,000 at the official rate of 42,000 rials) to help financially struggling families affected by the coronavirus in Iran, Karim Hemmati, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), said on Sunday. 6/15/20

Thanks to the generous financial support of the Government of Germany, UNICEF has procured and shipped to Iran specialized wound dressings for children suffering from EB, also known as butterfly disease. The request was made by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to UNICEF. 5/13/20

"During this devastating crisis, Iranians have stepped up to help their health workers, and each other," said Dr Christoph Hamelmann, WHO Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We are touched by their hard work and the solidarity they are showing." 5/4/20

Renowned artist Parviz Tanavoli, known as the father of modern Iranian sculpture, has created a series of limited-edition medallions to raise funds for beleaguered hospitals in his homeland. "I am extremely impressed by how Iranian healthcare workers are dealing with the Covid-19 crisis," says Tanavoli, who lives in West Vancouver. -Art Newspaper 4/29/20

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Tehran says the organization is making efforts to create a financial channel for Iran to receive international humanitarian aid amid its battle against the new coronavirus. Barbara Rizzoli made the remarks in a meeting with the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Karim Hemmati, in Tehran on Wednesday. -Press TV 4/9/20

Iran is one of the nations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the country continues to struggle to contain the devastating pandemic, many in our community are asking what is being done and what they can do to help. Join us this Thursday, April 9th at 8 pm EST for an interactive webinar to hear from leading experts about the challenges and proposed solutions to battle COVID-19 in Iran. 4/8/20

This year over $20,000.00 dollars will be awarded to students of Iranian descent. Momeni Foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to graduating high school students and full time college students of Iranian descent anywhere in the world. 4/7/20

The university students of Iran have sent a shipment of health and medical supplies to people of the United States amid the outbreak of coronavirus that is rapidly spreading through the US. The consignment of medical aid for the underprivileged American citizens, loaded into two trucks, has been delivered to the Embassy of Switzerland, which represents the interests of the United States in Iran. -IFP 4/1/20

The New Delhi Parsi Association has sent its second relief cargo, including medicine and medical equipment, to coronavirus-hit Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)-linked Fars news agency reported. Followers of the Iranian monotheist prophet, Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, (c. 1500 BC - 1000 BC) in India are called Parsis, or Parsees. The Parsis moved from Iran to India during the 7th century AD to flee persecution from Muslim Arabs who had conquered the Persian Empire. 3/26/20

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has sent a 50-bed inflatable hospital and an emergency team to Isfahan, in central Iran, to treat patients critically ill with coronavirus disease COVID-19. The inflatable hospital has been shipped by air from MSF's logistics hub in Bordeaux, France and is to be set up in the compound of Amin hospital in Isfahan. The unit is equipped to treat critically ill patients requiring constant medical supervision and care. 3/23/20

Facing one of the world's worst outbreaks of coronavirus, Iranians in local communities are coming together to help those affected as the country battles a disease that has claimed the lives of nearly 1,300 people and infected more than 18,000 across the country, according to official figures on March 19. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL 3/20/20

Among popular activities undertaken by ordinary people to curb the virus outbreak one can mention spontaneous movements to sanitize public places, including banks' ATMs, producing special masks, free distribution of disinfectants, and even attending health centers, clinics and hospitals to help nurses and other health workers in their drive to treat patients and provide health services to the public. -Press TV 3/15/20

The World Health Organization on Monday sent its first planeload of assistance to Iran to help fight coronavirus, dispatching six medics with tons of medical equipment and test kits aboard a UAE military aircraft. "Today's flight will carry 7.5 tons of medical equipment and supplies, primarily the critical items needed for infection prevention and control to support health care workers in Iran," said Robert Blanchard from the WHO in Dubai. -Iran Daily 3/3/20

Iranian-American model Megan Pormer, who made headlines after wearing a dress promoting peace between the US and Iran at the 2020 Grammys, is working with medical professionals and companies in Beverly Hills to send critical medicine and supplies to Iran. Over the past month, Iran has been ravaged by the coronavirus and the death toll continues to rise. -Clout 3/3/20

In a ceremony on Tuesday night, a projection mapping was carried out on the iconic Azadi Tower in Tehran to convey the message of sympathy with Chinese people fighting coronavirus. The ceremony was held in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua, ISNA reported. 2/19/20

On January 30, University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science announced its plan to launch the Beiruti and Saleheh Memorial Fund - an endowed scholarship for international students seeking graduate degrees in computer science. The fund was established to honour the memory of Mohammad Amin Beiruti and Mohammad Saleheh, PhD students in computer science who were killed in the recent crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 in Iran. -The Varsity 2/10/20

Pars Equality Center's mission is to catalyze social, civic and economic integration of immigrants from Persian-speaking and other countries into American society. As a community-based social and legal services organization, Pars Equality Center is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to helping the Iranian-American and other Persian-speaking communities realize their full potential as informed, self-reliant, and responsible members of the American society. 2/5/20

The Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies recently expanded a scholarship fund supporting Iranian students amid the ongoing travel ban and sanctions against the country. Afshin Marashi, director of the Farzaneh Family Center, said the fund existed previously but was expanded after the existing fund was almost expended. The scholarship benefits international students from Iran who have been affected by travel restrictions implemented by the Trump administration. -Oklahoma Daily 2/4/20

The Iranian House of Cinema, which is the official guild of Iranian cineastes, has launched a campaign to support children in the flood-stricken region of Sistan-Baluchestan. In the campaign named "Royesh_Sib", the cineastes will travel across Iran to collect people's donations to provide relief for the flood victims, the house announced in a press release published on Monday. 1/28/20

Even as tensions continue to run high between the U.S. and Iran, Navy officials say a recent rescue effort in the Middle East serves as an example of good behavior on the high seas. "The rescue," the statement reads, "is an example of professional mariners rendering assistance to others in distress at sea, a responsibility and mission that we in the U.S. Navy share and take very seriously." -Military.com 12/28/19

A Polish crowd-funding initiative has raised nearly 250,000 zlotys to buy a new lorry for an Iranian driver, who was stranded when his vehicle broke down. Fardin Kazemi was delivering raisins to Poland, and was due to continue to the Czech Republic to pick up goods for import to Iran. He had to sleep in his vehicle, when he was unable to afford repairs. "The Polish people have been angels for me," said Mr Kazemi. 12/20/19

First of all, we would like to thank you for your generosity and dedication to the Foundation, which have made it possible for us to continue our work of bringing light to disadvantaged children and communities. In this edition of the newsletter, we would like to update you on the Bachehaye Ma family and also bring your attention to two new initiatives: The Kermanshah Water Project and the expanded reach of the Popli Football Club. 12/17/19

As the bell rings to announce the start of the day, a group of girls run through the gates of Vahdat Primary School in the old Persian city of Esfahan in Iran. Their packed bags bouncing on their backs, the students skid to a stop in front of the main building and huddle in line for the morning assembly. -Farha Bhoyroo, UNHCR 12/12/19

San Francisco State University announced that the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies received an additional $1 million from alumna and Iranian American philanthropist Neda Nobari, building upon her generous gift of $5 million from June 2016 that established the first-of-its-kind center. Administered under the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, the center is dedicated to research and teachings that examine the historical and cultural experiences of the global Iranian diaspora. -SFSU 12/10/19

A Polish couple who had left a bag containing 70,000 euros in cash in a taxi in Tehran have been reunited with their money thanks to the honest driver, Borna news agency reported on Tuesday. Ali Hassan Zafari, the driver, handed the bag to the Polish embassy in Tehran on November 3, after he realized it had been left behind. 11/14/19

Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year, 3,318 prisoners who had committed unintentional crimes have been released, head of Blood Money Organization has said. Total debt of the prisoners was added up to about $214 million, ISNA quoted Asadollah Joolaei as saying on Sunday. However, some half of the sum was forgiven by the plaintiffs, and benefactors contributed to release these people, he explained. 10/22/19

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) granted the Muslim World Rania Award to Saeedeh Ghods, the founder of MAHAK, a charity society dedicated to treating pediatric cancer in Iran, the public relations department of MAHAK reported. 9/17/19

Iranian charity organization Hamiyar, based in the city of Arak, provides support to children suffering from cancer as well as their families. Hamiyar held a concert in their headquarters in Arak on August 16, 2019 where Avaye Hamiyar Ensemble, composed of 23 childhood cancer survivors and their relatives, performed. This ensemble has been established by the medical center for children with cancer to keep their spirits up during treatment. 8/20/19

The Sasanian Fortress in Darband was built in the 6th century AD to protect the Persian Empire from invasion by nomadic peoples to the north. The defensive structures remained in continuous use by the succeeding Persian, Arab and Turkish forces until the Russian invasion in the 19th century. 8/12/19

Six million Iranians hold organ donation cards, said Ali Nobakht, member of the health committee of the parliament (Majlis), adding although the number has increased over the past years, but there is still more work to be done. Thanks to infrastructure provided, today 70 percent of Iranians can register for organ donation cards, he added, ISNA reported on Monday. He made the remarks during an event held on the occasion of the National Day of Organ Donation, which was celebrated on May 20 at the Shahid Beheshti University. 5/21/19

A second senior member of the charity group Voice of Iranian Women (VIW), which has been involved in aid and rescue operations during the recent devastating floods in southwestern Iran, has been arrested for unknown reasons. Nahid Shaghaghi, who has also worked to combat violence against women, was taken away by security agents on May 15, 2018. -CHRI 5/18/19

A unique and entertaining benefit concert featuring local artists. Proceeds from this concert will support the victims of the recent floods in Iran. The program will include performances by Naser Sheikhzadehgan, Amir Nojan, Amir Abbas Etemadi, Narges Jajarmi, Safi Rouhi and other local musicians. We are also excited to present to you vocal music by Shiraz Arts Academy Choir conducted by Amin Assadi. 4/20/19

Iranians have so far donated some 1.3 trillion rials (nearly $31 million) in both cash and kind to the flood victims, Iranian Red Crescent Society Chief Ali Asghar Peyvandi said on Saturday. Floods hitting Iran since March 19 have been highly devastating especially in provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, Lorestan and Khuzestan, Peyvandi said, Fars news agency reported. He went on to say that the only region not struck with flood was Kish Island and all other 31 provinces were hit by flood to some extent. 4/14/19

More than 350 volunteer groups of people are providing services to the provinces haunted by flood across the country, deputy director for social affairs organization affiliated to the Ministry of Interior has said. Many NGOs and volunteer organizations made great efforts to help flood victims in Mazandaran, Golestan and Lorestan provinces, IRNA quoted Kamal Akbari as saying on Wednesday. -Tehran Times 4/12/19