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

The World Health Organization (WHO) today airlifted essential medical supplies to the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to the growing health needs of thousands of people who have been displaced as a result of heavy flooding in many provinces in the country. The supplies include trauma, health, cholera and non-communicable disease kits and other commodities requested by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. 4/11/19

Three intense weeks have past since Iran has been hard hit by flash floods that have taken the lives of dozens of people and left a huge trail of destruction behind. International aid supplies have been sent from several countries but no cash donation has been received due to the US sanctions. 4/9/19

As the flooding emergency in Iran worsens, the world's largest humanitarian network has released just under 500,000 Swiss francs to bolster local Red Crescent relief efforts. The funds released from IFRC's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) will be used to provide 3,000 families that have lost homes and livelihoods with unconditional cash grants. 4/4/19

Germany will provide humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Iran, says the German Ambassador to Tehran Michael Klor-Berchtold. In a Monday tweet, Klor-Berchtold wrote that German Foreign Ministry would provide humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Iran, adding that "40 boats and safety equipment will be delivered by German Red Cross to the Iranian Red Crescent." 4/2/19

Momeni Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for Year 2019. This year over $15,000.00 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. 3/31/19

Doostan Norooz party 2019 is the annual Doostan fund-raising events and a chance to thank our generous community for their continued support and donations by celebrating the start of the Persian New Year together and as a family of friends in this magnificent Dinner & Dance event. 2/19/19

Organ donation rate has increased by 60 times over the past 18 years, though the growth is not considerable compared to the global scale, head of the transplantation and treatment of diseases department at the Ministry of Health has announced. 2/6/19

This year we mark the 20th anniversary of PKCF, an important milestone made possible by your sustained and generous support over the years. When we founded PKCF we did not imagine that the PKCF family would grow to encompass thousands of supporters and volunteers across the globe, and yet here we are twenty years later with a clear mission and dedicated supporters that have allowed us to execute on our ideals. We would like to take a moment to reflect on our achievements and outline our vision for the years to come. 12/3/18

An Iranian refugee who gained political asylum in the United States has raised over $700,000 for the synagogue in Pittsburgh where a gunman killed 11 Jewish worshipers this weekend. Shay Khatiri, 29, told media on October 30 that after the anti-Semitic rampage, he started an online fundraiser to collect donations for the Tree of Life Congregation that worships at the synagogue in Pennsylvania. -RFE/RL 10/31/18

Gina Cody, MEng 81, PhD 89, is the first woman ever to be awarded a PhD in building engineering at Concordia. On September 24, 2018, Cody made a $15 million gift to Concordia's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. In recognition of her generosity and tremendous professional accomplishments, the faculty was renamed the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. It became the first engineering faculty in Canada named after a woman and one of the first of its kind in the world. 10/1/18

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music will begin the process of establishing an academic minor in Iranian music with a generous $1 million gift from Farhang Foundation. A signing ceremony on April 27 at UCLA commemorated the gift. 5/17/18

Momeni Foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to graduating high school students and full time college students of Iranian descent anywhere in the world. Scholastic Achievement Scholarship - At least three (3 ea.) scholarships for an amount of $1,000.00 dollars each will be awarded to students that are graduating from high school and plan to attend college in Fall of 2018. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents of United States. 3/31/18

In late winter of 2002, Iranian social documentary photographer Maryam Ashrafi and Iranian artist and writer Barbad Golshiri, at the time unknown to each other, were waiting to hear from the well-known Iranian photojournalist and documentary maker Kaveh Golestan. Maryam was looking forward to meeting Kaveh and learning the scrupulous method of photojournalism he was renowned for, and Barbad was hoping to join him on a trip to war-torn Iraq. Both never heard back from him, as on 2nd of April 2003, while on assignment for the BBC, Golestan stepped on a landmine in Iraqi Kurdistan and was killed instantly. 2/26/18

Actress Baran Kowsari has been appointed the ambassador of the Yari Foundation, an Uppsala-based charity organization founded by Iranian expatriates living in Sweden, the organization has announced. -Yari supports street children in Iran, enabling them to attend school, and also raises funds for construction of schools and libraries for children in the country. 1/22/18

March 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of Samin Baghcheban's demise in exile. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Baghcheban family is willing to publish a collection of Samin's vocal pieces which were composed in the 1950s and currently are not available to the public. 1/7/18

The recent earthquake in Kermanshah province in western Iran that left hundreds of people dead and thousands injured was followed by a huge wave of empathy from fellow Iranians. Donations were pouring in from all over the country. Hundreds of volunteers rushed to the area to help the victims. But it seemed that the people's reaction to the event was accompanied with a deep mistrust of the government. -Mohammadreza Kazemi, Radio Farda 12/28/17

Iranian painter and graphic designer Behzad Shishegaran has launched an online exhibition entitled "Collapse" on Instagram, Telegram and Facebook to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Kermanshah region in western Iran last month. 12/11/17

Rendered numb from the news of a devastating earthquake in his home country, it took just an hour before Tohid Najafi, a Detroit-based Iranian medical professional, launched a Facebook fundraiser. -ABC News 11/24/17

In the wake of last Sunday's tragic earthquake in the Kermanshah region of Iran, Iranian Americans have gone to great lengths to help with the relief efforts, including taking to social media to help raise funds for earthquake relief. Unfortunately, many were surprised and confused by fraudulent charities popping up on social media, taking advantage of this tragedy and undermining the good will of Iranian Americans. 11/24/17

We are deeply affected of the devastating earthquake in Iran. The deadliest earthquake of 2017 has taken about 1000 lives and has ruined several villages in the Kurdish region of Iran, Kermanshah. This concert is dedicated to all Kurds of Iran and Iraq and the benefits will be sent directly to Kermanshah. 11/21/17

Members of the Iran men's national freestyle and Greco-Roman teams have rushed to aid the victims of the recent earthquake in Kermanshah province in the western part of the country, which has left at least 500 people dead, hundreds of others injured and dozens of villages destroyed. 11/17/17

Current reports state that 530 lives have been lost with the death toll expected to rise, over 7,000 people are injured, hundreds of villages have been destroyed, and 1,950 villages have been impacted as a result of the 7.3 magnitude Kermanshah earthquake, the most devastating in the world this year. PKCF is joining forces with Nikan/Mammut charity in Iran and Children of Persia in USA by forming a consortium that will raise and distribute funds to help those affected by this powerful earthquake 11/16/17

The quake-hit city of Kermanshah is now the stage of inextricably mixed tragic, altruistic and hopeful scenes. All rescue and relief forces along with military personnel and volunteers have joined hands to help the victims. While tragic scenes of people mourning the loss of their beloved family members are heartbreaking the incessant work of relief forces to help people still raise hope. -Tehran Times 11/16/17

A recent pledge by an Iranian official to provide financial assistance to families that adopt children with disabilities is a good idea that requires thoroughly examining the underlying issues and improving existing services, a children's rights activist told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). 11/16/17

U.S. Department of the Treasury officially highlighted on Tuesday, November 14, the ways in which Americans can provide humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people. "In light of the tragic earthquake in Iran, we would like to highlight some of the ways in which Americans can provide humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people, consistent with the Iran-related sanctions administered by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)" U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran cited OFAC as saying. 11/15/17

Legendary Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri and the Kamkars will join together in a concert to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit their homeland Kermanshah in western Iran on Sunday. Following the devastating earthquake, numerous Iranian artists have announced that they would organize various programs to help the victims of the natural disaster. 11/15/17

Paralympic Games gold medal winner in shooting Sareh Javanmardi is going to sell her medal to raise money for the victims of Sunday's earthquake which left at least 500 people dead in Iran. Iranian weighlifter Kianoush Rostami, Olympic gold medal winner in Rio 2016, has also said he is going to auction his medal to give the money to the people who were affected by the earthquake. 11/15/17

We are very pleased to announce that the recipient of the Tenth Bita Prize for Persian Arts is Ms. Marjane Satrapi. She is the author of Persepolis, Persepolis 2, Embroideries, Chicken with Plums, and several children's books. She co-wrote and co-directed the animated feature film version of Persepolis, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. She regularly contributes to magazines and newspapers throughout the world. 11/9/17

Adonation of $1 million from Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute will establish the Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali Postdoctoral Fellowship in Iranian Linguistics in the UCLA Department of Linguistics, one of the nation's top-ranked linguistics departments. 11/7/17

The Zoroastrian Women's Organization, an NGO founded in 1950 in Iran, is trying to empower women and girls in different aspects, Mehrangiz Shahzadi, the vice president of the organization said here on Monday. The organization follows several goals such as creating jobs for the youth and improving business markets for all walks of life especially for women and girls, Shahzadi said in an interview with the Tehran Times. 8/31/17

The University of California, Irvine has received a $1.5 million grant from Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute to establish the Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali Presidential Chair in Art History & Archaeology of Ancient Iran. Additional funding was provided by the UC Presidential Match for Endowed Chairs program. The holder of the $2 million chair in the Department of Art History will collaborate with UCI's Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture. 8/25/17

TAQ KASRA, a landmark in the history of architecture, is a 6th-century Persian monument. It was built in the capital of Persian Empire during the Sasanian dynasty. The palace was gradually declined after the Arab invasion in the 7th century and now it is located close to Iraqi capital Baghdad, less than 200 km far from the Persian territory. 6/20/17

The Farhang Foundation, a nonpolitical, nonreligious, not-for-profit Iranian-American cultural foundation, is proud to announce that The Freedom Sculpture: Freedom a Shared Dream, a monument honoring core American values of freedom, cultural diversity and unity, has raised more than $2.2 million, nearing the minimum goal of $2.5 million needed to complete the project. With over a million supporters from more than 50 countries following its progress on social media, the Freedom Sculpture has also become the most crowd-supported public monument gifted in U.S. history. 6/11/17

Iranian ophthalmologist Behnam Ghaffarzadeh examines a duck that has just undergone cataract extraction at the surgeon's office in the northwestern city of Tabriz, May 25, 2017. -Amir Sadeghi 5/29/17

Beyond the Ban: Contemporary Iranian Art is a group exhibition showcasing the work of leading Iranian artists based in the United States, and featuring painting, photography, video and prints. Artists include Shirin Neshat, Nicky Nodjoumi, Nahid Hagigat, Shoja Azari, Hossein Fatemi, Sara Issakharian, Nazanin Noroozi and Raha Raissnia 5/6/17

The Stanford Iran 2040 Project announces the first annual Moghadam Award in Iranian Economics to recognize the best original paper on Long-Term, Sustainable Economic Development in Iran. The awardee will be asked to present the paper at the next Stanford Iran Economic Forum to be held in Summer 2017. All travel expenses will be covered and the awardee will also receive a $10,000 prize. 4/12/17

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 is June 30th, 2017. 4/6/17

A group of Iranian celebrities in association with a charity society finally managed to commute the death sentence of a young man who had committed murder when he was a teenager, Khabaronline reported. A 15-year-old boy, who used the pseudonym "Soheil", had been convicted of murder and was sentenced to death. Soheil who waited on death row for five years committed a murder over a childish argument with another guy. 3/8/17

Ashraf Qandehari-Bahadorzadeh was a humanitarian and the co-founder of the Kahrizak nursing home, south of Tehran. She had devoted her life to helping those in need and was praised and honored for her charity works. She joined the founding committee of Kahrizak in 1972 and helped building the charity complex as we know it today. 2/28/17

Iran's Red Crescent sniffing dogs are trained in a camp located in northern Tehran foothills. The sniffing dogs play an important role in saving those individuals trapped under rubble or other dangerous situations following a disaster. 2/23/17

Farhang Foundation aims to promote Iranian art, culture & literature to the community at large. This two-day, free to public festival will help us give presence to Iranian books as well as books about Iran & books by Iranian authors. The event will be built around one central theme - celebrating books & promoting reading as a gateway to bring harmony and understanding to our diverse community in Los Angeles and Southern California. 2/21/17

UCLA has established the Pourdavoud Center for the Study of the Iranian World, the first center in the Western Hemisphere that aims to advance the knowledge of ancient Iranian languages, history and religions. The Pourdavoud Center was named for the late Professor Ebrahim Pourdavoud, a pioneering scholar of ancient Persia, and was made possible by a gift from his granddaughter, Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace, and her husband, James B. Lovelace. 2/16/17

A public campaign has been launched aimed at creating jobs for socially vulnerable women nearly two months before the new Iranian year starts on March 20. The campaign with the motto of "Presenting a job, as the new year's gift" is arranged by the Society of Awareness, Knowledge and Growth (Bavar NGO) to create job opportunities for the women who are the breadwinners of their families 1/24/17

Mohammad Bakhtar, a 19-year-old Iranian soldier, has been highly lauded after losing his leg while trying to save a dog trapped in a barbed wire fence around a minefield. Mohammad's story, has gone viral in the country since the incident which happened in a garrison in Ajabshir, northwestern East Azarbaijan province, the Department of Environment official website reported. 1/7/17

Iranian-Americans are some of the most successful entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, engineers and scientists in the United States. Yet, for various reasons, many are still not involved in politics or public service more broadly. We are aiming to change that by providing funding for unpaid summer internships, as well as access to a network of public policy experts and mentorship opportunities. 11/30/16

The non-profit Germany-based Gerda Henkel Foundation has allocated 650,000 Euros to support research projects by the National Museum of Iran and a museum which is planned to be built in the city of Yazd by 2019. 11/26/16

She is called the Mother Teresa of India and all for good reason. At 29, Narges Kalbasi Ashtari is a mother to many orphans, abandoned and visually impaired children in India. However, today, she has become the victim of a very complex and unjust system in India and is being punished by the very same people she once left her life behind for. 10/16/16

"Golden Cells" is another public-led campaign in Iran with the aim of promoting stem cell donation. The campaign was initiated by those who have one way or another dealt with cancer and diseases that can be cured by stem cells and started to let others know about the stem cell bank, the campaign spokesperson Sameen Razavi told Fars news agency. 8/31/16

The State Welfare Organization of Iran has facilitated the process for prospective foster or adoptive families, an official with the organization announced. The adoption and foster laws which dated back to some 44 years ago were revised and modified in 2013 and are going to be implemented in the near future 8/11/16

Some 4 trillion rials (nearly $1.15b) has been donated since 2008 by philanthropists in Iran to healthcare services in the country, an official with the health philanthropists society has said. 8/3/16

Director of acclaimed social drama "Tales" Rakhshan Bani-Etemad in her new documentary is promoting charity for child patients whose parents are unable to cover the cost of medical treatment for their illnesses. 7/6/16

San Francisco State University has received a $5 million gift from alumna and Iranian-American philanthropist Neda Nobari to establish the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies (CIDS). This endowment establishes SF State as an academic pioneer in the field of Iranian diaspora research. 6/22/16

The Kamkars, Iran's leading Kurdish family music ensemble, will team up with two music groups in London to give a charity concert, which will raise funds for children displaced by war in Syria and Iraq. 6/9/16

Momeni Foundation is dedicated to providing scholarships to graduating high school students and full time college students of Iranian descent anywhere in the world. 4/16/16

A crumbling wall at a school in a village near Khash in Sistan Baluchistan Province killed a teacher after he managed to save the lives of all the students. Hamidreza Gongozehi, an elementary school teacher in Nukjoo, was caught under the debris after he rushed to move the students to safety as the classroom wall began to crumble. 4/5/16

Animal lover Maryam Sanei has set up a hospice for unwanted pooches. A draft law penalising those who harass stray animals was referred to the President's office last month -Guardian 3/31/16

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, Pars Equality Center (PEC) held its 6th Annual Nowruz (Persian New Year) Gala at San Francisco's Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Known for being a sold out event each year, and hosting over 800 guests, this year's fundraising gala featured special guest Congressman Mike Honda and raised nearly $500,000.00. 3/28/16

"It is a part of your life, your culture," the former computer scientist and telecommunications manager-turned-humanitarian and philanthropist said about her $5 million gift to UC Berkeley, to further the study of Iranian languages, literature, arts and culture, and especially the country's history. -Kathleen Maclay, UC Berkelry 3/22/16

Join Iranian Americans nationwide in honoring the Iranian New Year (Norooz) tradition of beginning a good year through acts of kindness. During NIAC's 6th Annual Day of Service on Saturday, March 12, we look forward to reining in a wonderful new year by cleaning parks and beaches, serving food to those less fortunate than ourselves, and caring for the ill and elderly. 3/6/16

Walls of kindness have been popping up all over Iran in an attempt to keep the homeless warm this winter. These spontaneous outdoor charities are based on a simple principal: "If you don't need it, leave it. If you need it, take it." A group of philanthropists in the city of Khorramabad in western Iran have gone a step further and created a Kindness Station which is equipped with a refrigerator and library where in addition to cloths, donors can leave food and books for the needy or the homeless. -Farnaz Goudarzi 1/12/16