End of Ramadan Celebrated with Fundraiser - News - Mount Vernon Gazette - Connection Newspapers

End of Ramadan Celebrated with Fundraiser - News - Mount Vernon Gazette - Connection Newspapers: "End of Ramadan Celebrated with Fundraiser
Mahmoods open their home to celebrate and help earthquake victims.
Gale Curcio
November 18, 2005
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Concurrent with these festivities is a sense of generosity and gratitude. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.
What better way than to make this year’s celebration a fundraising dinner for earthquake victims in Northern Pakistan? Long known for their generosity, the Mahmoods once again teamed up with friend and neighbor, Susan Allen, wife of U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA). The honorary committee also included Ambassador and Mrs. Jehangir Karamat of Pakistan. Serving as honorary co-chairs were: Ashraf and Ambreen Hayat; Dr. Hamid and Shahnaz Quraishi; and Ester Coopersmith. Also in attendance was Mahmoudmian Sumrou, Pakistan Senate Chairman, and Barbara Johnson, wife of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD).
Their goal was to have a festive evening, while at the same time doing good for an area of the world that desperately needs help. Shaista Mahmood said approximately 200 people came to the event and they raised $100,000. "