HalfDate is starting a new initiative called: Award Drives. Basically, these are quick drives to recognize the service of organizations and individuals. The goal of the award is to encourage Muslim organizations to pursue excellence while thinking outside the box.

One of these award categories is: Creativity (trying to get money other than donations)

Winner: Our second award drive is for AlMaun Fund.

Reason: They raised $272.25 by asking their supports to post reviews on InsiderPages.

Deadline: Mar 3, 2010

Target: $300

*HalfDate will donate $50 if this page gets 50 Tweets by the deadline.

If you want to join the matching fund, post a comment and we will contact you.

How to donate:

1. Click on Chipin button, this will take you to a PayPal payment page.
2. Once you are directed to the PayPal checkout page enter the amount of donation.
3. For PayPal you will have 2 options for payment:
1. Pay with your existing PayPal account
2. If you do not have a PayPal account you may use your credit card or bank account.

You don’t have to sign up with PayPal, you can also just make a one-time purchase using your card/check.

Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatu Allahi Wa Barakatuh,

Alhamduillah, all praise and thanks are due to Allah Almighty who has blessed HalfDate with a productive year in 1430/2009. With Allah’s help, thousands of HalfDaters like you have decided to be part of the solution.

YOU + HalfDate.com = getting things done: Putting smiles on children’s faces in Houston, paying the heating bills for needy Muslims in Philadelphia, protecting the environment through recycling, encouraging Muslims to give Halal loans for worthy causes, and other projects.

So, may Allah reward you with the sweetest date in Jannah.

Future Plans:

InshaAllah, We are going to form a HalfDate Advisory Board, which we hope to be something beneficial and different Because, not as your typical board that includes celebrity “shaikhs” who are out of touch with what’s going on in real life, HalfDate will seek the advice of “real” members of the communities, such as single-parents, teachers, students, community organizers, farmers, and children; as well as, professionals, like lawyers, accountants, journalists, …

We are also seeking proposals for upcoming drives.

http://halfdate.com/2009/06/04/house-keeping-drive/

Committed members for HalfDate Donor Club who agree to give from 100-1,000 in total.

HalfDate Budget:

• HalfDate tried to cover its costs thought Kalimaat sales. Alhamduillah, 108 boxes were sold and only 2 1 box(es) are left.
• During the DVD Drive, many of you have pooled collectively $300

To read testimonials and comments go to http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#comment

Round 1 Results: InFocus, AlMadinah School, AlMaun, Baabun Nasr Inc., Women Affairs of Almumtahinah Inc, and needy mom all qualified. Baitul Salaam and Iqra are giving a chance to reach round 2 milestone.

Round 2 Results: AlMaun, Women Affairs of Almumtahinah Inc, and needy mom all qualified. The rest need to lower their request to reach round 2 milestone.

Round 3 Results: AlMaun achieved their goal and fulfilled their daily updates and also did a video on YouTube…. they will get the PRIZE, mashaAllah

Summary:

• HalfDate donated $29 for total Tweets registered
• HalfDate donated $1000 for the winner of Match #5, which is posting a video, and the winner is AlMaun, May Allah reward them and preserve them
• HalfDate donated $3000 for Match #6, given to unfinished causes: Baabunnasr & Almadinah
• Total raised: 15,030 +3,325 + 5,943 + 1,269.82 + 1,375 + 3,454= 30,396.82 (not including InFocus $6620, which was mainly raised by them directly)

Good News:

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

Last year halfdate helped Baabun Nasr raise money to get our 501c3 tax exemption and one year later on Ramadan 29 Baabun Nasr received tax exemption from the IRS.

Jazakallahu Khyraan Half Date may Allah ta ala bless you.

Baabun Nasr Inc.

DateDrive of Ramadan 1430/Sept 2009

Alhamdulillah, this is the 2nd Ramadan for HalfDate. Last year, HalfDaters helped to raise over $20,000 and have completed several projects, see this article. This year, we will have a productivity race among supporters of different projects, because Ramadan is a month of productivity, not laziness.

So, this drive will include:

1. A productivity training for you,
   Do you know the secrets of ProductiveRamadan? click here
2. A productivity race among non-profit projects (each week only those projects that met certain goals will be advanced to the next round, the finalists will get special prize, inshaAllah)

Round 1: By Sept 1st, achieve 10% of your goal or 20 testimonials from your fans (posted as comments)
Round 2: By Sept 7th, achieve 50% of your goal or $3000
Round 3: By Sept 15th, achieve 77% of your goal or get voted to stay by HalfDaters
Final: You survived and you make at least one of the following: 1- publish a video (no music please) 2- do a teleseminar fundraiser, or 3- get a news coverage for your DateDrive.

The Baitul Salaam Network, Inc. a 12 year old domestic violence awareness organization is fund raising to continue and expand our work. We have assisted 618 women and children who were temporarily homeless due to some form of abuse (physical, emotional and/or economic). We have been able with the support of approximately 300 active supporters to answer 9,000+ calls for assistance yearly, make referrals for medical, legal, professional counseling, provide diversity training for organizations such as the Salvation Army, masjid/Islamic centers (most recent the Islamic Center of August, GA) and network to have an impact on legislation on all levels through following organizations: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, GA Coalition Against Domestic Violence, local domestic violence task forces and Masjid Al Bayyinah who host the only Islamic managed Food Pantry in the metro Atlanta.

We need your help to achieve our goals.

You can send your donations using paypal.com to haleem1@aol.com. Or send by mail to: Baitul Salaam Network, Inc., PO Box 115470, Atlanta, GA 30310.

Baitul Salaam and Masjid Al Bayyinah are working together as partners on the Food Pantry project and the van/truck will be used to also expand the recycling program and to pick up food donations from local Food Banks, grocery stores and other organizations. The van/truck will also be used to pick up furniture and appliance donations to the Baitul Salaam Network, Inc. and Masjid Al Bayyinah.

Contact:
http://www.baitulsalaam.net
Email: haleem1@aol.com
Phone: 770-255-8500

Al-Madinah School
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#madina
Cause: Needy students/teacher
Specific Need: $22,500 for Tuition Subsidization Funding (with monthly pledge)
Qualify for Zakah? Yes for needy students/teachers. So, if you are sending Zakah, mention that in your donation.
Details:
We seek your help to alleviate the disproportionate tuition burden being borne by low-income families who have been completely devastated by the recession. We are pleading for Muslim children, because unless we receive additional resources Al-Madinah School will be bankrupt. We are seeking $22,500 $20,000 in subsidy funds for our 2009-10 academic school year. (HalfDate allows only $7K requests)

See InFocus News article

Contact:
Contact the school for their bank info or you can mail them a check
3510 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90018
http://www.almadinahschool.org/
Email: madina@pacbell.net
Phone: 323 296-5961

InFocus News
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#Infocusnews
Cause: Public service/Dawah
Specific Need: $32,000.00 for printing costs & bills (HalfDate allows only $7K requests)
Qualify for Zakah? Strictly speaking, no.

We need your URGENT financial help to continue publishing.

Contact:
http://http://www.InFocusNews.net
Email: editor@infocusnews.net
Phone: 714.678.1820

A Needy Single Mom
Round #1 first place holder Allahu Akbar!
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#needymom
Cause: Needy Muslims
Specific Need: $3,000.00 for her expenses
Registered Not-for-Profit? No

A young sister with 6 beautiful children is being evicted from her apartment by the end of the month. She has no means of transportation as her car has been stolen! She’s trying hard to find a home and a job, and even when she does she will need to spend money to pay a babysitter to watch the kids while she’s at work. She’s been walking all over town in the summer heat dragging her kids along with her in hopes of finding something, spending any little money she has on bus and taxi fare. MashaAllah she is very active in her community and puts her kids in Islamic classes and teaches classes herself – free of charge! Despite her situation, she is always smiling and looks so content and yet thankful to Allah.

She is in dire need of help just to cover food and traveling expenses and will need even more money to deposit when inshaAllah she finds an apartment. I can’t think of anyone more tested or deserving than her for this help, so inshaAllah please donate generously to help our dear sister in Islam who strives to carry the banner of this deen and who works hard in da’wah as well. She is a pillar subhanAllah.

Contact:
Email: ninjabimuslimah@yahoo.com

Al Maun Fund
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#Almaunfund
Cause: Needy families and individuals
Specific Need: $3000.00 for sadaqah requests and prison outreach
Other Needs: click here
Qualify for Zakah? Yes for needy women/children. So, if you are sending Zakah, mention that in your donation.

We want to continue to help the poor and needy with food, utility assistance, rental help, medical needs and more. Also to provide new shahadahs with Qurans and Islamic reading material. We also want to increase our prison outreach program insha’allah.

cr.811 Sister seeks aid with rent. $200.00
Posted 09.03.09
cr.812 Sister with children (was in severe domestic violence situation) getting resettled after being in shelter, needs help with basic household needs, food and clothing. $200.00
Posted 09.03.09
cr.813 Revert who suffered some domestic abuse, sees aid with rent and utilties. $200.00
Posted 09.04.09
cr.814 Brother lost employment, has been making ends meet by doing od jobs, however unabel to meet rent this month. $200.00
Posted 09.06.09

Contact:
http://www.almaunfund.org
Email: staff@almaunfund.org or maunfundorg@yahoo.com
Phone: 1-877-522-1800

Women Affairs of Almumtahinah Inc.
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#women
Cause: Needy women/children
Specific Need: $1200.00 for shelter rent.
Other Needs: click here
Qualify for Zakah? Not for rent, but yes for needy women/children. So, if you are sending Zakah, mention that in your donation.

“We are trying to help ourselves by selling dinner plates and yard sale insha’Allah these funds can go towards other things needed in the home such as household supplies, toiletries, and bus tickets. Our goal is to raise at least $551.00,” said Nadia Auxila McIntosh, Women Affairs Admin.

Donation Link: http://www.womenaffairsofamh.org/home_1.html

Contact:
Women Affairs of Al-Mumtahinah Home Inc.,
P.O.Box 1462
Baltimore, MD 21203
Email: womenaffairsofamh@womenaffairsofamh.org or almumtahinah1.home@yahoo.com
Phone: 443-798-1323 / 443-627-8979 / 443-869-3403

Baabun Nasr Inc.
Direct Link: http://halfdate.com/2009/08/17/my-productive-ramadan-drive/#BaabunNasr
Cause: Skill development
Specific Need: $2,500 for upgrading our Sister’s computer lab, which help families to move towards self-sufficiency by providing computers for employment searches, housing and utility assistance programs, resume writing, literacy programs on-line and much more! We have four computers donated from Temple University. (Update: They got 10 used computers donated by a local business, Alhamduillah)

$500 for winter gas bill. Last year, Baabun Nasr staff worked through the winter without heat because the cost to connect the gas was $500.00. This year with Allah’s aid we would like get the gas turned on.

Qualify for Zakah? Not for computer lab/bills, but yes for needy Muslims. So, if you are sending Zakah, mention that in your donation.

Contact:
http://www.baabunnasr.org
Email: or baabunnasr05@yahoo.com
Phone: 267 632 5460

Drive Sponsors

The following sponsors have either helped HalfDate before with free services or have bought a sponsorship package. To sponsor a drive, please contact us.

Fresh Date Sponsors(Platinum)
Dry Date Sponsors

Things Done During This Drive:

Update # 19

Note:There are several donors who offered to donate but their payment methods didn’t work or the transaction fee is higher than the donation, so we would like to acknowledge their effort and may Allah reward them for their intentions, they are from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and USA.

DateDrive of Rabie A-thani 1430/April 2009
Type of DateDrive: Monetary & Awareness

Drive Target:

1. Collecting $4,977 USD (rent about $750 + educational programs for $500)
2. Getting 70 support comments and dua, click here to post a pleasant word (Put, your city/state/country, so we feel the sense of one global family)
3. Getting 12 groups/individuals to write support letters/cards to these 50 families in Houston, mail them to this address

Current highest donation is $700, smallest $1, click here to read more interesting facts.

Combined total of Paypal, Authorize.net, and offline

The above total includes Al-Amaanah locally raised $2141

“I’m currently an unemployed student! ALhamdulilah I gave $40 to this great cause. I hope HalfDate can match I remember when our family were refugees, how many generous people helped us with everything: clothing, food, education, etc.” -Sister A

To donate (online or by mail) click on “Donate Now”

Write to these families

We are looking for 12 groups/individuals to write to these 50 families in Houston.

So far, the following brothers/sisters/groups have promised to write:

1. Sunday school, TX, USA made 50 cards Allahu Akbar!
2. BuildingBlocks, MN, USA
3. Sydney youth, NSW, Australia
4. Bengali tigers, CA, USA
5. Ladiedee, MI, USA
6. Poetry Sisters, CA, USA
7. Coach Zohra, IN, USA will collect from her community and send in Hijab and other gifts
8. Baitul Salaam, GA, USA will collect and send gifts, giftcards, and cards
9. Calgary Sisters, AB, Canada
10. Northside College Prep Jamaah Club, IL, USA
11. Miriam, NY, USA will send a Hijab and a note
12. Bebo’s parents, NJ, USA
13. Abu & Umm Omar, CA, USA
14. Dulles High School Muslims, TX, USA

Al Amaanah, Inc.
8181 Fannin, Suite 337
Houston, TX, 77054

Or email tamra at halfdate and we will print/convey your email to Alamaanah volunteers.

There are about 50 families, lots of kids, about 10 widows, and a few sisters living on their own. If your school/masjid want to ask your kids to make cards for these families, please try to make 50 cards and let the kids write their names and their city.

Sample Letters & Cards

All the info they gave was that it was from Sister Yafa and her class (Imam, Yusuf, Ahmed, Muhammad, Iman, Amal, Yasmine, and Hosna). May Allah reward the teacher, students, parents, school admin, and all those who helped with the sweetest date in Jannah

If you want to write to a specific person, you can write to the following:

Kids:
you can ask them to write to Hassan and Ibrahim, asking them to take good care of their mother, of each other, and their younger brother.

Or Mustafa:

Adult:
Abu Mais
A father of 7 kids, eldest is 14 yrs old. He takes his kids to and from school everyday, runs all the errands during the day and then works at night as a security guard.

Pharwin
A Burmese girl, mashallah very very smart, she serves as our guide every time we go to the Burmese complex because she is the only one that can speak English there. She is still in school, learning fast and likes school.

Some of you asked about giving these families some gifts. Here are some suggestions:

Prayer rugs, Qurans (especially, in Burmese language) and scarfs/Abayas, school supplies, household items and appliance, and clothes.

The following are some example of these families (Al-Amaanah sponsors about 50 families):

Family #1 (Iraqi)
Single woman, lives on her own, doesn’t speak English. Wallahy she has been waiting all week for our visit, she hasn’t been here for long and doesn’t know that many ppl. Has no one to talk to, and thats her main problem, she wants to learn English so bad. I suggest some sisters make it a habit to visit her twice a week. Maybe get some dessert or something and just go spend some quality time with her. She will be having surgery in April so won’t be able to work this month until she gets the surgery and recovers. She also needs pocket money during this period until she starts working again. Please visit her, call her on the phone, make her know that she is not forgotten!

Family #2 (Iraqi)
Single woman living with her mom and she is the one that has to pay the bills, her mom is too old to work. She was in dire need of finding a job last week and alhamdulillah she just got one a couple of days ago. She hasn’t been working for a month though and her rent has to be paid before the end of the month!!! She also is planning to move closer to work because she takes 3 buses just to get there from where they live. So we promised to help her move, but rent still has to be paid for this month!!!

Family #3 (Iraqi)
A man in his mid 30s, can’t work because he has a lot of medical problems, needs help paying his electric bill (inshalla is in the process of being taken care of). He doesn’t speak English and therefore is isolated in this big world! We should start making it a habit to visit him every week too. He says he could use some furniture around the house so we need to go visit him and find out how can we help him more.

Family #4 (Iraqi) *update 4/19 He found a job, Alhamduilllah*
The father used to work as a barber in Iraq, he had another job here but got laid off because of the economy. He said he is waiting on his papers to come from Iraq this week so that he can start working his normal job (cutting hair). He is having trouble paying the bills and rent till he starts working again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can I give Zakah?
  Yes, you can click here to give Zakah
• Do you spend my Zakah in administrative or operational cost?
  No, Zakah is strictly and totally giving to end beneficiaries.
• Can these brothers and sisters work?
  Yes, they are looking for jobs and a few do have part-time jobs, but that’s only enough to pay for food, utilities, etc.
• What about government assistance?
  Government rent assistance to refugee families cover only the first four months.
• I saw on TV that non-Muslims organizations (e.g. churches) are helping them?
  Yes, there are other refugee service organizations. However, Al Amaanah provides unique services that Muslim families need, e.g. educational programs for their children.
• What is Al Amaanah?
  Al Amaanah is refugee service organization based in Houston, Texas, USA. The word Amaanah means trust or duty, because Muslims believe that taking care of our brothers and sisters who happened to be refugees is an amaanah on everyone’s shoulders.
• What other services does Al Amaanah provide?
  Other than financial support, our services include English classes, homework help for children, and physical and emotional support for many widows, injured, and disabled refugees.
• I want to know more about your volunteer interaction with these families, where can I find that?
  Visit Al-Amaanah blog http://alamaanah.wordpress.com/

For more information, visit http://www.alamaanah.com/ or listen to this interview.

To keep updated, visit Al-Amaanah blog http://alamaanah.wordpress.com/

Interesting Facts

• All early donors are from Australia (Sun does rise from there )
• Smallest contribution is $1 (half a date )
• Biggest contribution so far is $250 from Pennsylvania $400 from California $500 from Texas $700 Calgary, Canada
• A laid off mother of three donated $20, a brother who lost his job gave $40 (please make dua for them)
• Several unemployed students gave, one gave $7.29 because that’s what she had in her account.
• Youngest donor she doesn’t even have a credit card or bank account Rehan and Heba (7 & 4 children donated from their own money).
• Alhamdulillah, Over 10 blog posts for this drive, may Allah reward all bloggers.
• Alhamdulillah, over 17K views on YouTube alone (not counting other sites), may Allah reward all views and promoters.
• The donor who gave $7.29 later gave another $77 from tax refund.
• A sister found a job after giving.
• A mother found her sick child improving after giving.
• Several donors gave multiple times, one sister gave again because she didn’t have enough to give the first time, another sister gave whenever she felt pain or inspirations.
• Alhamdulillah, over 100 gift items (cards, letter, gift card, scarf, clothing) have been mailed to Al-Amaanah
• Several groups have raised for the drive, namely Northwestern University, Calgary medical students, and Organic HalfDate Club

If you know any media or Khateeb wants to talk about this drive. Let them contact us (tamra -a-t- halfdate.com)

Drive Sponsors

HalfDate promotion costs are sponsored by the following sponsors and by HalfDaters like you.

Want to spread the word?

• Blog about this drive. Click here
• Post the http://halfdate.com link on your email or forum signature.
• Buy an ad on Google or social media ads on Facebook, MySpace, …
• Chip in for flyer printing and distribution.
• Tell your local media about this drive.

Pictures: