FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contact: Mahdi Bray (202) 421-3623
(202) 496-1288
(281) 530-4MAS (4627)
MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITY ANNOUNCE MAJOR RELIEF EFFORT AT HOUSTON
ASTRODOME PRESS CONFERENCE
Relocated Hurricane Victims Join MAS and Islamic Relief in Responding to
Needs of Thousands Devastated by Katrina
http://www.masnet.org/pressroom_release.asp?id=2726
(Washington, D.C.) - The Muslim American Society (MAS),
(http://www.masnet.org/) and its Freedom Foundation
(http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp), and Islamic Relief USA
(http://www.irw.org/katrina/), will hold a press conference on Friday,
September 2 at 3:00 p.m. in front of the Holiday Inn across from the
Houston
Astrodome to announce ongoing relief efforts to assist victims of
Hurricane
Katrina.
MAS, America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with over fifty
chapters, including those in Houston, Dallas and New Orleans, has teamed
up
with Islamic Relief USA, a U.N. NGO and member of the U.N. Economic and
Social Council, with its offices in 30 countries.
MAS and its Freedom Foundation will announce major ongoing efforts
initiated
by the organization and Islamic Relief to mobilize the American Muslim
community in order to work in concert with other national relief
organizations, religious charities, government officials, and the
private
sector, to assist victims.
The press conference will be held in front of the Holiday Inn across
from
the Houston Astrodome at Reliant Park, 8111 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX, at
3:00 p.m.
Also attending the press conference will be Muslims who were evacuated
from
New Orleans and the surrounding area.
"There are three basic components to our work," stated MAS Freedom
Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray.
"To encourage Muslims to open their mosques and homes to victims as well
as
adopting a family and renting an apartment for displaced families.
Second,
to collect and assist with the distribution of food and other consumable
necessities to shelters and other temporary lodging facilities. And
lastly,
to insure that Islamic Relief has the resources to provide the high
caliber
assistance that they have provided throughout the years to victims of
natural catastrophes here in the United States and abroad."
"It is critical that we all pull together to help the thousands of
Muslims
and their neighbors who have been devastated by Katrina," concluded
Bray.
MAS has already encouraged mosques in Baton Rouge, LA, and surrounding
areas
to open their doors as temporary shelters, and are currently full.
Efforts
are now being made to house families in hotels and private homes.
Additionally, MAS members are renting apartments for temporary living
quarters. Currently, Islamic Relief is sending a major convoy with
supplies
to Baton Rouge; Mobile, Al; Houston, TX; and other areas affected by
Katrina.
And MAS Freedom is also organizing and dispatching Muslim doctors and
healthcare professionals to areas hit by Katrina.
=====================================================
The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim American
Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social, and educational
organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots Muslim organization
with
over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org. Support our
work
at MAS Freedom Foundation. Make a donation
(http://www.masnet.org/donate.asp).
-----------------------------------------
MAS Freedom Foundation
1050 17th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 496-1288
Fax: (202) 463-0686
URL: http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp
EMAIL: [log in to unmask]