ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
2019
ANNUAL REPORT
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Board of Directors
Fahim Aref
Iqbal Hussain
Executive Director
VP & I.T. Communications
Mohamed Zeyara
Zaid Abdallah
Outreach Director
Secretary
Muneer Shehadi Treasurer
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Foreword
2019 was a year of triumph. We worked on more projects, collaborated with more amazing people, and collected more in donations than ever before. Our donors gave us the privilege to carry out these programs, and we gave them a promise that every cent would be delivered to those in need. Since 2014, we’ve delivered on this promise to the satisfaction of our contributors and couldn’t be more pleased with the results. We want to warmly thank all for the constant stream of support and commitment. Without it, we would not be a leading nonprofit organization in the Chicagoland area as we are today. We’re commemorating this year with a recap of our biggest achievements together.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Water MALI
40 Wells, 40 Lanes $100,000 On April 19, 2019, we hosted our first fundraising event entirely dedicated to a campaign initiative! Our fundraiser for Mali, “40 Wells, 40 Lanes,” aimed to raise $100,000 for the purpose of drilling 40 wells. Alhamdulillah, it was a major success, with 40 families having made their generous sponsorships and celebrating with a fun night of bowling with our team! Each family was provided a moving video of their well opening and immensely enjoyed the opportunity to not only honor a loved one with a charity dedication, but also take part in a family-friendly community event. Donor groups each received a bowling lane to their family, exciting giveaway prizes, and delightful catering.
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2019 saw more than $700,000 in donations contributed towards our water initiative— enough funding to drill nearly 300 wells in rural portions of Mali that do not have access to clean water systems. Donor contributions saved hours a day for tens of thousands of recipients that would have otherwise walked miles just to cook and bathe. Our water wells remain a top pick for donors looking to honor a loved one with a lasting charity that will deliver for years. The success of our wells lies within the elaborate construction, maintenance, and heartwarming footage provided to the donor of the well’s inauguration. We will continue to provide donors various sponsorship opportunities and perform as the most trusted service of its kind.
$700,000+
300
donations
wells in Mali
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Water BANGLADESH Wells for Bangladesh This year, we expanded our water outreach program to the region of Bangladesh bordering Myanmar. We raised more than $90,000 to drill wells to provide clean water to Rohingya Muslims living in refugee camps. These sources alleviated refugees of the stress of needing to find water that is not contaminated or putting them at risk of illness. It is part of our ongoing initiative to bring relief to the Rohingya Muslims, so far distributing food baskets in the area, supporting 2 orphanages, building more than 10 mosques, and drilling wells.
2
orphanages supported
$90,000 raised for wells
10
mosques built
50 Wells in Memory of New Zealand On March 15th, 2019, 50 Muslims fell victim to two consecutive mosque shootings, passing from the attacks inflicted on them in their places of prayer. This was an extremely saddening and tragic event that rattled the world and unified communities of all religious backgrounds. In the midst of mourning, Muslims of the World and their followers jumped into action, raising funds for 50 water wells to be dedicated to each of the 50 victims of this massacre as a Sadaqa Jariyeh for them. The wells were drilled in Mali and Bangladesh and currently serve thousands.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Academy Alhamdulillah, this year marked exceeding 1 million dollars in donations for our academy for orphans in Mali. This has allowed us to complete the external structure of the building and transition our efforts to the internal construction. The Academy is a school in Sikasso, Mali that sits on a 5-acre property. With the capacity to educate 500 and house 150, it will be the only school of its kind in the area. The Academy seeks to provide orphans with an extraordinary education while fostering a sense of family and belonging in a safe and encouraging environment. With a topof-the-line education, prayer center, and medical care, our children will be set for success upon completion. Continue to follow the Academy on its journey into 2020 as our vision for Mali’s most vulnerable comes to life.
1.2 million
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Vision Camp
$135,864.19 In collaboration with Al-Basar International Foundation, our organization was fortunate to host two vision camps in 2019 that served populations in rural locations that do not have access to vision care. Our team touched down in Worabe, Ethiopia in April and Matli, Pakistan in November to assess the vision of citizens with concerns. The camps ran for one week and saw approximately 5,250 patients at each. Of these patients, about 500 were admitted for restorative surgery that treated ailments such as cataracts and glaucoma long affecting their ability to properly see. Each surgery costs $100 and provides life-altering results for the donation recipients. This brings the number of camps Pious Projects has hosted to four in our long-standing initiative to give all the right to sight. We aim to proceed with a fifth camp in 2020.
5,250 patients
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Orphans
$250,000 Sahl ibn Sa’d reported that the messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “I will be like this in Jannah with the caretaker of an orphan” raising his forefinger and middle finger together by way of illustration (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Did you know…? In 2019, we opened two orphanages in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Cox’s Bazar is home to the world’s largest refugee camp, filled with hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing the violence of neighboring Myanmar. With 200 orphans total (100 boys and 100 girls), our on-ground team is dedicated to the growth and advancement of each individual child in our care. This is an ongoing program in which students receive the utmost attention and benefit from secular and Islamic studies.
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To sponsor an orphan is to relieve the burdens of one of the most vulnerable populations in the world. After raising nearly $250,000 for orphans in 2019, we were able to support hundreds of children in various countries with food, education, clothing, and shelter. On average, each of our orphans require only $50 to sustain their most pressing needs. By assisting us in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for children exposed to life’s fiercest hardships, our donors have significantly increased their future chances of success and emotional wellbeing.
Syria
Gaza
Mali
Jordan
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Medical Camp In November 2019, we partnered with MedGlobal to open our first medical camp in Yemen. For one week, a volunteer group of medical professionals from around the world gathered in Seiyun, Yemen to offer their expertise and advanced skills at a local, severely understaffed hospital. Each volunteer was tasked with treating patients within their scope and working alongside the hospital’s existing team to efficiently see to illness and injury that would not have otherwise been ministered to. In the end, the team of 23 was not only able to provide immediate medical attention, but also provided new machinery and hosted lectures regarding updated methods and procedures to be implemented long after the team had departed. This is all part MedGlobal’s ultimate goal to slowly eradicate healthcare disparity and see to advancement of practices around the world. We are proud of the work that has taken place in Yemen and look forward to collaboratively bringing these services to another region in 2020.
$100,000
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Food Baskets In countries suffering economic strain or under the clutches of war-related disorder, our team is present to provide families the simple relief of food source. Though our food baskets cannot possibly remedy the severity of their circumstance, they allow recipients the opportunity to feed their family for a month’s time and physically recover from extended periods of deprivation. The rates of starvation in countries of conflict are an everpresent issue. Citizens are trapped in a harsh cycle in which their opportunities are limited, and because their financial opportunities are limited, they cannot afford the exorbitant prices of food items in their area. Our primary goal is to challenge the presence of malnourishment in multiple countries with the help of our donors, and with nearly $250,000 in donations towards our basket distributions this year, we did just that. Each basket is equipped with common cooking components suitable to the region that enable the recipients to cook wellrounded and satisfying dishes. Items such as rice, oil, yogurt, potato, and dehydrated meat are popular options to provide for a family in a cost-efficient manner.
Chad
Mali
Myanmar
$18,215.30
$47,006.72
$38,611.81
376
585
Gaza
Syria
Jordan
$45,239.30
$24,193.75
364
254,744.59 Approximately 3,727 families supported for 1 month
10
754
$14,663.29
403
163
Ethiopia
Yemen
$35,930.31
$30,884.11
719
363
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Feed the Hungry
This year, we hosted our fifth annual Feed the Hungry event when cities across the nation participate in gathering volunteers to assemble meals for local homeless shelters. 17 cities participated in 2019, directed by dedicated leaders looking to bring a hands-on charity to their community. Feed the Hungry is a unique opportunity for adults and children alike to take part in distinguished work with a significant outcome. On October 19th, 2019, we had the helping hands of 1,100 volunteers and made approximately 27,000 meals for distribution. Each meal package was shared with care, consisting of a healthy sandwich, snack, and drink and often including a personal note from a child participant. We look forward to carrying this event into 2020 and potentially expanding our host cities!
1,100
17
volunteers
cities
27,000 meals
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Winter Relief
Did you know…? Our USA-based winter initiative, Share the Warmth, has been hosted by our team four times now. We’ve distributed heavy-duty jackets in low-income public schools, safety essentials directly to Chicago’s homeless communities, and collaborated with local businesses to maximize our impact. This year, all $30,000 in in-kind donations were packed into kits with full-size items such as hats, socks, gloves, handwarmers, hand sanitizer, and more that were then hand-provided by our dedicated volunteers on December 13th, 2019.
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The winter of 2019 brought frigid temps to places all around the world. Of course, those who are not equipped for the chilly seasons are the most susceptible to its dangers and discomforts. With the help of our donors, we brought winter relief to as far as refugees in Syria to as close as our struggling neighbors in Chicago. We raised more than $17,000 in monetary donations and $30,000 in in-kind donations to support these populations with aid. Some of our aid included clothing kits to child refugees in camps in Palestine, blanket and heating gas distributions in Syria and Jordan, and winter care kit distributions on the streets of Chicago. Our goal was to minimize the harm that befalls those exposed to the hazardous conditions and remind them that we care!
$17,000+ monetary donations
$30,000 in-kind donations
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Fulani On March 23rd, 2019, a violent attack was inflicted on Fulani herdsmen in the Mopti region of Mali. Due to rising ethnic tension, some 160 villagers were brutally murdered in this massacre, leaving the world reeling from the tragic outcome. Being familiarized with the amazing people of Mali and invested in their progression and future, our team was extremely affected by this news. However, our supporters who have also sincerely followed along our journey with Mali quickly responded to our call for action and raised $270,000. These funds were used to establish a village in a safer region to support some of the tens of thousands of refugees that were forced to flee their homes. The village will include homes, a school, a small medical center, a mosque, and a clean water source. This village both resolves the hardship they faced sleeping in the hot sun with only their clothes to protect them as well as restores the sense of community and security they were desperately seeking. We anticipate the village will be complete by the summer of 2020 as more than 100 houses were complete at the close of 2019!
$270,000 = 100+ houses
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
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Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah RAMADAN
$1.2 Mil DHUL HIJJAH
$200,000 In 2019, the holiday season saw more than $1.4 million in donations raised by our dedicated donors. For the duration of Ramadan and the first 10 days of Dhul HIjjah, we hosted our annual programs of automatic daily donations contributed towards various campaigns. The Ramadan Race and Hajj Challenge are the most effortless way to partake in the most rewarding times of the year without having to actively seek out distinguished charitable projects. The funds that are raised in these months help thousands by supporting them with food aid, education, orphan care, sustainable income opportunities, and more. Some of the initiatives that were featured throughout the months included iftar programs in destitute cities and villages, family-sized food baskets, medical camps, and much more. The Ramadan Race and Hajj Challenge are festive reminders to show our appreciation of our blessings by sharing them with another. We look forward to hosting these campaigns once again in 2020, and inshallah, increasing our global outreach.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
Udhiya
USA
Syria
Palestine
Jordan
Mali Senegal Sierra Leone Burkina Faso Ivory Coast
Chad
Darfur Cameroon
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
India
Somalia
Burma
Bangladesh
Uganda
Zimbabwe
In celebration of Eid Al Adha 2019, we distributed portions of meat all around the world. 21 countries received hearty shares of protein thanks to our Hajj Challengers and general campaign donors. In a locality where meat is a rare luxury, this distribution means the world. Recipients take home fresh meat to be incorporated into their family’s meals, likely being the highest nutritional value they’ve consumed in some time. For many, this time of year is long awaited and most welcome. In August 2019, we raised more than $100,000 for udhiya distribution. This allowed us to distribute approximately 1,000 shares to those in need. Additionally, another $15,000 in meat shares were distributed throughout the year from our ongoing campaign “Udhiya Anytime, Anyplace.” The campaign serves as an option for donors that would like to provide the gift of meat at any time of year apart from the obligatory portions. All in all, hundreds of families found temporary alleviation from their hunger, and we will continue to support them in their plight with our donors’ assistance.
South Yemen Sudan Ethiopia
Malawi
Central African Republic
An Extraordinary Partnership In February 2019, we started our collaboration with jewelry brand Nominal. For every purchase made from their charity collections, 25% of sales went to a Pious Projects campaign. With the support of their customers that enthusiastically took to their new charity efforts, we were able to receive $18,000 in donations. We couldn’t be more grateful to be the selected nonprofit recipient of such a generous initiative. We are thankful to the friends we’ve found in the Nominal team and aspire to take part in more work together in the very near future.
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Admin 0
HIDDEN FEES
100% OF TIME
At Pious Projects, we continue our culture of frugality for the fifth year. We never take hidden admin fees and always maintain our policy of full donation delivery to the intended recipients. We achieve this model with modest spending and low expenses. By establishing a strong relationship with our donors, we are able to maintain our operations without enforcing hidden admin fees on contributions. Donors voluntarily seek out our admin fund to donate towards our general expenses, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of the acknowledgement that our work is deserving of their ongoing support! We will continue to exercise the utmost care with funds entrusted to us and regard them with the sense of responsibility they merit. Thank you to each and every contributor that generously opted in to keep our organization thriving in 2019. We can’t wait to make the most of 2020 together.
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Finances $4.10m $3.16m $2.03m $1.05m 2015
$1.61m 2016
2017
2018
2019
100% of program donations go to the program, always. No admin deducted!
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 // Pious Projects of America
www.piousprojects.org 7541 W 99th Pl. Bridgeview, IL 60455 (708) 978-7000