HalfDate Blog

A blog about good-cause marketing

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Delancey Street Foundation

Visit to learn more: http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/

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What’s Wrong With Charitable Giving—and How to Fix It

It’s hard to overstate the crisis facing charitable giving today. So let me just say it as plainly as I can: Much of current philanthropic giving, by foundations and individuals, neither meets the needs of our charitable organizations nor addresses some of our most urgent public needs.

Foundation practices today are too bureaucratic, inflexible and cautious, and too focused on short-term objectives. Too often, the process and procedures of grant making are more tailored to the needs of foundations and their trustees than to the requirements of nonprofits.

What can foundations and others do to make a difference for the nonprofits and the people they are designed to help?

Read here to find out: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704500604574481773446591750.html

How The Ummah Saved A Masjid From Foreclosure

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Asalaamu Alaiakum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

With a two week deadline can a community raise $42, 000 to save their Masjid from foreclosure?

Yes, they can! And they have! A community did just this recently. Which community? The Ummah of Muhammad Salalahu Alayhi wa Salaam.

Muslims from all over donated to help save Bronx Muslim Center, USA, Inc from foreclosure. Using mediums such as Facebook, Youtube and email to raise awareness, volunteers were able to rally Muslims to donate over $20,000 just online and another $22,000 offline.

On Feburary 12th, 2010 the House which will be the future Masjid was purchased.

Alhamdulilah! All with the Help and Permission of Allah (SWT).

Background Info:

Bronx Muslim Center USA, Inc. is a non-profit, independent organization located at 2531 Davidson Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468. BMCUI’s ultimate mission is to create an Islamic environment for the Muslim community in the Fordham Road area by providing religious, educational, and recreational activities for its members and the members of the public at large. Among the primary goals of Bronx Muslim Center USA, Inc. is the outreach to the non-Muslims in the community and educate the public about Islam.

Please Visit For More Info: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

You can visit the recent Facebook event in which hundreds of Muslims ‘attended’ and gave for the sake of Allah to save the Masjid:

http://tinyurl.com/BronxMasjidCampaign

Some of the Donation Statistics:

USA: 67.4%
UK: 15.3%
Canada: 12.5%
Australia: 2.1%
Singapore: 0.7%
Malaysia: 1.4%
Switzerland: 0.7%

You can also read an article published in a local newspaper about the efforts of Volunteers, amongst them HalfDate.com:

http://bronxink.org/2010/02/12/bronx-mosque-buys-home-on-verge-of-foreclosure/

We ask Allah to reward everyone who helped to save this Masjid. May Allah build for you a beautiful House in Jannah, ameen

However, in the process of saving the Masjid, the community had to borrow an interest free loan of $253,000 which they must repay in a short period of time. Therefore, the Masjid committee is appealing to you to donate generously so that this loan can be paid on its due time in order to make the House of Allah debt free.

Allah, the Exalted said: “And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s cause), He will replace it.” (34:39)

We would also like to remind our brothers and sisters that Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said: “When man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things; Sadaqa-e-Jariah, a knowledge which Beneficial to others or a virtuous descendent who pray for him.” (Muslim)

Please Visit To Donate: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

Donating money to build a Masjid for the sake of Allah is a Sadaqa-e-Jariah (continuous charity), meaning the reward will continue to reach the donor even after death. This is also mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (Saw) in an authentic hadith.

Please encourage others to be part of this Noble Cause because Prophet Muhammad (Saw) said: “”Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action.” (Muslim)

“Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allaah, like a sparrow’s nest or even smaller, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Please Visit To Donate: http://www.BronxMuslimCenter.Org

If you cannot, please keep the Masjid and Community in your duaas.

May Allah reward you with the sweetest date in Jannah, ameen!

Wa’alaykum Asalaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

I Was Homeless Too…

This is a comment from a sister about our Warm Winter Drive to help Homeless Muslims:

“Thank you so much for this link [http://bit.ly/saveourfamilies].  I actually spent the past 6 months in a homeless shelter because when I converted, me and my two children were kicked out of my mother’s home.  This place was horrible for me,  they were horrible to me because I was a Muslim.  A convert I know also spent time at the shelter there because he was kicked out of his mother’s house as well.  Before that I spent another 3 months in a Domestic violence shelter because of an abusive marriage.  I wish there was a homeless shelter for Muslims during my time on the streets with my children.  I am in college now and Alhumdilah I am in a stable apartment, I still do not have my kids with me.  Inshallah things will change soon.  I donated some of my zakat to them.”

Salamualaikum,

Sister J

Please also contribute to this drive with donations or a pleasant word so our Muslim Brothers and Sisters have a warm winter this year.

May Allah (SWT) reward you with the sweetest date in Jannah, ameen!

DriveFruit: Warm Winter Fruit 1/3

This is the result of Warm Winter DateDrive.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Asalaamu Alaiakum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu

Alhamdulilah, Baitul Salaam women shelter has given sister F (the mother of 5) the money and she will have her own place to stay and can pay her bills, inshaAllah.

She was one of three requests for HalfDate’s Warm Winter Drive.

You can read about the drive here: http://halfdate.com/2010/01/28/warm-winter-in-memory-of-abu-samah/

From Sister F:

“Walaykum Salam May Allah reward everyone who contributed and help with my situation. The money that was raise for me and my family really help. I was able to pay for the 1st month rent and also pay for the deposit. Alhamdu lilaahi rabil alamin everything is coming along very well. We will be moving this weeken to a 3 bedroom apt.May Allah accept all of our efforts.”

Thank you for those who helped by promoting, forwarding, raising, or giving. May Allah reward you all with the sweetest Date in Jannah, ameen!

Umm Amina

Update Feb 19th, 2010:

As salaamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

May this message reach you in the best of Iman.

We attended court from 9 am til 3:30 pm was a waiting and negotiation. Finally they have decided to dismiss the case in the Juvenile court because it is not a child abuse and abandonment case any more it is child custody at this time.

Therefore, supervised visits are no more. Her children will be with her today insha’Allah she will bring them to her home for everyone to meet them and insha’Allah we will be there also to take some pictures.

She is able to take her children once a week for 5 hours and on holidays 8 hours
while waiting to attend the child custody case. The judge decided the children will continue to stay with the grand mother just so the children can transition slowly while they wait for the next step.

JazakAllahu khayr for your duaas and contributions in assisting her.

May Allah reward you all. Ameen

Salaam

Nadia A. McIntosh


Update Feb 17th, 2010: Please make Dua for Umm Amina and children. She has to appear in court on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 and this day is the day we will find out the results if she can get her children back insha’Allah.

Thanks to generous contributions from 60+ HalfDaters for this drive:
http://halfdate.com/2010/01/12/umm-aminah-drive/

From Sister Nadia (Women Affairs of AMH Inc):

As salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. May this message reach you in the best of Iman.

Here are some pictures of sister Umm Aminah and I and some help shopping for her home. The fifth picture is Umm Aminah and Myself (Nadia) full niqabi. Today, her social worker made a home inspection you have the pictures as well and tomorrow she goes to court to find out if she gets her children or not. Please make duaa for her and her children. I will keep you posted about the court decision. JazakAllahu Khayr for responding to our call for help and may Allah reward you and all that is involve with the smile, relief and hope that you see on her face. Ameen
salaam

Women Affairs of AMH Inc
Nadia A. McIntosh
P.O.Box 1462
Baltimore, MD 21203
www.almumtahinahhome.org
443-965-0555

“Whosoever removes a world grief from a believer,Allaah will remove
from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgment”
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

From Sister UmmAmina:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Al Hamdulilah in all circumstances, as I go through this page I can bearly see the screen because my eyes are filled with tears. May Allah reward the believers who when they are called upon to assist me with making preparations to receive my sweet darling children back, respond without hesitation or proclamation. Subhannah Allah! In Surah Al Baqarah, Ayat 177 Allah says;

“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards the East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Books and the Messengers; To spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for the orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves; To be steadfast in prayer and give Zakat; To fulfill the contracts which ye have made and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic; Such are the People of Truth, the God-fearing.”

As salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.  May this message reach you in the best of Iman.
Here are some pictures of sister Umm Aminah and I and some help shopping for her home.
the fifth picture is Umm Aminah and Myself (Nadia) full niqabi.
today, her social worker made a home inspection you have the pictures as well and tomorrow she goes to court to find out if she gets her children or not.
Please make duaa for her and her children.  I will keep you posted about the court decision.
JazakAllahu Khayr for responding to our call for help and may Allah reward you and all that is involve with the smile, relief and hope that you see on her face.  Ameen
salaam

Women Affairs of AMH Inc
Nadia A.McIntosh
P.O.Box 1462
Baltimore, MD 21203
443-965-0555

Why We Can All Be Philanthropists

Given this economy, you might think that only those with big bucks can do philanthropy. Commentator Matthew Bishop urges us to think again.

Read more here: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/01/01/mm-commentary-bishop/

Beware of charities’ “donor illusion”

Donors to charities get satisfaction from thinking their money is going to a particular person or project with which they then have a special relationship. But those relationships sometimes aren’t so special. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/01/01/mm-donorillusion/

Overwhelmed by check-out-line charity

It’s becoming more common for grocery store shoppers to be asked to contribute to charities while they’re in the check-out line. Those small contributions can add up for worthy causes, but there are hidden costs involved. Michael May reports.

Read more here: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/01/01/mm-checkoutcharity/