Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, December 2008, pages 77-78

Charitable Organizations

’Tis the Season for Charitable Giving: A Washington Report Compendium

Compiled by Matt Horton

Addameer—Prisoners’ Rights and Support Group: Al-Isra’ Bldg., 7th floor, Al-Irsal St. • Ramallah • Palestine (via Israel) • P.O. Box 17338 • Jerusalem • +972-2-296-0446 • <www.addameer.org>

In addition to advocacy, Addameer visits Palestinian political prisoners and provides humanitarian aid.

American Friends of Birzeit University (AFBU): 1416 N. Utah St. • Arlington, VA, 22201-4824 • (703) 528-2623 • <ysfarsakh1@verizon.net>

Raises funds for the West Bank’s flagship Birzeit University.

American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA): 1522 K St. NW, Suite 202 • Washington, DC 20005-1270 • (202) 347-2558 • <www.anera.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Sponsors a wide variety of ongoing programs in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan and provides emergency relief.

Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children: 72 Philisteen St. • P.O. Box 1296 • Gaza City, Gaza Strip • Palestine (via Israel) • +972-8-282-8495 • <www.atfaluna.net> (G)

Provides education and training to deaf and hearing-impaired persons (and their families) in the Gaza Strip. Also serves as the main referral and resource center for hospitals, clinics and institutions for the deaf and hearing-impaired.

The Bethlehem Association: P.O. Box 1111 • Media, PA 19063 • (610) 353-2010 • <www.bethlehemassoc.org> ($)

An organization of the Bethlehemite Diaspora, the Bethlehem Association collects donations to support well-established and recognized charities and clinics in West Bank’s Bethlehem District cities of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.

BUSTAN Children’s Power Project: P.O. Box 6955 • Jerusalem • Israel • +972-5-237-1800 • <www.bustan.org> (U)

Provides power for Palestinian households of “Unrecognized Villages” in Israel who need electricity to operate essential medical equipment for their children.

The Free Gaza Movement: 405 Vista Heights Rd. • El Cerrito, CA 94530 • (510) 232-2500 • <www.freegaza.org> (G)

Challenges the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip by boat, bringing symbolic humanitarian aid.

Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP): P.O. Box 1049 • Gaza City • Gaza Strip • Palestine (via Israel) • +972-7-286-5949 • <www.gcmhp.net> (G)

Provides urgently needed mental health care for residents of the Gaza Strip.

Hands Along the Nile Development Services, Inc. (HANDS): 1601 N. Kent St., Suite 1014 • Arlington, VA 22209 • toll-free (800) 564-2544 • <www.handsalongthenile.org> ($)

Promotes U.S.-Egyptian cultural exchange and helps to empower local communities through a variety of development projects.

Helping Hand-Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief: 166-26 89th Ave. • Jamaica, NY 11432 • (718) 658-7028 • <www.helpinghandonline.org> ($)

Provides humanitarian aid to Muslims in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Palestine and the U.S.

Hidaya Foundation: P.O. Box 5481 • Santa Clara, CA 95056 • toll-free (866) 2-HIDAYA • <www.hidaya.org> ($)

Sponsors educational, social welfare and charitable projects in South Asia, West Africa and North America.

Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF): P.O. Box 6687 • Silver Spring, MD 20906 • toll-free (866) 871-HCEF • <www.hcef.org> ($)

Sponsors ongoing education, child sponsorship and housing programs for Palestinian Christians, as well as an emergency fund to supply medication, medical supplies, food and services.

Islamic Relief USA: 6131 Orangethorpe Ave., Suite 450 • Buena Park, CA 90620 • toll-free (888) 479-4968 • <www.irw.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Works in more than 30 countries to alleviate hunger, illiteracy and diseases, provides rapid relief to victims of man-made and natural disasters.

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD): ICAHD-USA • P.O. Box 2565 • Chapel Hill, NC 27515 • (919) 277-0632 • <http://icahdusa.org> ($)(U)

Rebuilds Palestinian homes demolished by Israel, sometimes several times, in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel.

Ittijah: Union of Arab Community-Based Organizations: P.O. Box 9577 • Haifa 31095 • Israel • +972-4-850-7110 • <www.ittijah.org> (U)

The premier network for Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Israel, works in partnersip with its members to provide support services not otherwise available to the Palestinian citizens of Israel due to the state’s discriminatory practices and policies.

The Jerusalem Fund: 2425 Virginia Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20037 • (202) 338-1958 • <www.thejerusalemfund.org> ($)(L)(G)

Provides grants for humanitarian and cultural projects in Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, as well as for educational projects in the U.S.

KinderUSA: P.O. Box 224846 • Dallas, TX 75222-9785 • (972) 664-1991 • <www.kinderusa.org> ($)(L)(G)

Supports relief and development programs in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan.

Life for Relief and Development: P.O. Box 236 • Southfield, MI 48037 • (248) 424-7493 • <www.lifeusa.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Provides medicines and medical equipment and supports infrastructure development in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine.

Maysoon’s Kids: 447 Lawton Ave. • Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 • (917) 803-9111 • <www.maysoon.com> ($)

Palestinian-American comedienne May­soon Zayid personally travels to nine different Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, where she provides humanitarian assistance and sponsors programs for disabled, wounded and at-risk children.

Mercy Corps: Dept. W • 301 SW 1st Ave. • Portland, OR 97201 • toll-free (800) 292-3355 • <www.mercycorps.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Global organization that provides emergency humanitarian relief across the Arab and Muslim world.

Middle East Children’s Alliance: 905 Parker St. • Berkeley, CA 94710 • (510) 548-0542 • <www.mecaforpeace.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Promotes peace and justice in the Middle East, focusing on Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq through educating North Americans about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and supporting relief and development projects in the region.

Mosaic Foundation: 1420 Beverly Rd., Suite 240 • McLean, VA 94710 • (510) 548-0542 • <www.mosaicfound.org> ($)

Founded by spouses of Arab ambassadors to the U.S., the foundation sponsors a number of projects in the U.S. and Arab world.

Nahr El-Bared Relief Campaign: American University of Beirut (AUB) Development Office • College Hall, 3rd Floor • P.O. Box 11-0236 • Riad El Solh • Beirut 1107-2020 • Lebanon • <www.nahrelbaredcampaign.org> ($)(L)

Provides relief and support to the Palestinian refugees from the Nahr El-Bared refugee camp destroyed in 2007 by the Lebanese military. To make a tax-deductible online donation through AUB, visit <https://rtf.aub.edu.lb> and select the “Nahr El-Bared Relief Campaign” option, or mail a check to the above address.

The Nazareth Project Inc.: 237 North Prince St. • Lancaster, PA 17603 • (717) 290-1800 • <www.nazarethproject.org> ($)

Raises funds to support the Nazareth Hospital in Israel and St. Luke’s Hospital in Nablus, the West Bank. Interested persons can donate online or volunteer to help raise funds.

Near East Foundation: 420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2516 • New York, NY 10170 • (212) 867-0064 • <www.neareast.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Supports community development and provides humanitarian and emergency assistance in more than 16 countries.

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund: P.O. Box 1926 • Kent, OH 44240 • (330) 678-2645 • <www.pcrf.net> ($)(L)(G)

Sponsors free medical care in the U.S. for children who cannot be adequately treated in the Middle East, trains local doctors and sends medical supplies to Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Refugee Support Network-Takaful Family Sponsorship Program: 344 Grove St., Suite 131 • Jersey City, NJ 07302 • toll-free (800) 856-8147 • <http://refugeesupport.org> ($)(L)(G)

Works in coordination with Al-Karmel Cultural and Social Development Association and with the Hanan Cultural and Social Development Association in the Gaza Strip, and with Al-Khalsah Philanthropic Association in Lebanon to create direct sponsorship relationships between donors and Palestinian refugee families.

Project Hope: 29 An-Najah Al-Qadim St. (next to the French Cultural Center) • Nablus, Palestine • +972-9-233-7077 • <www.projecthope.ps>

Provides educational and recreational activities, medical and humanitarian relief, and practical training to residents of Nablus and its neighboring Askar and Balata refugee camps.

Rabbis For Human Rights: Rabbis for Human Rights-North America • P.O. Box 1539 • West Tisbury, MA 02575 • (508) 696-1880 • <www.rhr-na.org> ($)(U)

In addition to advocacy, RHR provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, including those in Israel’s unrecognized villages.

Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice: P.O. Box 12149 • Olympia, WA 98508 • (360) 866-2053 • <www.rachelcorriefoundation.org> ($)(G)

In memory of Rachel Corrie, the Corrie family foundation promotes educational programs in the U.S. and economic, environmental and social justice in Rafah, Gaza, where Corrie was killed.

The Rebuilding Alliance/Rebuilding Homes Campaign: 457 Kingsley Ave. • Palo Alto, CA 94301 • (650) 325-4663 • <www.rebuildinghomes.org> ($)(G)

Raises awareness and funds to rebuild Palestinian homes and bring peace to the Middle East through strategic Palestinian and Israeli cooperation.

The Regional Council for Unrecognized Villages (RCUV): 86 Trumpeldor St. • Beersheva • Israel • +972-7-628-3315 • +972-7-628-3043 (U)

As representatives of Palestinian un­recognized villages in Israel, RCUV provides humanitarian assistance to these marginalized Palestinian citizens of Israel, particularly following home demolitions.

René Moawad Foundation: 3231 P St., NW, 2nd Floor • Washington, DC 20007 • (202) 338-3535 • <www.rmf.org.lb> ($)(L)

Promotes social, economic, agricultural and rural development, democracy and human rights in Lebanon.

Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center: Friends of Sabeel-North America (FOSNA) • P.O. Box 9186 • Portland, OR 97207 • (503) 653-6625 • <www.fosna.org> ($)

In addition to advocacy on behalf of Palestinians, Sabeel provides a variety of community programs, particularly to Palestinian Christians, in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel.

Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees: Friends of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) • P.O. Box 450554 • Atlanta, GA 31145 • (404) 441-2702 • <www.upmrc.org> ($)(G)

U.S.-based support group which receives tax-free donations for this grassroots, community-based Palestinian health organization founded in 1979.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA): Friends of UNRWA Association, Inc. • 605 Third Ave., Suite 2400 • New York, NY 10158 • fax (212) 370-3009 • <www.friendsunrwa.org> ($)(L)(G)

This U.N. agency aids Palestinian refugees through emergency relief such as food and health care, as well as long-term assistance through education and finance programs.

United Palestinian Appeal: 1330 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Suite 104 • Washington, DC 20037 • (202) 659-5007 • <www.helpupa.com> ($)(G)

Sponsors health, education, and community development programs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

World Vision: P.O. Box 9716 • Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 • toll-free (888) 511-6598 • <www.worldvision.org> ($)(L)(G)

Global Christian humanitarian organization providing relief in many countries in the Arab and Muslim world.

The Zakat Foundation of America: P.O. Box 639 • Worth, IL 60482 • (708) 499-6151 • <www.thezakat.org> ($)(L)(G)(I)

Sponsors programs for emergency relief, orphan sponsorship, education, development and health in 10 countries.