Crescent hosted several events during Ramadan to show appreciation for its donors and supporters and to raise funds for the Crescent 2030 project.

 

These included a major fundraiser on March 8 at La Roma Banquet Hall in Garden City, attended by about 450 supporters, and a community appreciation iftar and dinner in the campus gymnasium on March 15. Crescent also greeted community members and raised funds during taraweeh prayers at the Rayyan Center on March 14.

 

Energized by generous donations at these events, the school had raised more than $127,000 toward the project entering the final stages of the Ramadan campaign.

 

The first event featured guest speaker Belal Elkadri, a well-known voice within the Muslim community who previously was youth director at Masjid Salam and host for Noor Kids News, among other roles.

 

“I have been to Islamic schools around the country, and something about Crescent stands out,” he told the guests while encouraging their support of the school.

 

After a captivating performance by Crescent second-graders, the evening featured remarks by Pembe Yasarlar, executive director; Hania Sabri, principal; Nahla Attar, dean of academics; Crescent board president Tariq Hafeez; and board member Chris Blauvelt, who outlined Crescent 2030 and helped raise funds with Br. Elkadri.

 

 

Yasarlar reminded supporters that no money or time is better spent than on our children. Crescent, she said, has built generations of faith “and tonight we’re going to help build the next chapter.”

 

Sabri expressed gratitude for the children and parents who are “the heart of the school.” Attar added: “You are giving your children the best gift ever when you allow them to come to Crescent.”

 

Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak was a special guest at the March 8 event. She has been a supporter of Crescent 2030, the first phase of which will include a new athletic atrium with a high-school sized gymnasium for athletics, student performances and assemblies.