330 East Roosevelt Road, Suite G5, Lombard, IL 60148
Ph.: 630.629.7490 - Fax: 630.629.7492

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago - Saturday, December 11, 2004

CHICAGO MUSLIM-AMERICANS HOST ANNUAL DINNER FEATURING AWARDS TO COMMUNITY LEADERS

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIO), an umbrella organization representing over 400,000 Muslims throughout Chicagoland, will
host its annual fundraising dinner on Sunday, December 12, 2004 at 6:00 PM at the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge, 1200 Burr Ridge Parkway,
Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527.

The theme of the event is "Faith & Opportunity: The Future of Islam in America." The keynote speaker is Dr. John L. Esposito, founding director
of Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He is also the author of the books "The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality" and
"Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam".

A featured event will be the presentation of the CIO's Award of Excellence to four individuals: Geneive Abdo, a journalist with USA Today; Thomas
Kneir, former Director of the Chicago field office of the F.B.I.; Imam W. D. Muhammad, an internationally recognized Muslim leader and former head of
the American Society of Muslims; and Rev. Paul Rutgers, President of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.

Contact: Farhan Younus, Esq., Chair, Media Relations Committee, Ph.
630-926-5566

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