“And hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah and do not become divided.” – Qur’an 3:103
Asalamu Alaikum, Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As 2016 comes to a close, we reflect on our 24 years of service while looking ahead to 2017 and beyond.
In this time, through the grace of Allah (swt) and your generous support, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) has successfully spearheaded community building, civic engagement, interfaith relations, youth leadership, and media advocacy programs which unite over 60 diverse member organizations and advance the interests of Muslims in Illinois. We are asking you to support these activities as we continue to nurture the unity and growth of our community
CIOGC remains a unique and leading platform in which Chicagoland Muslims from all walks of life engage, collaborate, and unite to take decided action as Americans. With 2016 being an election year, our Illinois Muslim Action Day program, civic engagement trainings, voter registration drives, and youth Senate Page program, all serve as great examples of how CIOGC works to empower our community in relevant and impactful ways.
In the area of civic engagement, we are also working diligently to reinstate the Muslim American Advisory Council (MAAC) to the Governor as part of Illinois Senate Bill 2932. By urging immediate and sustained action from community members to contact their representatives and encourage their support for the bill, we aim to once again have a special opportunity to directly and regularly present the issues and needs faced by Illinois Muslims to the Governor of Illinois.
Throughout 2016, we also strengthened our signature programs and plan to build on them in 2017. Alhamdulillah, our Chicago Crescent newspaper, Muslim Youth Expo, Open Mosque Day, and interfaith solidarity programs remain successful initiatives but they require additional support to continue growing and making a greater positive impact on our community and greater society.
We understand this requires a great deal of effort, which is why we need your support in order to continue this important work. Our decades of service have shown us that supporting CIOGC is the best way to unite our community while giving back. As we close out the year, we are asking for your generous support in order to continue our work through 2017. All donations to CIOGC are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible and you can donate online, by mail, or over the phone.
Thank you and may Allah (swt) bless you for your continued support and generosity.
Walaikum Asalaam,
Dr. Mohammed Kaiseruddin, Chair
Tabassum Haleem, Executive Director
By Mail: CIOGC, 231 S. State Street, Suite 300, 60604
By Phone: 312-506-0070
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All donations are zakat-eligible and tax-deductible. Tax ID: 36-3869749.