Santa Clara, CA —The Muslim American Society Bay Area chapter held its second annual banquet on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Santa Clara. The sold-out event raised $132,000 and featured speakers and entertainers from across the country.
More than 900 guests attended the banquet and fundraiser, entitled “Living Submission.” The event was held in the Santa Clara Convention Center. Tickets sold out early in the event, and organizers arranged for overflow seating in the back of the hall. Speakers included Mahdi Bray, Imam Tahir Anwar, Chantal Carnes, Bhawana Kamil and Suhaib Webb.
There was an emphasis on practicality in many of the evening’s speeches. Mahdi Bray detailed MAS efforts throughout the country to provide relief and helping hands to hurricane victims in Houston. Having recently returned from studying abroad, Bhawana Kamil touched upon the essential qualities that parents should nurture in their children. Suhaib Webb reiterated the theme of the event; Muslims need to live their religion and uphold its values.
Finally, a presentation described the unprecedented work, on all fronts, which MAS has initiated in the Bay Area. Fundraising was brief and the chapter raised $132,000, slightly shy of the evening’s target.
An elaborate children’s program ensured that the 150 kids at the event would be well occupied. Before the evening ended, children joined their parents in the main hall, lights were dimmed, speakers turned up, and the audience enjoyed songs from nasheed artist Sami Yusuf’s newest album.
Many members of the audience expressed eagerness to participate in future MAS activities. After one of the speeches, a sister from the audience professed to an organizer that she would wear the hijab. All thanks is due to Allah (swt).
The Muslim American Society (MAS) is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational, not-for-profit organization. It is a pioneering Islamic organization, an Islamic revival, and reform movement that uplifts the individual, family, and society. |
