RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ, June 3, 2015 — Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit charity providing humanitarian aid in more than three dozen countries, will be hosting its annual Walk for Water on Sunday June 7, 2015, at New Overpeck County Park. Event sponsors include the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Islamic Relief USA’s Walk for Water is a family-friendly 5K charity walk aimed at encouraging the community to be actively involved in providing water and sanitation for thousands of people around the world. Every day, millions of people around the world—mostly women and girls—walk miles to get water that too often makes them sick. Almost 750 million people do not have access to clean water. And 2.5 billion do not have access to sanitation facilities like bathrooms, which puts water systems at further risk. Clean, safe water close to home changes lives—it reduces illness rates and frees women and girls to spend their time earning an income or going to school.
Last year, about 1,500 people took part in Islamic Relief USA’s three Walks for Water in New Jersey, Chicago and Los Angeles. The events raised more than $200,000 for water projects around the world.
“Islamic Relief’s Walk for Water event was a huge success last year, and we are thrilled to be bringing it back to the New Jersey community,” said Waleed Gabr, Islamic Relief Northeast Region Regional Manager. “It is so exhilarating seeing individuals from across the region come together to support our water and sanitation programs. Through these supporters, we are able to help tens of thousands of individuals get clean water worldwide.”
Islamic Relief USA’s current water projects are ongoing in the following countries: Albania, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan and Tunisia. In 2014, Islamic Relief USA helped turn water back on for families in Detroit, Michigan, as well. Proceeds from this year’s walk will support projects in Africa.
The event is organized and run in large part by young Muslim volunteers of New Jersey, and is anticipated to draw 3,000 residents of the NY-NJ-PA-CT metropolitan areas. This is the fourth year Islamic Relief USA has offered Walks for Water, and the New Jersey event is the first of the 2015 series of these walks nationwide. Read more in the Huffington Post about these events and their effect: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christina-tobiasnahi/walking-with-zahefa-a-jou_b_6179020.html
Link to event: http://get-involved.irusa.org/site/TR?fr_id=1280&pg=entry#.VWzCgM9Vikp
Event Details
Time: 9 AM
Location: New Overpeck Park
111 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
