"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

With every breath and action in our everyday lives, each one of us has the power to affect Peace. While we realise that noble actions like aiding the elderly, helping the needy and visiting the sick bring us closer to our goal, there are the little things in life we can do to make a whole world of difference;like smiling at a child when they pass by, checking up on our neighbors to make sure all's well and fostering a community spirit, where we are trusted and can be counted on by our family, friends and peers to have an attitude that heals the spirits of man, rather than fires it toward jealousy, envy or suspicion.

For as Mahatma Ghandhi so wisely said: "We must become the change we want to see."

Sincerely,

On Friday, August 18th, United Muslim Foundation, CAIR FL., Muslim Students Association of University of Central Florida, American Peace Foundation and Husseini Islamic Center all gathered together to Pray for Peace in the Middle-East

WDBO was on hand to cover the event and witness the Muslims who came together to pray for a World of Peace and hear beautiful speeches by various lecturers on how we can all work toward peace in our own lives and communities.

UMF officers and volunteers worked alongside Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley to promote and run a fantastic community fair that was held in PA on August 19th.

In a letter to PA Director Shelina Kermalli, Mr. Mirza Baig wrote: "I would like thank each and every volunteer from United Muslim Foundation and Al-Ahad Islamic Center for helping out with the MALV Community Fair. Our objective for the Fair was to involve all Lehigh Valley Muslims and your involvement made this possible. May Allah (SWT) reward all of us for this effort and reward us in this life and hereafter. We certainly want to work towards one Ummah as taught to us by the Prophet (pbuh) and this was just a small step in that direction."

On Sunday August 27th, at a member appreciation dinner held in PA. at the ACI Turkish Resturant, UMF awarded the 2006 scholarship to Sister Sakina Khaku. Sakina has been an active member of UMF as well as an active participant in her high school and community. She just graduated from Parkland High School and plans to attend Cedar Crest College.

The purpose of the UMF scholarship is to encourage and to support Muslims in pursuing their higher education. Applicants must be high school seniors or current university students and must be members of the United Muslim Foundation. Applications are evaluated based on the student’s grade point average, recorded UMF volunteer hours, financial need, and an essay. UMF is currently accepting scholarship applications for the summer of 2007.

On Sunday, August 27th, UMF worked with Hands on Orlando at the Hubbard House - a home away from home for families who have loved ones with serious illnesses being treated in the hospital. UMF supplied all the halal groceries for this event, by way of generous donations from contributors.

The sentiments of the day were summer up by one UMF volunteer who said: "It was so much fun cooking together, getting to know one another, making new friends and helping to cheer up families who are going through a rough time in their lives - all while serving up a positive image of Islam."

This commemorative event that UMF is participating is is being organized by an interfaith group, to reflect on the tragedy and understand different perspectives as we grow together. The event is to offer the opportunity for individual reflection, how we have been changed by what we have learned from this, and how we can find hope from the tragedy.

UMF members are invited to participate and contribute their reflections on 9/11 as we reflect and grow together as a community.

Insha Allah, on September 15, 2006, the New Jersey theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure, is set to be transformed as 'The Great Muslim Adventure Day', an event organized by ICNA. This event is designed to provide entertainment for the entire family! Alhamdulillah, the entire park is reserved for Muslims!

Alhamdulillah, last year more than 15,000 attended the largest Muslim gathering of the North East. UMF will provide transportation to and from the theme park and timings will be announced soon. Each person is responsible for purchasing their own ticket and there is a discounted price for buying tickets early online. If interested please contact Br. Mohammed Kermalli mohammed@unitedmuslimfoundation.org or Sr. Shelina Kermalli shelina@unitedmuslimfoundation.org.

The first of it's kind Muslim Girls Only NIght is open for all Muslim girls in the Lehigh Valley between the ages of 12 – 26. The aim of this event is to promote unity among Muslims and provide a forum to interact with one another and discuss pressing issues while having fun just hanging out, playing games and having a good time. For more information please contact Sr. Nausheen Habib at nausheen@unitedmuslimfoundation.org and look out for updated information on the venue at www.unitedmuslimfoundation.org

On Friday September 1st, UMF hosted it's third Annual Member Appreciation Dinner in Orlando, FL for all the donors and active members who have helped us to make a difference this past year.

This years banquet was also held to recognize the vision, dedication and leadership of UMF Co-Founder, Director and Vice President Ahmed Sachedina, who is moving to Tanzania and will be carrying on there as a UMF Director.

As we get ready for the holy month of fasting, which will begin the last week of September this year, UMF is getting ready for presentations at schools, libraries, churches and other institutions. UMF has created information packets on Ramadhan and we have a great Power Point Presentation as well as Mir Ahmed Ali Koran Translations in English and brochures on the basics of Islam that we will be happy to provide you with to share with your peers, friends and neighbors.

We would like to recognize the efforts of UMF members Kanneez Fatema Qureshi and Haleema Jaffer who have already started giving presentations and distributing information on Islam at schools and libraries and we would like to invite you to do the same! Contact us for more information at info@unitedmuslimfoundation.org