On March 25, the Center for Arab American Philanthropy presented the 2018 Piano Keys for Syrian Kids event, a piano concert intended to raise funds and awareness about the plight of Syrian refugees. High school students – and twin brothers – Omar and Ziad Fehmi had the idea to host a concert with their friends…
Friday, March 16, 2018 marked an incredibly special occasion: CAAP’s inaugural Threads of Giving Gala. Held for the first time in Houston, TX, the long-awaited event delivered spectacularly, and represented a milestone in CAAP’s evolution. CAAP honored Dr. Farouk Shami, entrepreneur and founder of Farouk Systems, Inc., with the very first Outstanding Arab American Philanthropist…
By Henry Ballout, CAAP Intern I am typing this blog shortly after the closing session of MOVE 2017 in Dearborn, Michigan and I am going to admit that I’ve found the whole conference experience amazing. It was such a privilege for me to be able to attend. MOVE 2017 was a first-of-its-kind national gathering that…
Growing up in Southwest Detroit, Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) fund-holder Rachid Elabed and his friends didn’t have a safe place to play outside. Drawing on his belief that youth everywhere should have a safe place to play and enjoy their childhood, Rachid is partnering with Neinas Elementary School and other community organizations to…
CAAP extends a warm welcome to our newest board member: Peter Farah. Peter is currently the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary of The J. M. Smucker Company, where he has primary responsibility within the Legal Department for mergers and acquisitions, securities, finance, and corporate governance. He received his Juris Doctor from Boston College…
Our community’s boundless resilience, optimism and determination to succeed in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges has only served to make us stronger. The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) continues that legacy by providing leadership and expertise to fulfill the giving aspirations of Arab Americans. Every single day, we work to serve donors, improve…
The city of Flint, Michigan is facing an extreme crisis, as their drinking water has been contaminated with toxic amounts of lead, rendering it extremely dangerous and unsafe and leaving thousands of families and individuals without clean water. CAAP is responding to the crisis by recommending groups that are working to help the people of…
With fall well underway, we would like to take the time to highlight some of the awesome upcoming events and programs from our 2015 grantees! If you find yourself in the East Coast, a couple of our grantees are hosting some exciting events! In Philadelphia, be sure to check out Al-Bustan’s “Music in Practice” on…
Physical fitness has many benefits, including strong mental and psychological benefits. Brothers Paul and Todd Turner, the founders of GUTS (Ground Up Training System), hope to help individuals with special needs develop healthy fitness habits through their unique physical fitness and training program. CAAP recently visited the brand new GUTS facility in Ferndale, MI, to learn more about their mission…
Coffee is the world’s second most valuable traded commodity. Coffee owes its origins to the Arab World, as it was first produced in the port city of Mocha in Yemen. It should be no surprise, then, that there exists a strong connection between coffee and Arab culture; the English word for coffee even comes from the Arabic word for coffee, ‘qahwa’. Coffee…