UPDATES: 

Stay tuned for campaign updates in this section:

• ​Update #1 (May 28, 11:30am EST): The initial $20,000 goal was reached in just 20 hours, with donations pouring in at over $1,000/hour since the campaign launched! We have just raised the goal to $30,000 in order to provide families of the two fallen Texas teachers with increased support for immediate and long-term expenses related to this tragedy. Thank you for your ongoing generosity!
• Update #2 (May 31, 9pm EST): Muslims4Uvalde has officially reached its second goal of $30,000 in just 5 days! That's means the campaign has raised $6,000 daily to address the immediate and long-term needs of victims' families. Please continue to spread the word about the campaign to help us reach our new goal to support the families of the fallen texas teachers. Also remember to stand with Buffalo families against hate and support grieving loved ones (learn more on this campaign page).
• Update #3 (June 7, 3:45 pm EST): Because of your generosity, Muslims4Uvalde has raised 2x the original goal in just 7 days, averaging $6,000 raised daily over one week. Family members of the fallen teachers whom we have been in contact with are tremendously moved by this effort. Along with these family members, we sincerely thank you for your support.

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Muslims Unite for Fallen Texas Teachers
#Muslims4Uvalde

On May 24, 2022, a horrific mass shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school left 21 people dead. 19 were children and 2 were teachers - Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia - who were killed trying to shield their students; both leave behind devastated families of their own. In the case of Irma Garcia, her children have now lost both parents as their father suffered a heart attack while grieving the loss of his wife.

In the wake of this senseless loss of life and the selflessness of Eva and Irma in the face of it, a collective of Muslim-American leaders and organizations are uniting to raise funds for these teachers' families through this CelebrateMercy campaign on LaunchGood.

The Campaign

We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action. The Quran teaches: "Repel evil with that which is better" (41:34). Our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Have mercy to those on earth, and the One in the Heavens (God) will have mercy upon you." The elevated status of teachers in Islam is also a strong guiding principle in this effort.

We ask for American Muslim mosques, Imams, leaders, and groups to endorse and promote this crowdfunding initiative for the victims' families. Campaign endorsers are only required to help promote it via email and social media (sign up below). For media inquires, see Resources section below. 

The Funds

All fundraising proceeds will go towards the shooting victims' families and caretakers, helping them with both their immediate and long-term expenses. We reached our initial goal to raise $20,000 and we will continue raising the goal as funds continue to be raised. No amount of money will bring back the families' loved ones, but we do hope to lessen the families' burdens in some way. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "The most beloved to God are those who help people most." He, peace be upon him, also reiterated God's command to care for and be generous to the orphan.

Though this is a Muslim-led campaign, we welcome our friends of other faiths to also contribute. 

This campaign was initiated by CelebrateMercy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on May 27, 2022. All donations are tax-deductible for U.S. residents.

Resources

• Short Link to this Campaign: LaunchGood.com/Uvalde
• Amplify: Share on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
• Campaign Press Release: Click Here
• Volunteer: Join the Volunteers on WhatsApp Here or email info@celebratemercy.com
• Hashtag: #Muslims4Uvalde
• Download Campaign Flyer: Click Here
• Media Inquiries: Email community@celebratemercy.com
• Become a Community Partner: Click Here

ALSO: Buffalo Supermarket Shooting

The Buffalo community is grieving in the aftermath of a racist shooting rampage that targeted a predominantly Black community two weeks ago. 10 people were killed and 3 were wounded as a gunman motivated by white supremacist ideology opened fire at a Tops supermarket. Families are currently burying their loved ones lost to what President Biden has dubbed “hate-filled domestic terrorism.” We highly encourage you to support the victim's families through this verified hub.

Endorsements:

The list below will be updated frequently as endorsements come in. To endorse the campaign - as a leader or organization - fill out this short form here. Endorsers are only required to help publicize the campaign via social media and promotional emails.

• Local Organizations: Islamic Community of Lancaster, Masjid al-Taqwa (Muslim Community Center), McKinney Islamic Center
• National Organizations: CelebrateMercy, LaunchGood, The DSAK Foundation, MuslimARC
• Muslim Leaders/Scholars/Organizers: Salam Al-Marayati (President, Muslim Public Affairs Council), Shahed Amanullah (Co-Founder, Affinis Labs), Shaykha Maryam Amir (Creator, Qariah App), Hussam Ayloush (Executive Director, CAIR-LA), Chris Blauvelt (CEO, LaunchGood), Imam Ahmad Deeb (Co-founder, Itqaan Institute), Maha Elgenaidi (Director, Islamic Networks Group), Tarek El-Messidi (Founding Director, CelebrateMercy), Suzy Ismail (Founding Director, Cornerstone Marriage & Family Intervention), Rizwan Jaka (Chair of Interfaith and Government Relations, ADAMS),  Mohannad Malas (Co-founder, Orange County Islamic Foundation), Dalia Mogahed (Director of Research, ISPU),  Muslema Purmul (Co-Founder, The Majlis),  Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (Founder, SeekersGuidance), Mohamed Soltan (Human Rights Advocate)

About CelebrateMercy

CelebrateMercy - a US-based organization that teaches about the Prophet Muhammad's life and character through films, programs, and Prophet-inspired social campaigns that respond to evil with good. Its recent campaigns raised over $150,000 to repair vandalized Jewish cemeteries, over $200,000 for victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, nearly $2 million USD for New Zealand mosque shooting victims. Media stories about each campaign reached over 100 million people worldwide, including this TV interview on CNN and this shout-out from Stephen Colbert on his Late Show. 

Recent Campaigns

At CelebrateMercy, we strive to implement the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) way of universal mercy. Whenever unfortunate tragedies take place that devastate so many innocent lives, we aim to respond to evil with good. We wish that we were in a position to organize campaigns for all such unfortunate events, but are limited for obvious reasons such as lack of proper staffing. We do, however, bring awareness to existing campaigns whenever possible to make sure that the victims and those most impacted receive the necessary emergency funds and support they need. Here is a list of recent campaigns - since 2015 - that we have led and partnered on, mostly in response to a tragedy: 

• Muslims United for San Bernardino Families
• Muslims Unite to Repair Jewish Cemeteries
• Muslims United for Las Vegas Victims
• Muslims Unite for Portland Heroes
• Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue
• United for Christchurch (New Zealand Mosque Shootings)
• Muslims United for Kentucky Hate Victims
• Muslims Unite to Provide Shutdown Relief
• Stand with Minneapolis: We Can't Breath
• Muslims for Migrants (Reuniting migrant parents with kids)
• Coronavirus Emergency Response: Financial Hardship Grants
• Muslims Unite for Boulder Families