Page 20 – John Janney Foundation

Posted on December 30, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

365 Displaced Syrian Families Receive Winter Warmth

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IDLIB, SYRIA, December 30, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed winter aid to 365 displaced families in northern Syria ahead of the winter season.

Field workers distributed blankets, mats, pillows and clothing in three camp communities in the Maa’rat Masrin sub-district. The camps were established after a displacement wave between August and October of 2021. According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, many of the newly arrived Syrians are women, young children, elderly or disabled individuals with very limited resources.

“So many displaced Syrians came to these makeshift camps with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” Sohail said. “We are trying to reach as many people as we can with winter essentials before the cold does.”

Last year marked 10 years of the Syrian crisis that has left more than 6 million internally displaced and another 6 million as refugees. An estimated 13.4 million people living within Syria – including those who are internally displaced – are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Baitulmaal has been on the ground in Syria mobilizing aid after destructive storms, delivering food, digging wells, supporting orphans, helping students and distributing seasonal aid. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices and representatives in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on December 27, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

385 Families in Lebanon Receive Winter Warmth

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SIDON, LEBANON, December 27, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed winter aid to 385 Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese families residing in impoverished communities and refugee camps in Lebanon.

The families, mostly refugees, received food and winter essentials such as clothing, shoes, blankets and electric heaters. The aid was distributed to families living in tents and other non-permanent shelters in Arsal as well as Ein el Helwe in Sidon, which is considered to be Lebanon’s most heavily populated refugee camp.

According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, these families have been struggling with severe food insecurity and have been unable to meet basic needs. While many experienced hardship before the financial crisis struck the country nearly two years ago, these families have now been pushed under the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket, a tool used by the World Food Programme to measure the minimum amount a household requires to maintain existence and cover lifesaving needs.

“We needed to ensure that these families had enough food and warmth to make it through the winter,” Sohail said. “It gets very cold in Lebanon and with the country struggling as a whole, it’s crucial we address the needs of the most vulnerable. We are so grateful for our donors who have enabled us to do so.”

Political instability, an ongoing pandemic, a catastrophic explosion and an influx of refugees from countries like Syria have contributed to Lebanon’s strained financial situation. The World Bank recently declared that the country is “likely to rank in the top 10, possibly top three, most severe crisis episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century.” Approximately 1 in 4 people in Lebanon is a refugee, giving Lebanon the highest per capita refugee population in the world.

Baitulmaal was on the ground in Lebanon responding to the devastating port blast in 2020, and has sent $1.2 million in hard-to-find medications and another $1.1 million in medical equipment to Beirut hospitals. The charity also reconstructed homes and buildings, installed generators and wells, and provided food packages to alleviate hunger. If you would like to learn more about or contribute to Baitulmaal’s efforts in Lebanon, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the charity has offices and representatives in: Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Nairobi, Kenya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Amman and Al Ramtha, Jordan; and Karachi, Pakistan.

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Posted on December 21, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

First Charity NFT Islamic Art Gallery Opens December 26 in Chicago

Chicago, December 21, 2021 – Four Muslim artists are featured in the Giving is Beautiful charity art gallery opening on December 26, 2021, at the MAS-ICNA convention being held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Artists Ruby Jaffrey, Shayma Al-Shiri, Qasim Arif and Mustafa Horton each contributed three original artworks ranging in style from Arabic calligraphy, calligraphy-themed art, abstract realism and abstract art. Each artist minted non-fungible tokens for their artwork on the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea and are donating all royalties to Baitulmaal, the charity behind the art project.

Visitors to the art gallery can bid on prints of the digital art and a portion of the proceeds from the auctions will also be donated to Baitulmaal.

“We’ve been wanting to launch a project that supports the creative community while also benefiting people in need around the world,” said John Janney, Baitulmaal communications director and chief curator for the Giving is Beautiful initiative. “With art as the vehicle, donors can enjoy the beauty of their contributions on their walls, in their digital collections and in their hearts.”

Two other pieces will be shown during the convention. One is an immersive video art installation by videographer Chance Issa that features footage from humanitarian aid deliveries funded by Baitulmaal donors as well as clips of popular social influencers like Khaled Beydoun and Linda Sarsour talking about how they engage with beauty in the world and how they foster inner beauty through giving and other charitable acts.

The other art piece is an interactive art installation featuring a custom-built vending machine that offers charity opportunities instead of snacks and sodas. Visitors can select from 30 different giving options, such as supporting winter relief, water access, orphan support or education. Artist and Baitulmaal graphic designer Mustafa Horton designed the colorful mosaic-themed art that covers the inside and outside of the vending machine.

Art enthusiasts outside of Chicago wanting to see or purchase selections can visit givingisbeautiful.org. The site also offers an application for artists interested in joining the collection.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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See the Art on givingisbeautiful.org

Posted on December 20, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Drought Relief Efforts Underway in East Africa

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WAJIR, KENYA, December 20, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, is mobilizing drought relief efforts in affected communities in Kenya which include provision of potable water tankers and maintenance of existing sub-city wells.

Fifty tankers are providing 1 million liters of potable water per month to five settlements in Kenya, benefitting approximately 3,500 residents. Water will be made accessible to livestock, a major source of livelihood that has been impacted by drought conditions in the region. Ten sub-city wells will also be maintained to ensure adequate supply to city residents.

Mitigating the water emergency in East Africa has been a priority in the region, said Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal.

“Without access to water, many things start to rapidly deteriorate,” Sohail said. “Disease is spread more easily, malnutrition in young children rises, and the health of the community as a whole is impacted when crops and animals fail to thrive. These water tankers are crucial right now.”

Countries in East Africa have been facing the worst drought in recent times, with an estimated 2.4 million people impacted in Kenya alone, according to the UN. The current drought has extended since December of 2020, the longest stretch in decades.

In addition to drought relief efforts in Kenya and Somalia, Baitulmaal digs wells, provides food, and promotes back to school efforts in East Africa. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on November 18, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

Gaza Desalination Plant Provides Clean Water to 9,500 Residents

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GAZA, PALESTINE, November 18, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently installed a water desalination plant that provides clean, drinkable water to 9,500 residents in the Khan Younis governorate of the Gaza Strip.

The desalination plant is located in the village of Khuza’a in the Khan Younis camp. Residents are internally displaced Palestinians suffering from an ongoing occupation and blockade. They also suffer from a severe water shortage. According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, this project helps local Palestinians by purifying otherwise undrinkable water.

“Families in Gaza struggle to get clean water and often are left with few options besides buying questionable water from unreliable, unregulated sources at high prices,” Sohail said. “This water purification plant gives Palestinians access to safe, clean water at no cost to them.”

At a recent session of the UN Human Rights Council, experts warned that water in Gaza is “slowly poisoning” its residents. Water pollution is a leading cause of child mortality and accounts for a quarter of all illnesses in the area. The 11-day offensive on Gaza last May damaged 290 water supply facilities, exacerbating an already dire water crisis in the region.

The Khan Younis camp is considered to be one of the most vulnerable areas in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the UN, the area suffers from overcrowding, high unemployment and lack of access to adequate water and electricity. The UN estimates that up to 98 percent of the camp’s water supply is contaminated with sea water, sewage and other pollutants.

In addition to the new water desalination plant in Khan Younis, Baitulmaal operates 300 water tanks in the Gaza strip that provide safe, clean water to more than 15,000 residents. Another 100 tanks will be installed at the beginning of the year. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on November 8, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

900 Syrian Refugees Receive Back to School Support

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TEL ABYAD, SYRIA, November 8, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed school supplies and uniforms to 900 displaced Syrian children attending the Zainab School in Tel Abyad, Syria.

Students received uniforms, shoes, backpacks and school supplies. Many of the students are orphans or have special needs, according to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal.

“The children in this area have known nothing but war their whole lives,” Sohail said. “The simple joy of having new shoes, clothes and supplies for school brings hope to an otherwise difficult situation.”

Baitulmaal also restores schools like the Zainab School in Syria to enable children to return to damaged or inadequate campuses. In addition to digging water wells, rehabilitating classrooms, and expanding bathroom facilities, Baitulmaal has also installed heaters and solar panels to help support the safety and efficient functioning of schools.

Baitulmaal supports back to school efforts in Syria and other countries around the world. To learn about or contribute to these projects, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on November 1, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

478 Orphans, Impoverished Students Receive Back to School Support in Jordan

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AMMAN, JORDAN, November 1, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed school supplies to 478 low-income or orphaned children in Jordan.

Students who attend various schools in Amman, Az-Zarqa, Mafreq, Irbid, Jerash and Balqa received school bags and supplies such as stationary and books ahead of the new school year. Many of the children live in refugee camps or belong to families with little or no source of income and a high number of dependent, disabled or elderly members. According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, these supplies alleviate obstacles to sending children to school.

“Orphans and other vulnerable children in Jordan lack basic needs on a daily basis,” Sohail said. “Thanks to our donors, they now have the supplies they need to access the opportunities schooling provides – from nutrition to education to psychosocial support.”

Baitulmaal supports back to school efforts in Jordan and other countries around the world. To learn about or contribute to these projects, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on October 25, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Back-to-School Effort Benefits 1,200 Displaced Syrians, 300 Students

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IDLIB, SYRIA, October 25, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed school supplies and uniforms to 300 displaced students living in camps in the northern Syrian countryside.

Students in Idlib, Dana, Ma’arat Masrin and surrounding areas received backpacks, stationary, uniforms and shoes. According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, the back-to-school project indirectly benefited more than 1,200 individuals, from families to local businesses, tailors and craftsmen who participated in the effort.

“Education is the key to success in many ways,” Sohail said. “Investing in these children today opens doors for their communities, now and for the future.”

Baitulmaal supports back to school efforts in Syria and other countries around the world. To learn about or contribute to these projects, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on October 20, 2021March 17, 2026 by johnjanney

Baitulmaal Responds to Earthquake in Pakistan

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QUETTA, PAKISTAN, October 20, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently provided emergency food provisions and other aid to 100 families impacted by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern part of Pakistan.

Families received hygiene supplies and a one-month supply of staples such as flour, rice, lentils and cooking oil after losing most of their belongings in the quake. According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, many of the families continue to rely on humanitarian assistance as they recover from the disaster.

“Houses collapsed to the ground, and yet many of the families continue to live in them because they have nowhere else to go,” Sohail said. “This food gives them one less thing to worry about as they begin to rebuild.”

The earthquake struck on October 7, 2021 while residents slept in the Harnai district near the Afghan border. The quake killed at least 27 people and injured over 300. More than 100 homes were fully or partially damaged and power was disrupted to the remote, mountainous region. Aftershocks continued to be felt in the following days.

Baitulmaal provides food, water, medicine, healthcare, educational support and other aid to people in Pakistan. If you would like to learn more or contribute to these programs at Baitulmaal, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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Posted on October 11, 2021March 18, 2026 by johnjanney

388 Somali Students Go Back to School with Hope

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GALKACYO, SOMALIA, October 11, 2021 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian relief agency, recently distributed school supplies and uniforms to 388 pupils in four primary schools in Somalia.

Students in four primary schools in the Galkacyo district of the Mudug region received uniforms, backpacks, stationary and other supplies. The schools are located in central Somalia including Alsha’ab and Harhar orphanage schools in Galkacyo town, Bandiradley town primary school and the Saddeh-Higlo village primary school.

According to Elizabeth Sohail, program manager at Baitulmaal, some items were scarce in the region and had to be transported by air from Mogadishu to Galkacyo. Uniforms also had to be specially tailored for the students.

“Many of the students are orphans or from low-income households,” Sohail said. “These supplies enable them to overcome obstacles in pursuit of their education.”

Baitulmaal digs wells, distributes food, invests in healthcare and provides educational support to people in Somalia. If you would like to learn more or contribute to these programs at Baitulmaal, please visit their website at johnjanney.org/.

Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.

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