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Tahirih’s Thirteenth Annual Benefit is a Wonderful Success!

The Tahirih Justice Center held our Thirteenth Annual Fundraising Benefit on September 22, 2010, at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. The evening was a wonderful and moving celebration of thirteen years of service dedicated to courageous women and girls seeking justice from gender-based violence.

We are happy to report that the annual benefit was a great financial success, netting over $234,500—more than ever before, and a 35% increase over 2009! We are grateful to the many individuals and corporate partners whose outpouring of support contributed to raise these funds for Tahirih.

The evening was led by Master of Ceremonies, Tahirih Board member, and Academy-Award nominated actress Debra Winger. We were honored to be joined by two of Tahirih’s Congressional Representatives, Representative Donna Edwards, who represents Maryland’s 4th district in which over 30 Tahirih clients reside, and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Houston’s 18th district, in which 21 Tahirih clients reside, both of whom gave remarks. We were also joined by Congresswoman Corrine Brown and former-Congressman Nick Lampson. For the fifth year, we were privileged to have Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan as the Honorary Chair of the Benefit Committee. She was joined by actors Sam Waterston, of the NBC hit Law & Order, and Rainn Wilson, Emmy-nominated actor of The Office, who both served as co-chairs of the Benefit Committee. Actress Whoopi Goldberg sent an encouraging recorded message.

Tahirih presented four awards to two individuals and two organizations that have shown an extraordinary commitment over the years to furthering Tahirih’s mission and to ending violence against women. The awards were presented to Sean Arthurs, from Shearman and Sterling LLP; Crowell and Moring; Medstar Physician Partners; and Jamshid Amini. Pulse Performing Arts group, a group of interfaith children and junior youth, performed a narrative piece set to African drumming about human rights abuses of women around the world.

Marie-Jossette Minko, a native of Gabon and a former Tahirih client, shared her moving story of her quest for asylum in the United States and ultimate triumph over violence. Marie founded the ‘Union of Gabonese Handicapped Women’ in 1987 and served as its coordinator. In her own words, she “was a spokeswoman for those without a voice.” In April 2003, a group of policemen came to her home and arrested her for speaking out about the rights of handicapped women. Marie denied the charges and was taken to prison. There, they eventually put her in an underground cell without lights. Later that evening, an official visited her and attempted to persuade her to sign a confession, however Marie refused. During the night she was tortured by three men and faced unbearable cruelty. Eventually, Marie was able to escape Gabon and made her way to the United States. With the help of the Tahirih Justice Center, mental health practitioners, and the support of her loving husband and three sons, Marie was able to overcome her painful past. Marie was granted asylum in April, 2006 and is working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She expects to graduate in 2012. Marie is a tireless and selfless human rights activist who continues to protect the rights of handicapped and abused women. She currently serves as a member of the Tahirih’s Wings, a group of former clients who volunteer their time to support Tahirih’s work and speak out about the abuses they have suffered.

Benefit Committee

We are grateful to all the guests and participants who joined us at the Benefit, as well as those who were with us in spirit. A very special thanks goes out to the distinguished members of our Benefit Committee, led by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. Her Majesty is a dedicated human rights activist and has supported our work by speaking at a prior Tahirih Benefit and chairing the Benefit Committee over the past five years. The kind participation of all Committee members ensured the evening’s success.

Sponsors and Silent Auction Contributors

Tahirih is privileged and honored to have the support of committed sponsors and silent auction contributors—through their kindness and generosity we were able to raise significant support for vulnerable women and girls fleeing violence.

Tahirih’s Thirteenth Annual Fundraising Benefit would also not have been possible without the tireless commitment of supporters who donated their services and volunteered their time to make the evening such a moving celebration. Thank you to all those who participated to make the event a wonderful success!