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      • 2006 Benefit Highlights
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2006 Benefit Highlights

The Tahirih Justice Center (Tahirih) held its Ninth Annual Fundraising Benefit on September 27, 2006, in honor of the courageous lives of women and girls seeking justice from gender-based violence. Nearly 400 distinguished guests and participants were welcomed with a joyful performance from the children’s choir of Blue Planet Theatre. This year, we were honored to have Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) give the evening’s keynote address and Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) present awards to outstanding Tahirih supporters.

Senator Sam Brownback has worked with the Tahirih Justice Center in combating the exploitation of foreign women by international marriage brokers for several years. He co-sponsored the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) and has consistently demonstrated his commitment to helping combat human rights abuses. His efforts in Congress extend to fighting against human trafficking, global poverty, and violence against women.

Congressman Jim Moran, a strong supporter of Tahirih’s efforts to provide critical legal representation and social service referrals for immigrant women and girls in Virginia, presented four awards—hand painted artwork by children of Tahirih clients—to organizations and individuals who have shown an extraordinary commitment over the years to furthering Tahirih’s mission and to ending violence against women. The awards included the Law Firm of the Year Award to Crowell & Moring, Pushing the Envelope Award to Altria Group, Inc., Pro Bono Award to Buzz Hawley of Van Scoyoc Associates, and Volunteer Service Award to Ivi Kolasi.

The evening concluded with inspiring remarks from Tahirih’s client speaker, Zheela Noori. Zheela is an Afghani journalist who overcame persecution at home and is currently working as a radio journalist and TV producer in Washington, DC. With support from Tahirih and pro bono attorney Stacy Linden of Hogan & Hartson LLP, Zheela was granted asylum in December 2005.

We are grateful to all the guests and participants who joined us at the Benefit as well as all as those who were with us in spirit. A very special thanks goes out to the evening’s sponsors, silent auction contributors, and individual donors—through their kindness and generosity we were able to raise more money than ever before in support of vulnerable women and girls fleeing violence.

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 (view full list), 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 three years. The kind participation of all Committee members ensured the evening’s success and their ongoing efforts to promote Tahirih’s mission ensure that we can continue our important work of protecting women and girls.

Corporate Sponsors

Tahirih is privileged and honored to have the support of committed sponsors (view full list) and silent through their kindness and generosity we were able to raise more money than ever before in support of vulnerable women and girls fleeing violence.