EVENTS

Save the Date: Spring Soiree - An Evening of Hope to Benefit Afghanistan

Purchase Tickets Online Today- “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Greek” Event

The Embassy of Greece in Washington D.C. will host a special event to celebrate the cultural and historic linkage between Greece and Afghanistan on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009. The event will also support Nooristan Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support for charitable and educational projects in rural areas of Afghanistan. Prominent members of the Washington, D.C. diplomatic, government, art and business communities will attend.

“In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great,” will include a reception, authentic Greek dinner, live Greek and Afghan music, a presentation by archaeologist Dr. Fredrik Hiebert of the National Geographic Society, and remarks by the Greek and Afghan Ambassadors.

The Honorary Patron for the event is Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mrs. Dora Bakoiannis and the Honorary Chair H.E.The Ambassador Greece and Mrs. Alexandros P. Mallias.

The Honorary Host Committee includes:

Mr. Omar Sultan, Deputy Minister of Culture of Afghanistan
Ambassador of Afghanistan Said Tayeb Jawad and Mrs. Shamim Jawad
Mr. Omar Khan Masoudi, Director General of the National Museum of Afghanistan
Senator Olympia Snowe
Congressman and Mrs. Howard Berman
Congressman and Mrs. Lee H. Hamilton
Congressman and Mrs. Dana Rohrabacher
Congressman and Mrs. John Sarbanes
Congressman and Mrs. Chris Van Hollen
Congressman and Mrs. Robert Wexler
Ambassador and Mrs. Ronald Neumann
Ambassador and Mrs. Thomas Pickering
Honorable Mr. and Mrs. Robert McFarlane
Mr. and Mrs. Arnaud de Borchgrave
Mrs. Doris Buffet
Mrs. Caroline Firestone
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Mahmood
Mrs. Robin Read
Mrs. Diana Rowan Rockefeller
Mr. and Mrs. George Stephanopoulos
Mr. Nick Verreos

Nooristan Foundation Board Members:

Mrs. Marie Kux, President
Mrs. Mariam A. Nawabi, Vice-President
Mrs. Lindsey Holiday, Vice-President
Ms. Alina Atash, Vice-President
Ms. Melanie Smith, Secretary
Ambassador Dennis Kux, Treasurer

Nooristan Foundation President Marie Kux states, “We are happy that the Embassy of Greece in Washington, D.C. has been gracious to host this wonderful cultural celebration that shows the historic connection between Greece and Afghanistan.”

Ticket proceeds will be used towards projects in Afghanistan such as a village elementary school, a midwife training program, and an initiative to provide humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons at a camp outside of Kabul. Nooristan Foundation founder Dr. Nadir Atash states, “Providing support for education and economic development in Afghanistan, especially for rural areas, is vital to securing stability. The Afghan people have suffered tremendously and want to live in peace and work towards a better future.”

This is a wonderful way to make a contribution to Afghanistan’s future and to attend a meaningful event.

Special Acknowledgement to Dr. M. Nadir Atash, founder, and the Nooristan Foundation executive committee and members who made this event possible.

EVENT & TICKET INFORMATION:

DATE:
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

TIME: 6:30-9:30 pm

ADDRESS:
Embassy of Greece
2217 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

Valet Parking

Cocktail Attire

Limited Tickets Available
Ticket purchase is tax-deductible
If you can not attend this event, your donation is greatly appreciated.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION

Nooristan Foundation shipped and distributed school supplies donated by the American Red Cross to four villages around Nilaw in western Nooristan in the summer of 2004. Although transporting the materials to Nooristan proved to be quite difficult (they were first transported by car and then by mules to remote areas), the reaction by the children, as well as adults, made the endeavor worth the effort.

A portion of the school supplies were also distributed to schools in Kabul, including the Kabul Teacher’s Training University .

Dr. Nadir Atash (wearing sunglasses) overseeing Nooristan Foundation school supply distribution at Kabul University, 2004

COMMUNITY NIGHT WITH D.C. UNITED

Nooristan Foundation, in partnership with Afghan Sports Federation, Afghans 4 Tomorrow, American Society of Afghan Professionals and D.C. United hosted the First Annual Afghan Community Night with D.C. United on August 9, 2003 . Members of the Afghan community united for a night of exciting professional soccer and family fun. Portion of the proceeds were donated to benefit schools in Afghanistan .

PEACE CORP’S GLOBAL CHALLENGE

Nooristan Foundation was invited to attend the Peace Corp’s Global Challenge: A Day in the Life of a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2002. NF Board Members Alina Atash and Samira Atash attended the event and taught mini-classes about children in Afghanistan. Children from Towson University Kids for Peace Camp were sworn in as honorary Peace Corp Volunteers before they set out to enjoy an educational journey “visiting” several countries. The children were treated to an authentic Moroccan lunch along with other activities, including attending a classroom in Afghanistan. The campers listened to stories from two Peace Corp volunteers who had served in Afghanistan. They learned what life was like for children in Afghanistan before and after the war and learned how to write their names in Dari. The campers ended the event by writing letters to children in Afghanistan and included their pictures along with their names signed in Dari. They also collected $160 in donations for school supplies to benefit children attending school supported by the Nooristan Foundation.