Charity Navigator Names Islamic Relief USA One of Top Ramadan Charities in the United States

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Charity Navigator, America's top independent charity evaluator, has listed Islamic Relief USA as one of the top Ramadan charities in America. 

Charity Navigator accompanied an article on Ramadan with a list of eight recommended Ramadan-related charities. Islamic Relief USA is included on this short list of recommended charities.

"We are humbled to rank among the most successful American charities during the month of Ramadan," said Abed Ayoub, CEO of IR USA. "This is a reflection of our donors' level of trust in Islamic Relief USA, and their responsiveness to urgent appeals on behalf of those in need whether in Somalia, Yemen, or here at home. This year Ramadan especially coincides with serious humanitarian crises around the world." 

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by more than 1.2 billion Muslims around the globe by fasting and giving Zakah, or charity.  One of the religion's five pillars, Zakah, calls for Muslims to give 2.5 percent of their wealth each year to the needy and those stricken by poverty. 

In 2010, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Islamic Relief USA No. 131 out of more than 10,000 U.S. nonprofits.  The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a biweekly newspaper that covers the nonprofit world.  In addition, for eight consecutive years, Islamic Relief USA has also been awarded four stars by Charity Navigator, putting Islamic Relief among the top 2 percent of charities in the nation.

Islamic Relief USA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization with eight consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease regardless of color, race, gender or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief USA aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects, allowing communities to better help themselves.

To see the article on Charity Navigator's site, visit:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=800

MEDIA CONTACT: Asma Yousef, 703.582.5880, [email protected]

SOURCE Islamic Relief USA