Kalamazoo Lend a Hand

Every Child Deserves a Chance to Succeed

To promote the well-being of needy children in Kalamazoo County and southwest Michigan by

providing services that make a difference in their lives, allow them to achieve success as

individuals, and help them be responsible citizens of their community.

Our Mission

Beginnings• Concerned citizens wanting to help

needy students• Incorporated July 3rd, 2008• Certified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit

organization• 7-member Board of Directors

Board of DirectorsPresident-- Nasim H. Ansari;

– Kalamazoo County CommissionerTreasurer-- Ahsanuddin Khan;

– President, Management Alternative International, Inc.

Secretary--Mary E. Wills; – Director, United Nursing Service,

Member--Betty Lee Ongley; – Former Mayor, City of Portage

Member--John Taylor, – Kalamazoo County Commissioner

Member--M.J. Zafar, MD– Medical Radiology

Member--Rafia Osman– Local Businesswoman

Legal Advisor--James N. Rodbard, PCExecutive Director--Shaghil Husain

The Need

• Basic supplies are essential for children’s success in school.

• Providing supplies and services to those in need in our elementary and middle schools helps our community and its families in many ways:• increases students’ quality of life• lessens the burden on struggling families• increases the ability of children to succeed in

school

Role of KLH• KLH assesses the current need in K.R.E.S.A.

school district by monitoring the number of children participating in the free- and reduced-price lunch programs

• KLH then juxtaposes these numbers with the current resources provided by organizations in these schools.

• KLH seeks to provide sufficient resources in these schools to give every child a chance to succeed.

Percentage of Students on Free-and-Reduced Lunch Program-- 2007/’08 enrollment

Source: Michigan Department of Education-Grants coordination and school

support, school breakfast and lunch information, KRESA district, School year 2007-2008 enrollment.

Our WorkDuring the first 6 months, KLH distributed the following items to the

schools listed below:• 2,137 articles of winter gear• 725 backpacks filled with school supplies

KPS Woodward Elementary Portage Haverhill Elementary

KPS Northglade Montessori Comstock Green Meadow

Elementary

KPS Greenwood ElementaryKPS Washington Writers’

Academy

Portage Central Elementary KPS Northeastern Elementary

KPS Woods Lake Elementary Comstock North Elementary

Comstock East Elementary

Activities

In the fall of 2008, KLH volunteers distributed winter gear, school supplies and over 400 backpacks at the

Day of Dignity event at Martin Luther King Park in Kalamazoo

Day of Dignity Event, Kalamazoo

Comstock Green Meadow

Elementary

Comstock East

Elementary

Woods Lake

Elementary

Winter Fundraiser

withAM 590

WKZO’s Jay Morris

Book Donations and Volunteer Reading at

Woods Lake Elementary

KOHL’s A-Team Volunteers read

to students at


Northeastern Elementary

Woodward School forTechnology and

Research


Northglade MontessoriSchool

Portage CentralElementary

Kalamazoo Lend A Hand

Community Partners• Sisters of St. Joseph• Kalamazoo Islamic Center• Dr. Zahir and Shakila Hassan• Meijer Inc. Portage, Westnedge Branch• Javed and Deena Warsi• Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Shahida Mohiuddin• David and Mary Taylor• Kalamazoo County Department of Human

Services

• Jo Robinson: State Farm Insurance• KOHL's Cares for Kids: KOHL's Department Store• Dr. M. J. Zafar• Dr. Azzam Kanaan – Southwest Michigan

Imaging Center• Dr. Nadeem and Sidra Mirza• Premier Radiology of Kalamazoo• Ladies Library Association of Kalamazoo• Kalamazoo Community Foundation


Community Partners

• Dr. Azra Jabeen and Mr. Muhammad Arif• Douglas and Mary Wills• Dr. Sattar Shaikh and Dr. Saadat Abbasi• Ernest Cawey of Poverty Reduction Initiative• Tariq and Parveen Jamil • Dr. Mushtaq and Zahida Luqmani • Dr. Alexandra Operscu, MD• Lewis Walker Institute for Race and Ethnic

Studies of Western Michigan University


Community Partners

• Nu-Way Thrift Store• Maliha Khan of Management Alternative International• Kalamazoo Airport Inn• Amer Mohiuddin • Home Builders Association• Art Van Furniture• Target Store Portage, Westnedge branch• Kazoo Books• Syed Khurshid and Nuzhat Hoda• Khalid Jamal


Community Partners

• Shawarma King on Drake• Hoffman’s Party Store • World of Spices• Indian Cuisine• The Olive Tree Restaurant • Kathy and Emily at Dr. Garofola’s Office• Marathon Gas Station on M-43• AM 590 WKZO• Jay Morris• Dave Jackonette


Community Partners

• John Lacko – Kalamazoo Gazette• Kevin Lignell of Poverty Reduction Initiative• Shawarma House• Shell Gas Station on Burdick St.• Shell Gas Station on West Michigan Ave.• Shell Gas Station on Romence Rd.• Sr. Betsy Meagher of Sisters of St. Joseph• Ann Lipsey, Director Loaves and Fishes• Sandy Lipsey


Community Partners

• Alaa' Itani • Allysha Rokeya Choudhury • Amin Itani • Faiza Fayyaz • Fatima N. Mira• Humza N. Mirza • Iqra Fatima Chaudhary• Julia Kathryn Miller• Kinza N. Tareen • Mahmoud Itani • Salwa N. Tareen • Victoria Claire Phillips


Youth Volunteers

Every Child Deserves a Chance to Succeed

Thank you for your support!