Press Release: Leading Human Rights in Afghanistan who was Resettled by HFR's Sponsor Circle to Attend Tonight's White House Correspondents' Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Saturday, April 30, 2022 

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephany Newburn, Home for Refugees USA (s.newburn@hfrusa.org) 

(Washington, DC) Humaira Rasuli is a leading human rights lawyer from Afghanistan. She was one of the high-priority individuals evacuated from Kabul due to the imminent risk she faced with the rise of the Taliban. Upon evacuation to the United States, Humaira was sponsored by William & Mary University and supported by Homes for Refugees USA through the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans. In recognition of her contributions to society, Humaira is a special guest of George Lehner, board chair of Sponsor Circle Program partner, RefugePoint, at tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. 

On October 25, 2021, the Sponsor Circle Program was created to welcome Afghans evacuated to the U.S. directly into communities. This ground-breaking program harnesses the good will of the American people to welcome newcomers seeking safety. The Sponsor Circle Program continues to welcome Afghans while it is simultaneously preparing to support Ukrainians who will soon reunite with families and be welcomed into communities across the U.S. as part of Uniting for Ukraine.  

Home for Refugees USA seeks to establish collaborative relationships between faith groups and community groups and refugees in order for refugees to achieve a sense of feeling at home in their new communities. We do this through training and coaching Community Sponsorship Teams, which we call Home Teams. Home for Refugees USA partners with Community Sponsorship Hub, Refugee Resettlement Agencies, and immigration organizations to resettle refugees. Our purpose is to offer support to help relieve the tragedy of displacement and loss for families and individuals having to leave a place they once called home and help them regain independent and self-sufficient living as they create their new home in the U.S.

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT’S DINNER: HOW CAN I WATCH?

The White House Correspondent's Dinners in 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to COVID.

After a two-year hiatus, the White House Correspondents' Dinner is making a comeback in 2022.

The event can be live-streamed from the YouTube channel of C-SPAN, which starts at 8pm ET.

Live coverage of the event will also be available on C-SPAN and the C-SPAN Now App.

Welcome Fund Announces $5.6 Million in Funding for 143 Organizations Helping Welcome Afghan Allies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Thursday, April 28, 2022 

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephany Newburn, Home for Refugees USA (s.newburn@hfrusa.org) 

67% of recipients are Afghan American, Muslim, Veteran, or refugee-led organizations 

$14M in total donated to 172 organizations since Welcome Fund launch in September 2021 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Welcome Fund, a project of Welcome.US and administered by GoFundMe.org, is awarding just over $5.6 million to 143 organizations engaging Americans in the resettlement of Afghan newcomers. Home for Refugees USA is proud to be one of the grantees. This round of awards exceeds Welcome.US’ original goal of dispersing $3 million, due to both increased contributions to the Fund and the high volume of quality applicants. 

The funding lifts up community-based efforts outside of the traditional nine U.S. resettlement agencies, and prioritizes historically underfunded organizations in communities across the country. Due to this effort, Home for Refugees USA, has the honor of receiving this grant from Welcome.US. Nearly two-thirds of the grantees are Afghan American, Muslim, Veteran, or refugee-led organizations. Applications reflect diverse ways community organizations are stepping up or expanding efforts to support the resettlement process, including providing translation services, securing housing, finding employment, and helping children enroll in schools. Collectively, these efforts will mobilize more than 10,000 volunteers to help over 45,000 Afghan newcomers. 

Since last August, more than 75,000 Afghans have arrived from military bases abroad to the United States and have been relocated and resettled into over 140 communities. In response, hundreds of nonprofits across the country have stepped up to support their transition.

Home for Refugees USA has had the privilege to be a frontline organization that is constantly involving community members as Welcomers. Home for Refugees USA forms Community Sponsorship Teams and Sponsor Circles with faith and community groups in partnership with Community Sponsorship Hub, Sponsor Circles, Refugee Resettlement Agencies, and immigration organizations to resettle refugees. The individuals in these groups commit to a 12 month period of volunteer support and play an integral role by providing wrap around services to help refugees become self-sufficient and get off to a strong start in our country. 

Welcome.US is appreciative of the generous donations from the hundreds of donors to the fund, including substantial contributions from The Shapiro Foundation, the Kaufer Family Fund, The Schmidt Family Foundation, PAR Capital Management, Target, the TripAdvisor Foundation, Walmart, and United Airlines. 

“These grantees have demonstrated an incredible commitment to supporting Afghan newcomers here in the U.S. GoFundMe.org is a proud partner of the Welcome Fund, and we are thrilled to support the welcoming movement that’s rapidly spreading across the country,” said Yoshiko Inoue, Executive Director of GoFundMe.org. 

The Hello Neighbor Network Triples Support of Refugees and Immigrants by Welcoming 16 New Nonprofit Leaders

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, the Hello Neighbor Network will triple its support of refugees and immigrants in local communities as it welcomes 16 new nonprofit leaders to the national coalition. The 16 Hello Neighbor Network Fellows will participate in a 10-month intensive leadership program in the interest of furthering their organizational missions to support immigrants and refugees. They will join the eight founding members for professional development, a national convening, and ongoing support as they undertake independent projects to grow and enhance the work of their organizations …