Education for Peace

Iran is raising $1 million for Tree of Life

Iran is raising $1 million for Tree of Life, is being showered with offers from Steelers, Penguin tickets

Iran is raising $1 million for Tree of LifeS

hay Khatiri closely followed the GoFundMe account he set up to aid in the aftermath of the Tree of Life tragedy, as it exceeded Wednesday night’s $1 million and continued to rise.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old Iranian political refugee was too busy yet to count the amount of free Steelers and Penguins ticket deals from Pittsburghers both touched and inspired by his fundraising. Nevertheless, they are enough in number that he could attend several potential sporting events at no personal cost in Pittsburgh — a city he’s never been to — if he so desired.

“Honestly, after what happened to this fundraising, I don’t think I’ll ever be shocked by the kindness of anyone,” Mr. Khatiri said in a phone interview shortly past midday Thursday, when the GoFundMe account stood at $1,040,397 donated by 16,626 donors. (Of that number, GoFundMe maintains a processing fee of 2.9 per cent plus 30 cents per donation — a total of just over $35,000 at present.)

The Johns Hopkins University graduate student in international relations explained how he was inspired to action in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interview Monday when a Jewish friend he lived with told him about the horrific shootings on Saturday morning. After a Halloween party the night before, he was groggy from a hangover, he explained, but he had experience setting up GoFundMe accounts and easily set up one that puts Tree of Life at the forefront. The proceeds go straight to financial accounts established by the congregation of the Tree of Life.

A summary of GoFundMe reads: “An anti-Semite in a Pittsburgh synagogue assaulted and killed several attendees at a baby’s bris. This fundraiser is intended to assist the church with the building’s financial costs, as well as the families of the survivors and the victims. Reply to the hateful act with today’s act of love.

Mr. Khatiri told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Monday how he would love to be able to attend a Steelers or Penguins game sometime because he’d never been to Pittsburgh. Pittsburghers quickly started sending offers meant for him, either directly or as an intermediary through the Post-Gazette. Any of the packages included, in addition to tickets, food, airfare and other hosting.

One email to the Post-Gazette said: “Please let him know when he wants to go, I’ll give him two Champions Club tickets to a Steeler game…..His love for all men and tolerance … It’s to be praised — that’s what we mean when we say Love of Hate.

Mr. Khatiri, who lives in Washington D.C., said he is very grateful for these offers and would like to visit the area, but it will depend on how much free time he has from studies and work.

“Basically this consumed most of my life,” he said of interviews with the media and other aspects related to fundraising. “In training, I am so behind that I have to catch up.”

Meanwhile, the fundraising target for the GoFundMe account, initially set at $50,000, is now estimated at $1.2 million, as Mr. Khatiri sees no reason to stop searching for more after over $1 million.

And it is far from being the only fundraising on behalf of Tree of Life congregations, families, survivors and other local Jewish community needs in the aftermath of a shooting spree that has shocked the country. Various organizations are looking to assist with funeral costs, medical expenses, repairs to the temple, psychological therapy, improvements to security, and more.

Muslim charities have surpassed $225,000 in donations through the crowdfunding site LaunchGood. The Pittsburgh Islamic Center has assumed responsibility for handing those funds over to needs identified by members of Tree of Life.

Many online donations have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars more, which include:

• The Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Federation;

• United Way of Southwest Pennsylvania, which matches dollar-for – dollar donations up to a limit of $100,000 from donors.

Pittsburgh Foundation which matches up to a total of $150,000 in donations.

• Contributions made directly to Tree of Life bank accounts, through checks made either to Tree of Life Victims and Family Account or Tree of Life Synagogue Account, and sent to First National Bank of Pennsylvania, 1940 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15217, Attention: Tony North. Donors can also use the website of the Congregation.

Law enforcement authorities have cautioned the public against making donations in the aftermath of the tragedy to unknown organisations requesting gifts, and advise against giving credit card details or clicking on links in emails, unless the user believes the requests are legitimate.

This blog was cited at http:/www.post-gazette.com

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