Zafar is my partner in crime. MY Project USA is OUR Legacy! Family, Above is a picture of my husband Zafar and I in the parking lot of MY Project USA's Hilltop Youth Empowerment Center, on the westside of Columbus, Ohio. This is our favorite picture! Zafar is not just the love of my life, partner in crime, a loving husband, a caring baba to our three daughters and four grandchildren - he is truly my soulmate and partner in all aspects of my life. Together we have had tons of adventures of different types in our 35 years of married life, but the most important and impactful work that we feel humbled, proud and grateful for is the founding and growing of MY Project USA as our legacy; a continued charity for our deceased and living parents and a source of inspiration and community services for our grandchildren. Ten years ago when I learned about minor girls being trafficked in our city, we, the parents of three daughters, took it upon ourselves to address it. I dropped all my paid projects and started this new organization to protect and empower at-risk children and their families through education, social services, civic engagement and advocacy. Zafar stood by me and supported me and the organization from day one. To this day, I have not taken any salary from the organization and both of us have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the shape of monetary and in-kind donations to the organization. In the recent cashflow crisis caused by the TANF reimbursement grants escalated by reduction in local grants and community donations in the midst of the crisis in Gaza, we have loaned another $156,000 in interest free loans to keep the doors of our pantry (Mid-Ohio Market at MY Project USA) and our free community resource warehouse (MY Deah's Warehouse) open. We supported the organization in keeping their new refugee and other vulnerable employees on the job hoping that the local government and the community will step up. While the organization has returned some money after the recent fundraisers, it still owes us $96,000 in operational loans alone. Of course, this has created some financial challenges for our family, but it is nothing compared to the challenges that the clients of MY Project USA face on daily basis. We are content and at peace in our decision as we see the monthly impact of $585,000 through several of its very important initiatives that serve about 10,000 people every month. While we have seen some financial hardships due to lending so much money in this last year, we have also seen immense blessings in our lives and our children's lives that we would not trade off for anything else. Our personal businesses, our family and our village has grown by leaps and bounds and we truly have nothing to regret. Today, I am sharing this with you as I invite you to join hands with us and invest in MY Project USA - a shared legacy that is transforming the lives of thousands of people weekly. Together, we can take this to the next level! Our Social Ventures Partnership levels start from $5000/year for three years. Don't miss out if you can do it! I understand that $5000 may be a significant amount for many households. Whatever your ability to give, we invite you to join us with a recurring monthly donation. Your support helps us plan ahead and ensures stability for our pantry, warehouse, and other essential programs that rely on donations, not grant funding. Every contribution makes a difference! In Solidarity with Youth & Families, Zerqa Abid, Founder, President and Executive Director, MY Project USA | 
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