It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of a dear friend, donor, and visionary, Mr. Masud Mehran.
It was through his tireless leadership that the Persian Center was able to secure a home for Iranian-Americans in the Bay Area--a place where thousands of people call home away from home, especially students. He supported efforts to build a successful and sustainable nonprofit, one that created trust in our community, and was the inspiration that led to the inception of many others. His zeal for Persian Center and his culture, history, and heritage will be greatly missed. We offer his family our deepest condolences and share in their loss. A service to celebrate Masud's life will be held on: Friday, December 6, 2013, 4 pm Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The renowned poet Sa'adi wrote: "the legacy of a man with a good name lives on forever." Rooheshan Shaad...Khatereshan Geramee. PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release February 22, 2002 Contact: Niloofar M. Nouri, 510-848-0264 Persian Center distributes 500 Wheelchairs in Iran On Valentine's Day, a delegate of representatives from Persian Center, Wheelchair Foundation, and City of Berkeley, traveled to Iran to deliver the gift of love and mobility: 500 wheelchairs for the disabled in Iran. When Soheyl Modarressi, President of Oxford Development Group, visited a facility for the disabled in Tehran last year and discovered that there were 3 wheelchairs for the 700 patients, he was immediately prompted into action. He brought the Persian Center and Wheelchair Foundation together, who collectively raised and donated $150,000 toward the purchase of 1000 wheelchairs for Iran. The first shipment of 500 wheelchairs was made in December 2001, and a tour was scheduled for their delivery in February of 2002. The team embarked on their mission at the Red Crescent where a variety of organizations--such as Kahrizak Foundation-were invited to collect a portion of 250 wheelchairs. "We are having a wonderful and amazing time," reacted Mark Rhoades, Berkeley's Planning Manager; he and his wife Erin Banks spent most of the first two days assisting disabled children into their new red wheelchairs, and felt it was "the most important and rewarding work" they had done in their life. Everyone felt the joy of one young girl, who began racing across the room and refused to stop turning and spinning, once she was set in her wheelchair. Echoing the general sentiment of the group, Patrick DeTemple, Electronic Media Manager for City of Berkeley, commented that "the team's efforts are a very clear response to a very direct need; there is no confusion that we are doing a good thing." Haft-e Teer Charity, which houses 90 disabled girls, received the remaining 250 wheelchairs on the third day. They will be using 65 of the wheelchairs and distributing the remainder to Gorouheh Koodak, Mahak Charity, Behnam Daheshpour Cancer Institute, and Rofideh Organization. "Most patients would never be able to afford a low quality or used wheelchair at 1,500,000 Rials (~ $185), let alone a brand new, high quality one, costing over 3,000,000 Rials!" exclaimed Mohammad Naimi-Yazdi, President of Haft-e-Teer. "In many cases, these wheelchairs are the finest possessions they will ever own." No exact statistics are available regarding the need for wheelchairs in Iran, but it is estimated to be 6-10% of the population. Most of the five million disabled people are a result of inter-family marriages, inaccessibility to medical facilities at birth, or poor nutrition and care during infancy. Despite numerous distributions worldwide, Fred Gerhard, Director of Wheelchair Foundation, was overcome with emotion when he received a painting completed by one of the wheelchair recipients who draws with his neck. "We came to give the people of Iran the gift of mobility," said Gerhard, "but instead we received a greater gift of love in their eyes!" The Wheelchair Foundation, founded in 2000 with a grant from the Kenneth E. Behring Foundation, has distributed over 35,000 wheelchairs in 74 countries. "It is amazing how one wheelchair changes someone's life entirely, affects 7-10 people around them, and moves a community of over 50 people in their circle," said Shahin Tabrizi, board member of Persian Center, who had returned to Iran after 25 years. He and Modarressi are already planning a fundraising event with other goodwill ambassador's Ahmad Behjati, proprietor of Via Centro, and Mansour Hariri of Cyrus Travel. Persian Center hopes to continue raising awareness about this serious need in Iran and partner with the Wheelchair Foundation in delivering wheelchairs worldwide. The Persian Center is a non-profit charitable organization, dedicated to providing an environment for education, cultural celebrations, and exhibitions to promote an understanding of the Persian culture and heritage, as well as peace through education and understanding. Press Release
February 11, 2002 For Immediate Release Contact: Niloofar M. Nouri (510)848-0264 The Persian Center On Sunday June 3rd, 2001, Persian Center, Mr. Kenneth E. Behring (Founder), Mr. Soheyl Modarressi (Persian Center Patron), and Mr. & Mrs. Ahmad Behjati (Proprietor of Santa Fe Bistro and Via Centro restaurants in Berkeley), hosted a special dinner to benefit the Wheelchair Foundation at Santa Fe Bar & Grill in Berkeley. Guests included Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean who presented Mr. Ken Behring with a proclamation declaring June 3rd, 2001 as WheelChair Foundation Day. Celebrity spokesperson, Loretta Lynn, also made a guest appearance and cheered on the international philanthropists in the room. The intent of the evening was to raise $36,000 to meet the matching pledge of the same amount by the WheelChair Foundation, in order to send 500 wheelchairs to Iran. However, the evening that included dinner, dance performances, and an exciting auction resulted in far greater success: $75,000 was raised, matched by $75,000 from the foundation for a total of $150,000. As a result 1000 wheelchairs will be sent to disabled in Iran during 2002! A shipment of 500 wheelchairs has been made to Iran, and on Valentine's day, a delegate of representatives from Persian Center, WheelChair Foundation, and City of Berkeley, will travel to Tehran to distribute the wheelchairs to the disabled, via the Red Crescent and Haft-e Teer charities. This tour, arranged by Cyrus Travel, will be the first of many to provide a glimpse of Iran, while helping the needy there. Persian Center hopes to continue their partnership with the Wheelchair Foundation and be an active participant in eradicating the need for wheelchairs in Iran. The Wheelchair Foundation, founded in 2000 with a grant from the Kenneth E. Behring Foundation, is at the forefront of an international effort to deliver a wheelchair to every man, woman and child in the world who needs one. As of March of this year, 24,774 wheelchairs have been distributed in 73 countries. The Persian Center is a non-profit charitable organization, dedicated to providing an environment for education, cultural celebrations, and exhibitions to promote an understanding of the Persian culture and heritage, as well as peace through education and understanding. |
Persian CenterThe Persian Center encourages and facilitates programs contributing to the cultural, professional, and artistic advancement and enrichment of the Iranian-American Community. Archives
December 2013
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Persian Center
The Persian Center is a non-profit, charitable 501(c3) organization whose mission is to create an environment in which to conduct social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities designed to strengthen the sense of identity and integrity of all Iranians and Iranian descendants, and to engage individuals interested in or related to Persian community and culture.
Address: 2029 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 - Phone: (510) 848-0264 - Fax: (510) 848-2537 For all inquiries or comments: [email protected]
© 2022 Persian Center
Address: 2029 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 - Phone: (510) 848-0264 - Fax: (510) 848-2537 For all inquiries or comments: [email protected]
© 2022 Persian Center