Join us for a unique drive-in & in-person celebration of love and service, honoring Lady Fatima (pbuh) and Imam Ali (pbuh). We will hear from Br. Mahdi Gharavi about the importance of showing love to orphaned children in Islam and stories of how Lady Fatima and Imam Ali left us with a legacy of love for these children. Sophie Hotch (LCSW-C) will speak to us about current challenges and needs of children in the foster care system and actions we can take to help them. You will have the opportunity to participate in three hands-on service activities benefiting children in need. There will also be a hot chocolate and donut truck and boxed dinners to enjoy!
The in-person option for this event will take place outdoors, in a covered pavilion, with masks required. For the drive-in option, you will be able to park and listen to the speakers via Zoom and collect items for the service projects to complete in your car. In this manner, we are doing our best to accommodate for these unprecedented times so that everyone is able to attend!
Br. Mahdi Gharavi is an educator who specializes in online instruction. His experience ranges from K12 administration, to corporate learning, to teaching Islamic studies. He is co-founder of Oasis Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit Islamic organization based in Northern Virginia. He serves on the Oasis board, and as an instructor. As a speaker, Mahdi focuses on his passion for sharing the teachings of the Qur'an and the Holy Prophet's family.
Sophie Hotch is a Clinical Social Worker who has worked with children and families for more than 25 years. She started her career in California working with children involved with the Child Welfare system, then spent 6 years in South Africa during the height of the Aids orphan crisis. She now works for Montgomery County Child Welfare Services providing Social Work services to foster families, as well as Recruiting and Licensing new foster families. Sophie is a transracial adoptive parent of two children that she and her husband adopted during their time in South Africa.
