Local Nonprofits Launch ‘Welcoming Nashville Fund’ to Support Afghan Neighbors
Community Donations Needed to Help Resettlement Efforts
October 13, 2021, NASHVILLE, TENN.—Greater Nashville will soon welcome more than 300 of our Afghan allies as part of the historic nationwide effort to resettle over 50,000 evacuees from Afghanistan.
During this critical time, several nonprofit organizations including United Way of Greater Nashville, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville, the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) and the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) have teamed up to establish the Welcoming Nashville Fund, a citywide fundraising campaign housed at United Way of Greater Nashville.
The campaign will help fund resettlement programs already established at Catholic Charities and NICE. Resettlement professionals and case managers at these organizations will help our Afghan allies secure housing, stock pantries, receive necessary health care, obtain important legal documents and much more as they begin their new lives in the United States.
Congress recently passed a bill that provides temporary assistance for Afghan evacuees. While this funding helps pay for initial basic needs, the Fund and our partners will welcome our new neighbors with the tools and resources they need to prosper in their new community in Nashville.
To learn more or make a donation, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/welcoming-nashville-fund.
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“We have received countless calls and emails from Nashvillians offering their support for our Afghan allies. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with our partners on this collaborative campaign to welcome our new neighbors from Afghanistan, and we know that this community effort will continue our tradition of ensuring refugees and immigrants achieve their full potential now and for generations to come.” — Dr. Gatluak Thach, President and CEO, Nashville International Center for Empowerment
“Welcoming individuals and families to America has been part of our Catholic Charities mission since 1962. We are pleased to partner with government leaders and other nonprofit organizations to prepare for what we anticipate will be at least 300 of our Afghan allies. We have already seen an outpouring of support from the Nashville community. There is much work to be done acclimating these ‘new Americans’ to Middle Tennessee. We are confident our team of resettlement experts and case managers are ready to serve our newest neighbors.” — Judy K. Orr, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville
“We want to ensure that our incoming Afghan neighbors are welcomed with open arms and have the community support they need to successfully build their new lives in Middle Tennessee. This partnership is a critical step to achieving that goal.” — Sabina Mohyuddin, Executive Director, American Muslim Advisory Council
“At United Way, our mission is to unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and family thrives. That’s exactly why we are excited to partner with these agencies to help raise vital funds to support these families and ensure that they have what they need to build new lives here in Nashville. This community has a tremendous track record for coming together and showing up for each other in times of need. If we all pitch in, we can make this transition as seamless as possible for our new Afghan neighbors.” — Brian Hassett, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Nashville
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About the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE)
The Nashville International Center for Empowerment is made up of a diverse group of staff and volunteers who have come together with a mission to ensure refugees and immigrants achieve their full potential now and for generations to come. We have developed a deep understanding of the needs and long-term aspirations of refugees and immigrants because of our own professional and lived experiences. NICE is an Ethnic Community Based Organization (ECBO), composed of a board and staff who are primarily refugees and immigrants. Through a multidimensional social services approach, we aim to make Middle Tennessee a welcome home for New Americans. You can visit our website www.empowernashville.org or follow us on social media @nicenashville.
About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville, was founded in 1962 as the social service arm of the Diocese of Nashville. The organization serves people of every religious, ethnic, cultural, and racial background in 38 Middle Tennessee counties that comprise the Diocese of Nashville. Assisting more than 12,000 people per year, Catholic Charities provides a range of services that help clients through crises and toward self-sufficiency. Services include emergency financial assistance, counseling, job training, housing stability, hunger relief, and more.
About American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC)
The American Muslim Advisory Council’s mission is to empower the Tennessee Muslim community and foster mutual trust and respect among all people through civic engagement, community building and media relations in order to protect all Tennesseans from prejudice and targeted violence. For more information, visit www.amactn.org or follow us on social media @amactn.
About United Way of Greater Nashville
At United Way, we unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and family thrives. Together, we are working to create a community where every child receives a quality education, no one lives in poverty or poor health, and the most basic needs of our families are met. We are uniquely positioned to the lead this fight by bringing individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government to the table to have the tough conversations, mobilize the resources and make the smart investments that will create lasting solutions for our region’s most pressing issues. For more information, visit unitedwaynashville.org and follow us on social media @UWNashville.
