Assalamu Alaikum,

As the year 2016 comes to an end and we welcome 2017, let me start by wishing you a Happy New Year! May 2017 bring you peace, security, happiness, and many more halal-certified products.

Now is a good time to reflect on our activities and accomplishments over the past year and to plan for the year ahead. In 2016, we continued our major activities including halal certification services, the Sabeel Food Pantry, the annual Chicago Muslim Turkey Drive, publication and distribution of the Halal Consumer© magazine, and support for local organizations and education. We also established the American Pan-Islamic Community Council to manage events, the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education to educate the community about Islam and Muslims, and the Sabeel Center as a community center and showcase of the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) life and influence.

The Sabeel Food Pantry continues to support 50 families on a weekly basis as well as others on an as-needed basis. The Pantry welcomes your donations. In 2016, the Chicago Muslim Turkey Drive distributed five thousand turkeys to families in the southern Chicago Public School system. IFANCA matched donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

During the year, we also provided a grant to Texas A&M University to establish a Diversity in Food Program to train food science students in halal and other diverse food diets so they are ready to face the industry challenges upon graduation.

Through the American Pan-Islamic Community Council, we organized and managed the 2016 Eid Expo at Navy Pier to provide a space for the community to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. The feedback was very positive and we plan to continue this in 2017 and beyond.

Sadly, this year we suffered the great loss of two of our founders and close friends, Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr and Br. Allen Hamood. May they enjoy the bounties of Paradise. We look forward to a rewarding 2017 as we continue to expand our offerings and challenge ourselves to do even better and push our programs to the next level. We wish you a blessed year ahead and success in your endeavors!

Sincerely,

Muhammad Munir Chaudry, president