When it came to honoring their founder and prominent Palestinian-American advocate Suad Ziadeh, the Seattle-based Palestinian Heritage Group chose a fitting gift.

With money raised at a March 8 event celebrating Mrs. Ziadeh's work, the Group is funding scholarships for four talented women in the West Bank and Gaza.

The gift follows from the Palestinian Heritage Group's "conviction that to educate a woman is to impact a whole community," say the Group's tireless co-organizers Husniyeh Kouttainay, Huda Giddens, and Sherry Garman.

Begun by Mrs. Ziadeh in the late 1980s, the Palestinian Heritage Group has consistently highlighted the culture and plight of Palestinians to fellow citizens in Seattle. A wide range of fundraising activities -- from ethnic fairs to bake sales and community dinners -- have helped needy Palestinian children cope with their difficult circumstances and sustain hope for a better future.

Longtime UPA supporters, both Mrs. Ziadeh and her husband, Dr. Farhat Ziadeh, have helped mobilize the Seattle community in support of UPA's Child Sponsorship and Education programs.

The vast majority of UPA's funding comes from individual contributors across the United States and beyond. For more information about UPA's programs, or if you'd like help organizing a fundraiser in your own community, please contact us.