Houston Astros Invites Syrian Refugee to Throw First Pitch

Houston Astros Invites Resettled Syrian Refugee to Throw First Pitch

Amaanah Refugee Services Teacher Moved to the U.S. Last Summer with Family

HOUSTON (July 25, 2017) ---- The Houston Astros invited a resettled Syrian refugee and local teacher, Dayana Halawo, to throw out the first pitch on July 31 for the home game against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning at 7:10 p.m. at Minute Maid Park, said Amaanah Refugee Services.

Amaanah Refugee Services, a Houston-based nonprofit serving resettled refugees, is partnering for a second consecutive year with the hometown team to honor a resettled refugee with the chance to do something truly American. In addition to the first-pitch, the Houston Astros will be hosting 300 guests of Amaanah Refugee Services in the stands.

“Dayana really exemplifies the American spirit,” said Ghulam Kehar, CEO of Amaanah Refugee Services. “She and her husband came to us last summer needing to find a teaching job and good schools for their two children. Now, she’s teaching Houston-area refugee children through our Awesome Academy program.”

Courtesy Photo: Resettled Syrian refugee Dayana Halawo (second from left) will throw out the first pitch at the Houston Astros game on July 31, 2017

According to the 2016 Annual Report compiled by Amaanah Refugee Services, the influx of refugees into the United States jumped by 46 percent over the prior calendar year, with Houston alone welcoming 2,434 refugees, accounting for a 30 percent increase.

The United States resettled 96,874 refugees in 2016 compared to 66,517 in the previous year, according to the US State Department, Refugee Processing Center. Of that total, Texas welcomed 8,932, making it the top state in the nation for refugee resettlement.

“Our work transforms lives, like Dayana's and her family, on a daily basis,” Kehar said. “Our two main goals are to boost programs supporting single moms toward a better life for their families and in-classroom educational support for refugee children in Alief, Austin and Houston.”

VIDEO Watch resettled refugee Tee Mo throw out the first pitch in 2016.

Amaanah Refugee Services aids resettled refugees in Houston and Austin with programs funded primarily through individual donors and grants, such as those received recently from the Houston Rockets and Super Bowl LI.

When Amaanah Refugee Services surpassed the $1 million fund-raising marker back in 2015, it became the largest privately funded refugee support service nonprofit in Houston. With an aggressive volunteer programs, roughly 80 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to client services. A recently conducted financial audit found the nonprofit to be in good standing.

With those donated resources, the nonprofit provides aid and programs when the initial six-month Refugee Resettlement Program expires. Services include after-school education, employment and financial assistance, women’s services, language skills, case management and sports programs.

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About Amaanah Refugee Services

Since 2008, Amaanah Refugee Services has been on a mission to integrate resettled refugees into their news homes and communities. Our vision is to transform the life of every refugee resettled around the world. We believe that refugees are dignified human being with exceptional experiences, talents and potential. With the right direction and resources, they will add to the prosperity of our societies.

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