The Way of A Warrior: IMAN, the Last 10 Days and the NBA Champions
Four years ago I packed up and moved my family from Chicago to Oakland to become General Counsel and Vice President of an up-and-coming team in the NBA known as the Golden State Warriors. As you may have heard, our team recently won the NBA Championship and, as you can imagine, I am elated.
While my family and I have been in full celebration mode with the rest of the team this last month, we have also been in full Ramadan mode, remembering those special things that go beyond any sports championship. More specifically, I have been thinking about IMAN, an organization that embodies the merciful spirit of Ramadan all year round that drew me to it almost 15 years ago.
Serving community through initiatives such as its dynamic health clinic, organizing for positive change and cultivating the arts all spoke to what I continue to believe is at the heart of our creative, merciful and dynamic tradition. Being an effective force for good, mercy and hope in the inner city has allowed IMAN’s model to resonate with so many across the country. From running its own farmers’ market to reclaiming vacant and vandalized buildings as centers for job training and housing for the formerly incarcerated, IMAN continues to forge forward with this inspiring model.
Championing that model is something that I am passionate about and still remains at the heart of my connection to the larger Muslim community.
As we enter the last ten days of Ramadan, I am excited to inform you that a generous supporter has offered to match your donation from now until the end of Ramadan. Please join me in leveraging this match to sustain, deepen and grow this important work with your Zakat-eligible and tax-deductible donation today.
Yours Truly,
David Kelly
IMAN Advisory Board Member