Bahá’í to host Human Rights Awards night





The 15th annual Bahá’í Human Rights Awards, sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Ventura and Western Los Angeles Counties, will be presented during a luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 4 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. The event honors both the 57th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and individuals who’ve made humanitarian contributions within their communities.

This year the Bahá’ís of Unit 144 will recognize the humanitarian works of the Children’s Enrichment Program at Rancho Sespe, Ferial Masry of Newbury Park and Morey Navarro of Oxnard.

The Children’s Enrichment Program (CEP) at Rancho Sespe is a social and economic development project that has been operating at the Migrant Worker HUD housing complex called Rancho Sespe serving Fillmore and Piru. More than 100 children ranging in ages from 3 to15 have been served with four-week summer school programs and yearround bi-monthly programs.

Ferial Masry, also honored, immigrated to America from Saudi Arabia, by way of Egypt, England and Africa, where she put down roots and raised her family. She founded a free Muslim school and for more than 10 years taught children of the Muslim and Arab community in Newbury Park and Calabasas She also started a nonprofit woman’s group to assist Muslim and Arab women in their assimilation, among other efforts to encourage peace between peoples.

The third honoree, Morey Navarro, was selected for “selflessness, his generosity and his eagerness to serve others” in the communities of Oxnard and Camarillo. Navarro, a self-made businessman, has turned his hard work and good fortune around and given both financial and physical aid to the Boys & Girls Club, Little League, Junior League, and several high schools.

The public is invited to attend he event. Tickets are $30 and reservations are required by Mon., Nov. 21. For reservations or information, call (805) 520-0443, e-mail carolyn19@msn.com or visit www.humanrightsawards.org.


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