Thousands gathered at the H.Y.P.E Recreation Center in Dearborn Heights Aug. 11 for Al-Mabarrat’s 26th annual fundraising dinner. Guests made generous donations to support a new Islamic school in Dearborn anticipated to open in 2013.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — During its 26th annual fundraising dinner Al-Mabarrat charity announced the launch of a new local Islamic school that’s anticipated to open in 2013. The K-12 school called Great Revelations Academy (GRA) will be located on Miller Road between Warren and Ford, and places much emphasis on academic vigor and instilling morals in its students. 

“We want people to walk out of here and be the leaders of tomorrow,” said Ali F. Beydoun, who served as the event’s emcee. 

While the school was founded by Al-Mabarrat, it’s an entirely seperate entity from the charity. Donations for GRA will go directly towards the school, and all donations for Al-Mabarrat will continue to be used solely to benefit orphans. If extra proceeds are made to the school, they will go to support the same orphans Al-Mabarrat assists. 

Nearly 2,700 people attended the dinner at the H.Y.P.E Recreation Center here on Aug. 11 according to Al-Mabarrat President Hassan Sobh, making it one of the largest sit down dinners in the community. It well exceeded the attendance at previous Al-Mabarrat fundraising dinners. 

Al-Mabarrat is a humanitarian organization whose goal is to foster and nurture a caring connection between orphans and sponsors and to allow orphans to excel in all aspects of their lives. While there are other credible academic institutions in the community, the founders of the school felt it was necessary to create a school that focuses more on improving social and moral values among students. 

The school’s curriculum will also be challenging, and expected to exceed state and national standards. GRA will take pride in establishing  morals,  values and the Islamic faith in students.  It plans on providing high quality education through staff members who are experts in the fields they teach. 

Fouad Beydoun, Al-Mabarrat Detroit Chapter founder says those who conjured up the idea of creating the school are determined to assure its students qualify and have the opportunity to get into some of the nation’s  best colleges, and pursue professional careers in various fields.   “We’re looking out for the future of the children. We believe in giving these students the best future possible,” Sobh said. 

A orphan who’s received assistance from the Al-Mabarrat Charity recited a prayer from the Quran before thousands at the dinner. He’s visiting the U.S. temporarily and expected to return to Lebanon. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab

The project is still in phase one, and gathering moral and financial support which was well received at the dinner. While the amount raised at the dinner was not disclosed Fouad said the “community was very generous.” Students will be required to pay a tuition fee, but financial contributions to the school will help make the tuition more affordable. The school is projected to have 800 students.  

It will house the same academic centers any typical school has including a library, computer and science lab, music room and a full court gymnasium among other features. The idea for the project emerged about a year and a half ago. The city of Dearborn approved the zoning requirements for the school. 

The institution will be a non-profit organization. The building is approximately 60,000 square feet, and there are 20 large size classrooms.  Dr. Fuad Turfah who’s a surgeon at Oakwood Hopital addressed the crowd on the GRA, and a orphan from Lebanon who’s in the U.S. temporarily and has received assistance from Al-Mabarrat recited a prayer from the Qur’an.

Community donations contribute to creation of new Islamic school: 

One of the most unique things about the school is it’s being built entirely with donations from within the community. Ten to 15 community members have already donated $100,000 to $200,000 each to the project.  The donors did not want to be named. “These are very generous individuals who really care and believe in the futures of children in our community,” Sobh said. During the event people were asked to donate around $500 to $1,000 a month to support the project. Fouad said one woman agreed to donate $5,000 a month. The land and building for the project were donated by those who built the Dearborn Fresh Supermarket, Dr. Turfah and his family. 

They donated over eight acres of land to create the state of the art facility. Fouad says the project shouldn’t cost more than $2.5 million. The founders don’t plan on using any bank loans to build the school, but rather depending on community donations and fundraisers to sustain it. “Community support for this academic institution is going to be vital. It’s up to the community to create student aid and fundraising projects,” Beydoun said. 

Engineers and architects also donated their time to the overall structure of the school. For more information about  Great Revelations Academy, or to make a donation to the school call Al-Mabarrat Detroit chapter founder Fouad Beydoun at 313.333.8899.