A Message from our Founders
Dear Friends & Family,
Thank you for your continued support of The Julia Ghahramani Foundation, a donor-advised fund at Fairfield County's Community Foundation. This past year was filled with numerous events and achievements that could not have happened without the involvement and commitment of so many of you. We truly appreciate your generosity and most of all for coming out to volunteer and support causes that Julia cared about throughout her life.
With love,
The Ghahramanis
2023 Event Highlights
$50,000+ Fundraised
$42,000 Donations Made
4 Events
For the second summer in a row, in honor of Julia's 29th birthday, Julia's friends and family planted a garden at The Cardinal Shehan Center located in Bridgeport, CT where in 2011, she worked as a camp counselor.
Julia realized the central role the Center played in so many kids’ lives. What had been an empty space filled with weeds is now a gorgeous garden maintained by the campers and youth volunteers. Many thanks to Lorraine Gibbons, Executive Director, for her uplifting spirit and organizational skills!
Cardinal Shehan Center Garden
Through your generosity we were able to donate hundreds of socks and other essential items to LEFSA, a New York City non-profit organization that serves individuals who are homeless, formerly homeless and living in city-sponsored shelters or transitioning to permanent housing and to HYA, a San Francisco non-profit organization that empowers and educates young homeless individuals.
To support the sock drive, Lily Ann, Sassan, Kim and Azita hosted a painting class in New York, Greg held an event in San Francisco, and Uncle Doug and Aunt Barbra held a Ugandan spirits tasting at their home in Shelburne, Vermont.
Thanks to everyone who showered us with your contributions. One of the many expressions of Julia's compassion was her regular offering of basic necessities to people in need, which is why we are proud to support LEFSA for the second year in a row and to support HYA in San Francisco this year as well.
3 Sock Drives
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Shelburne, VT
Donations
Columbia Summer Funding Program
JGF donated $12,500 to Columbia Summer Funding Program (CSF). CSF provides law students the opportunity to pursue full-time unpaid summer internships for 8 to 12 weeks at non-profit organizations, public interest law firms or in government. The program is an integral part of Columbia students’ preparation to practice law while providing greatly needed assistance to a wide range of organizations.
Human Rights Internship Program
JGF donated $12,500 to the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP). HRIP provides intensive experiential learning in international human rights legal practice abroad for first- and second-year Law students. This is a 10-week internship commitment; it includes stipend, roundtrip airfare, visa and immunizations costs, and emergency evacuation insurance.
Anna’s House
JGF donated $10,000 to support Anna’s House, a safe home for mothers and children struggling with homelessness in Oakland, California. Anna’s House recognizes that many factors contribute to housing instability, including prior experiences with sexual assault or domestic violence.
Other
In addition, several smaller donations were made to Columbia Law Review, Cardinal Shehan Center and Fight Colorectal Cancer, in honor of Julia’s dear friend Michael Fetterman.
Honors
Julia Ghahramani Immigration Advocacy Award
The Julia Ghahramani Immigration Advocacy Award, presented annually by Akin Gump, the law firm where Julia worked, was presented this year to Jessica Mannon at this year’s firm wide pro bono award ceremony. Jessica is a litigation counsel at Akin who has devoted substantial time to advocacy for asylum seekers. In particular, she won asylum for a single mother from Honduras earlier this year.
As a first-year Associate, Julia would throw herself into her pro-bono work for refugees, abused women, and prisoners. It is an honor for us to know that Julia’s legacy is carried forward by Akin Gump and advocates for justice, such as Jessica.
Special thanks to Julia’s close friend, Natalia Mrozek, who helped design the award!
Human Rights Internship Program
Through the efforts of the Columbia Law Review, most notably Margaret Hassel (Editor in Chief) and Anina Gayla (Director of Donor Relations), a photograph of Julia is now displayed at Columbia University in New York City, on the wall of Columbia Law Review’s study room, where Julia dedicated many challenging yet rewarding hours as an editor of the Law Review.
Plans for 2024
Connect
Continue to work together to carry on Julia’s love and
dedication towards making the world a better place.
Support
Support students and student-led organizations, including Columbia
Law School students pursuing careers in public service.
Strengthen
Strengthen our relationship with the Cardinal Shehan Center, LEFSA,
HYA and continue to to engage in community and public service.
Persist
Continue to fight for victims who have tragically lost their
lives to fentanyl poisoning and other crimes and injustices.
Brainstorm
Open to further ideas!
We Couldn’t Have
Done it Without You!
Replanting and Expanding the Garden at Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport, CT for Julia's 29th Birthday
May 24, 2023
For the second consecutive year, Lorraine Gibbons, Executive Director, welcomed us at Cardinal Shehan Center to refresh and expand the beautiful garden that we planted last year on behalf of The Julia Ghahramani Foundation. A group of Julia's friends and family came together and laid out a garden filled with bright yellow, red, and orange annuals and added a large area of shrubbery extending down the block. It was a successful group effort! In addition to Lorraine Gibbons, we would like to acknowledge and thank Fidel Valdovinos of Fidel V's Landscaping for his support and artful design sense, little Ellie and Arthur Roosevelt Reyes for all of their awesome digging, planting and watering and to the rest of us adults for your love and for always remembering our Julia. We miss her so much. Happy Birthday, Julia! xoxo
Winter Sock Drive for LEFSA
Julia's friends and family gathered for drinks and snacks in NYC and donated hundreds of men's, women's, and children's socks to LEFSA, a New York City based organization that provides assistance and support to people who are homeless or formerly homeless through its programs and outreach. LEFSA offers many practical ways to help including sock drives, granola protein energy bar drives, bottled water donations, toiletry supply drives, and backpack drives. The link to their organization is https://scny-lefsa.org.
Julia’s family rally with March for Our Lives
June 11, 2022
Devastated by the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting and the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shootings, Julia passionately fought for the protection of young students by advocating for safer gun regulations. In the Spring of 2018, Julia helped lead the New York City March for our Lives chapter, volunteering as the movement’s deputy directory and press liaison.
The 2022 Uvalde school shooting, which happened to lay on Julia’s 28th birthday, the 245 other mass shootings that have occurred in the first 5 months of 2022, and the lack of action taken by our federal government prompted a second set of nation wide rallies to support tighter gun regulations.
Supporting Julia’s passion and conviction, her family marched through cities across the US to show their support of tighter gun regulations and the need for congress and state governments to take action.
Sassan (left) and Greg (right) at March for Our Lives - Oakland, CA
Azita and Kiyan (not pictured) at March for Our Lives - Portland, ME
Kim (left) and Lily Ann (right) at March for Our Lives - New York, NY
Remembering Julia - 1 year
We invite you to come commemorate Julia’s life 1 year after her passing
For directions, please contact us at JuliaGFoundation@gmail.com
Planting a Garden at Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport, CT for Julia’s 28th Birthday
May 24, 2022
In honor of Julia’s 28th birthday, her family and friends gathered together to plant a garden on behalf of the Julia Ghahramani Foundation in front of the Cardinal Shehan Center. In 2011, between her junior and senior year in high school, Julia volunteered as a summer camp counselor at the non-profit organization located in Bridgeport, CT. Julia loved working at Cardinal Shehan for its mission and profound connection to the community. But mostly, she loved the kids in her group of 5-7 year old campers. Through her stories, it became clear to us how deeply she felt for them. .
The Julia Ghahramani Foundation is donating $2,500 to the Cardinal Shehan Center for all the positive work they do to empower youths of all ages. We want to thank and recognize its Executive Director, Lorraine Gibbons, for her passion and service to the community, and for allowing us to make this a beautiful day of remembrance and love. We would also like to thank Fidel for his hard work and gardening expertise. Below are pictures of Julia’s friends and family planting the garden in her honor.
The Julia Ghahramani Foundation is also making a $1,000 donation to De La Salle Academy, the only private, independent school in New York City for academically talented, economically less advantaged boys and girls in grades six through eight. This donation upholds Julia’s love and commitment to providing opportunity for people of all backgrounds and walks of life, especially children.
The force of Julia continues to bring equality and love to all through the love and commitment of her family and friends. We miss her every moment of every day.
Julia’s Family and Friends outside Cardinal Shehan Center
Feeding Ukrainian Refugees
March 19, 2022
Image taken from this article - One million meals served as #ChefsForUkraine relief effort grows
Inspired by the catastrophic invasion of Ukraine and Julia’s passion to aid refugees around the world, The Julia Ghahramani Foundation pledges to donate $5,000 to the World Central Kitchen.
The World Central Kitchen is a 4/4 star, 100% rated charity started by renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés, devoted to providing meals on the frontlines in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Over the last year, they have provided food to Tonga after the volcanic eruption, Afghan refugees, Venezuelan refugees, and most recently have opened 24/7 meal distribution sites at all eight border crossings from Ukraine to Poland, where they serve hot soups, hot cocoa, tea, coffee, and other meals.
In addition to feeding the refugees who have left Ukraine, the WCK has sent multiple trucks to Odessa, Mykolayiv, Zolochiv, and Kyiv.
Donating to the World Central Kitchen aligns with Julia’s love to cook, desire to nurture others, and assist those in need.
Providing Medical Supplies to Civilian Defense Corps in Ukraine
March 19, 2022
In addition to a spectacular $20,000 donation made in Julia’s name by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLC, the law firm which Julia worked for, The Julia Ghahramani Foundation is proud to donate $2,500 to the Razom Emergency Response to provide and deliver medical and med-tech supplies to the Ukrainian cities under siege.
Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is a New York City based 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on building Ukraine to be a prosperous democratic nation. Razom conducts projects in Ukraine, as well as on Capitol Hill, with the goal of connecting people in the U.S. with those in Ukraine.
Since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Razom has delivered 38 tons of tactical medical and hospital supplies to Kyiv and Zhytomyr. Tactical medical supplies include: med tactical backpacks, GPS devices, satellite phones, and drones, which enable safe and efficient distribution of aid.
In addition to medical aid, Razom Emergency Response has focused on evacuating children with disabilities, including 30 families from 9 cities in Ukraine.
Donating to the Razom Emergency Response aligns with Julia’s dedication to promote humanitarian aid and the right to medical care for all.
We would like to send a special thank you to Fatima, Atena, Ester, and Maddie for their drive and dedication to initiate Akin’s donation.
Image taken from this article - SUPPLIES FROM POLAND