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L. HARVEY SMITH ACTING MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288

JERSEY CITY- A group of four Muslim businessmen will donate $50,000 to the new Jersey City Medical Center in honor of Ramadan - the month of fasting and charity - during a 2 p.m. news conference Monday, October 25, 2004 in the President's Office, 355 Grand Street.

The $50,000 donation will be made to Medical Center President and CEO Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr. P, P.H., on behalf of the new Jersey City Medical Center which opened its doors earlier this year.

The idea of making a donation to the community of Jersey City was brought to Mayor L. Harvey Smith on Wednesday by businessmen; Dr. Mohamed ChoukeirPhd. Eng., Nasser Saber and Kbaled El Shamma, who are partners in ownership of 20 Dunkin Donuts stores in New Jersey and on the Board of Trustees of El Tawheed Islamic Center, and Ahmed Shedeed, Honorary Deputy Mayor and Director of the Islamic Center of Jersey City on Park Street.

"Their willingness to give back to the community is something we don't often see. I thought the idea of a contribution to the city was a great one, but we agreed that the money could better serve all the community at a place many people call upon, the Medical Center," Smith said.

For the world's 1.2 billion Muslims the month of Ramadan is the month of the Quran was first revealed. The month of fasting (don't eat food) during the daylight and the month of charitable giving. Giving charity is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.

Also, during this holy month American Muslims charities make special appeals for the poor and needy. Through all this self reflection and sacrifice period, Muslims think of the less fortunate. Choukeir said that during these times of orange alerts, the war in Iraq and other world conflicts, Muslims have been branded with negative stereotypes. He feels it's time for all to know that Muslims are positive role models in American culture.

"Each of our families have been here in America for at least 25 years. Some of us were born here. We shouldn't feel like strangers in our own country," Choukeir said. "Ramadan is a time of charity and we thought of giving first to the city where we live."

Mr. Saber, who is of Egyptian decent, was born in the United States and wants to change the negative perception Muslims face daily.

"This is not our first donation, but we don't usually publicize our charity," said Saber, who is also President of the Egyptian American Group of Jersey City. "But the media hasn't played a fair game. We are Americans, just like you guys. We love our country, America, and our flag and our city. We want to keep our country safe for our children and to protect our flag."

The group of businessmen encouraged all Muslims to show their generosity publicly to balance the negative press and stereotypes Muslims have been subject to.

"We don't give for publicity but I think now all Muslims should make it known the many good deeds that are doing for the community," El Shamma said.

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