2011-02-10T14:51:01-06:00 2010-06-30 Henry C Levy & Co CPAs Prof Corp 5940 College Avenue Oakland CA 94618 990 2009-07-01 943074600 Middle East Children's Alliance MIDD 5108458835 1101 - 8th St 100 Berkeley CA 94710 Barbara Lubin 5105480542 2011-02-01 1 Henry C Levy 5106521000 2011-02-01 2009 2016-02-24 21:20:13Z Barbara Lubin 1101 - 8th St 100 Berkeley CA 94710 1172459 0 X www.mecaforpeace.org X 1994 CA A nonprofit organization working for the rights and well being of children in the Middle East. 5 4 8 45 13285 12285 2915979 1056573 0 49134 17395 0 2965113 1073968 2207574 596412 0 328168 400526 0 232740 308199 234245 2843941 1231183 121172 -157215 845925 710882 12241 14330 833684 696552 Founded in 1988, the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) is a nonprofit organization working for the rights and the well being of children in the Middle East. MECA sends shipments of aid to Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon, and supports projects that make life better for the children. We educate North Americans about children in the region. MECA welcomes the support of all people who care about children and their future. 0 1 328974 271028 Specific Assistance to individualsMECA's Ramzy Halaby Education Fund enables talented and ambitious high school graduates to obtain degrees, and the skills to make important contributions to their communities and their country. This was the final year for this program and future contributions to the Fund will go towards university scholarships at Palestinian universities.In FY 2009-2010 MECA provided assistance to two Palestinian refugees who are university students and three recent graduates doing unpaid internships in the United States. The families of individuals from Palestinian refugee camps families are often unable to pay their expenses. MECA paid the full costs of their stay in the United States, including housing, medical care, travel, school fees, tuition, and supplies, and a monthly stipend for food and transportation for two full-time students in Fall 2009. Ahmed AlGhrouz was a student at the University of New Mexico. Keyan Dawoud was a student at San Francisco State University. Both students completed their undergraduate degrees in December 2009 and received stipends for their living expenses for the following months while Keyan prepared to return to Palestine and Ahmed prepared to begin medical school on a scholarship.Rashed Abu Alia, Ahmad Jabr and Jehad Al-Shamarkheh are all college graduates who were doing unpaid internships related to their fields of study in this fiscal year. MECA provided them with stipends for living expenses until December 2009. Rashed Abu Alia was doing unpaid research in his field at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute. Ahmad Jabr had an unpaid internship with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Jehad Al-Shamarkheh had an unpaid internship with the Arab Film Festival.All of these students were nominated to receive scholarships by our partner organization in Palestine, Ibdaa Cultural Center, where MECA has been supporting art classes, sports teams, and other educational and recreational activities since 1994. The students were chosen for a combination of past academic achievements, English language skills, and demonstrated commitment to helping their community. They were volunteers in the center in Dheisheh Refugee Camp and young leaders at Ibdaa before coming to the United States to complete their studies free from the obstacles of life under occupation in their home country. In 2002, Ibdaa requested support from MECA for three of its young leaders Ahmad, Jehad and Rashed who were not able to continue their studies due to travel restrictions. Ibdaa selected these students because of their years of work and leadership at the center and because the board and co-directors of the center believed the three students would succeed in their studies in the US and then go on to contribute to their community. This was a pilot program and after the students excelled in their studies, MECA agreed to continue providing scholarships for students nominated by Ibdaa and then vetted by MECA. The next student, Keyan Dawoud, was selected by Ibdaa in 2003 after graduating from high school because of her academic achievements and also to provide gender equity for the program. Many young women's families did not agree to allow them to come study in the US. In 2005, we brought Ahmed Alghrouz to the US. He was another youth leader at Ibdaa who scored very the high school exit exams. 202221 University AidIn addition to supporting pre-schools, kindergartens, libraries and other educational programs in the West Bank and Gaza, MECA provides financial assistance to young Palestinian university students. Our scholarship funds enable talented and ambitious high school graduates to obtain degrees, and the skills to make important contributions to their communities and their country.In FY 2009-2010 MECA provided partial or full scholarships for 100 university students studying at eleven universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the Elly Jaensch Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Tree of Life Scholarship Fund. 196450 138504 Humanitarian Aid and InfrastructureSince MECA was founded in 1988, we have sent or delivered more than 17 million dollars worth of aid to children in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon to alleviate the suffering caused by war, sanctions, and occupation. We send shipments of medicine, medical equipment and supplies, as well as clothing, food, books, toys, and school supplies.MECA strengthens Palestinian infrastructure by building parks and playgrounds and water purification systems. In the 1990s, MECA worked with the Welfare Association to build three municipal parks with playgrounds in Palestine. We are now working with Playgrounds for Palestine to build playgrounds in Palestinian refugee camps. MECA recently launched the Maia Project to provide children with clean, safe drinking water. The project began a few years ago when children at the UN school in Bureij Refugee Camp, Gaza voted on what they wanted most for their school and they chose drinking water. MECA helped build a water purification and desalination system for the school in 2007. Recently, MECA received requests for support to install water systems in ten community centers with pre-schools and kindergartens, and ten elementary schools throughout Gaza.In FY 2009-2010, MECA:Participated in the Viva Palestina Aid Convoy to Gaza in July 2009. MECA donated $70,000 to purchase vehicles and medical aid for the convoy.Made a grant to the World Computer Exchange to provide computers and internet connectivity to students at UNRWA schools for Palestinian refugees in Jordan.Collected donations of toys, books, and clothing for Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon and procured requested medicine and medical supplies through Medical Teams International to send with the donated items. The permission for the shipment was delayed and all aid was sent in the following fiscal year. Contracted with Dr. Mona El-Farra to oversee our adi work and projects in Gaza. 175805 Education and ActionMECA works to build greater understanding of the lives of children in the Middle East and to inspire people in the US to action through a range of educational and cultural programs.In FY 2009-2010 MECA:Co-organized an indigenous youth delegation to Palestine as part of the Youth Solidarity NetworkSpoke at 7 schools, 13 colleges, and 5 universities; presented at 9 conferences; was hosted at 11 community education events; and gave 17 radio interviews.Maintained a blog of staff writing from Palestine.Donated t-shirts in support of the student divestment from Israel campaign at UC Berkeley.Held educational and fundraising events with acclaimed scholar Noam Chomsky; Palestinian-American author, commentator and activist Ali Abunimah; Palestinian-American author Susan Abulhawa; former CIA analysts Kathleen and Bill Christison; and historian Norman Finkelstein together with Iraqi-British hip-hop artist Lowkey and British activist Jody McIntyre.Hosted a showing of "Bethlehem Now and Then" showcasing archival photos of Bethlehem next to contemporary photos taken by Palestinian children in Aida Refugee Camp.Co-organized an annual holiday bazaar selling gifts made in Palestine to educate people in the US about the situation in Palestine and provide direct support for Palestinian artists, craftsmen, and farmers.Provided funds to Electronic Intifada, the Arab Film Festival, and Golden Thread Productions' ReOrient Festival for providing news and perspectives about the Middle East to the US public.Co-sponsored Friends of Sabeel North America's Conference on Palestine/Israel & US policy; a debate about Palestine/Israel at Hastings Law School; and an evening with Iraq-American artist Wafa Bilal.Provided funds to the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network to organize their first national conference.Provided funds to Break the Silence Mural Project for their multimedia project connecting communities in the US and Gaza beginning with the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural.Participated in the organizing of the Gaza Freedom March and sent two staff members to Cairo to participate in the march and also one staff and one volunteer to participate in the Viva Palestina USA convoy to Gaza.Donated funds to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund to provide emergency aid to children and families in Haiti after the earthquake as a gift from Palestinian children. 175805 903450 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 1 8 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 CA X Nancy Ippolito 5108458835 1101-8th St 100 Berkeley CA 94710 Barbara Lubin 40.00 X 103700 0 0 Osha Neuman 1.00 X 0 0 0 Sherry Gendelman 1.00 X 0 0 0 Michel Shehadeh 1.00 X 0 0 0 Eugene Newport 1.00 X 0 0 0 103700 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 41108 1015465 63758 1056573 17395 13285 4110 98491 41108 98491 0 1073968 0 13285 4110 90286 90286 506126 506126 106560 63936 21312 21312 218755 111411 28058 79286 49064 26446 7446 15172 26147 14093 3968 8086 2575 2575 5825 5825 22381 5527 328 16526 19271 950 18321 6299 879 4513 907 3198 2795 403 34154 9970 13903 10281 22311 21066 89 1156 6765 6190 425 150 5124 5052 31 41 6379 2665 2185 1529 Printing, Postage 79427 24299 3126 52002 Delegation Expenses 10167 10167 Licenses & Fees 8021 176 7845 Dues & Publications 2348 1592 630 126 1231183 903450 94993 232740 69996 23112 464091 455587 22030 688 35729 29959 7193 5770 51006 103255 61087 51587 170522 70883 845925 710882 7239 11490 5002 2840 12241 14330 X 0 0 0 0 833684 696552 833684 696552 845925 710882 X 0 0 0 X 882122 2389602 4050116 2971923 1056573 11350336 882122 2389602 4050116 2971923 1056573 11350336 402408 10947928 1756 3415 4350 49134 17395 76050 118878 1231647 390121 22397 98491 1861534 1015 9500 10515 13298435 49284 0.82320 0.82340 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 35729 29959 5770 5770 Investment in Alliance Graphics, Inc. 51587 C 51587 Employee Advances 4930 Loan to Alliance Grahics, Inc. 65953 70883 Credit Cards Payable 1976 Sales Tax Payable 864 2840 0 Middle East and North Africa 0 0 Program Services Provide aid to children; build playgrounds; provide clothing, food, books, toys, and school supplies; build a water purification system; See 990, Pg 2, Part III, Statement of Program Service Accomplishments for detail. 491263 0 0 491263 Middle East and North Africa 9 Grants Total. Grant for psychosocial activities with children and traning mothers; Upgrade school bus for kindergarten children; administer the Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer tournament; installation of water purification systems and multiple schools in Palestine. 203645 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa 3 grants total. Grant to buy puppets for their psychosocial activities with children. 800 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa Grant for sports, art, dance, and music activities for children. Grant for the Youth Solidarity Network Activities including a field trip and coordinating meetins. Grant to organize an Eid festival for children and families in Dheisheh Refugee Camp. 41083 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa Stipend for supervising MECA's relief work in Gaza 11000 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa Grant to fund Book project: An Act of State, a photographic anthology of the Israeli Occupation, 1967-2007, presents a historical perspective and a narrative of everyday life 5000 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa Participated in the Viva Palestina Aid Convoy to Gaza in July 2009. Meca donated $70,000 to purchase vehicles and medical aid for the convoy. 70000 Wire Transfer Middle East and North Africa Grant to build & maintain a playground and sports field in Silwan, Jerusalem 15500 Wire Transfer 5 2 Payments to foreign universities and students designated to cover the educational expenses of specified foreign individuals. Foreign individuals studied in foreign and U.S. educational institutions. Middle East & North Africa 5 149035 Wire Transfer Cash Lecture and Q&A Event 73957 73957 20989 7230 3753 12984 Crafts Fair 65642 65642 8 53535 139599 139599 20989 7230 3753 66519 98491 41108 1 Arab Film Festival 2 Plaza Street San Francisco CA 94116 201476047 501c3 5000 Cash Sponsorship of 13th Annual Arab Film Festival Playgrounds for Palestine PO Box 559 Yardley PA 19067 233087743 501c3 10300 Cash Grant to build a playground in Neirab Refugee Camp, SyriaGrant to build a playground in Neirab Refugee Camp, SyriaGrant to build a playground in Neirab Refugee Camp, Syria IJSN PO Box 29724 Oakland CA 94604 205516191 10000 Cash Grant to organize national anti Zionist meeting; travel communication and printing expenses Medical Teams International 14150 Milton Court Tigard OR 97224 930878944 501c3 42000 Cash Cost of freight for a shipment of medical supplies and equipment to LebanonCost of freight for a shipment of medical supplies and equipment to LebanonCost of freight for a shipment of medical supplies and equipment to Lebanon World Computer Exchange 396 Nantasket Ave Hull MA 02045 043529016 501c3 10167 Cash Provide computers and internet connectivity to students in UNRWA schools for Palestinian refugees in Jordan Haiti Emergency Relief Fund (East Bay Sanctuary Covenant) 2362 Bancroft Way Berkeley CA 94704 943249753 501c3 5000 Cash Aid to Haiti from children in Palestine Middle East Cultural & Charitable Society 1407 E 53rd Street 500 Chicago IL 60615 043105608 2500 Cash Grant to electronic Intifada for providing information and analysis on situation in Palestine 5 2 X 4 63758 FMV at date of donation 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, line 3 Changes in Program Services The organization made changes to part of its University Aid program.The organization will no longer provide direct aid to students. Future contributions from the organization will go towards university scholarships at Palestinian universities. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 The Board of Directors schedules a meeting each year for the purpose of reviewing the form 990. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Board of Directors established the base salary for the CEO. Each year the base salary is increased by a percent based on the increase in cost of living. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 MECA makes its Forms 1023 and 990 available to the public upon request. Alliance Graphics Inc 1101 - 8th St 101 Berkeley CA 94710 611558781 Manufacturing Clothing CA N/A C 1.00000 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alliance Graphics Inc A 13285 Alliance Graphics Inc D 65953