Why Give to Project Interfaith?

Hear From Past Board President, Michael Alley

December 2010

Several years ago, my wife Laura and I became parents of Chol, a beautiful young woman who was forced to flee the civil war in Sudan where her mother and eight siblings lost their lives.  By becoming a part of our family Chol has enriched our lives, and our relationship with her continues to inform the way we live.  Sudan, like so many places in our world, remains a country mired in a war, blamed in part on ethnic and religious differences.  From Northern Ireland to South Asia, the Middle East to Central Africa, people are killing each other in the name of God.

In contrast to the ethnic and religious conflicts in Sudan and so many other parts of the world, the Unites States is the most religiously diverse country in the world where churches, temples, mosques, synagogues and other houses of worship peacefully co-exist.  

But we live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong, and intolerance is on the rise.  It is for that reason I have personally embraced the mission of Project Interfaith: to work to build and grow understanding, respect, and relationships among peoples of ALL faiths, beliefs, and cultures.

As I have committed my time and treasure to Project Interfaith I have personally developed new friendships across diverse faith traditions.  Project Interfaith, through its numerous programs, has created opportunities for healthy, meaningful dialogue by building trust and respect, not necessarily agreement, among individuals and communities possessing different beliefs.  Cultivating relationships with my new friends from different faiths has allowed me to explore and appreciate both the universal and unique aspects of our religious traditions.  Through reflection, investigation, and sometimes questioning my own beliefs and tradtions, I have developed a deeper understanding of my own religious identity.

Sadly, over the past several months we have seen fear and religion once again stir up controversy.  When prejudice is used against a particular religion it undermines all of our religious freedoms.  And polarization of our societ threatens the religious pluralism enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution.

If you believe that the world should be a place where people of all faiths and beliefs are valued, included, and protected, I encourage you to join me in taking action by making a contribution to Project Interfaith. Click here to donate.

It's been said that, "action is what separates a belief from an opinion."  Our beliefs are cemented through the actions we take, so please consider making a contribution to the great impact Project Interfaith is making.

Thank you for you support and generosity,

Sincerely,

Michael D. Alley, AIA
Former Project Interfaith Board President
Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture

Click here to make a donation.