Education Investment


The purpose of the Ash-Shaheed Scholarship Fund is to provide financial assistance to a diverse group of students in the North and South Carolina area.

Mission

The mission of the Ash-Shaheed Scholarship Fund (ASSF) is to support the education of our youth. Our main objective is to financially assist high school graduates entering their first year of college. Our secondary focus is to support educational institutions.

History

Ash-Shaheed Scholarship Fund began as a vision of Carolyn Yasmin Saleem who experienced the struggles of  putting a child through college, as her daughter would be her family's first college graduate.  Carolyn wanted to help more families in her community afford to send their children to college so she formed a committee of parents and grandparents of college students and college graduates.  The ASSF committee called on their family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers for personal donations.  ASSF began awarding scholarships within the Charlotte  community in 2000. Since then over 60 scholarships have been awarded.

Facts

ŸWhat makes this scholarship so diverse is that we give to students regardless of their race, religion, college course of study, or post secondary institution.

ŸWhile operating as a small community committee for 7 years, ASSF raised funds and awarded scholarships totaling over $38,000.  In 2008, ASSF became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which enabled more funding.

*As of 2011, ASSF has awarded over $92,000!

ŸMicrosoft www.microsoft.com and General Electric www.gefoundation.com are   Match-A-Gift donors.

Meet the ASSF Board of Directors

 

Secretary - Helen Davis has been a supporter of the ASSF for the past 11 years and this is her third year serving as board secretary.

                                                                                                                                     Treasurer - Christine Wilson is a registered nurse at Carolinas Medical Center of Charlotte, NC.  She has served as treasurer for 11 years.

 Anjail Jackson is a native of North Carolina and enjoys working with young adults as they use higher education as a shift to move into vital stages of their lives. She has been a supporter for ASSF for the past 11 years. This is her third year serving as a board member.

 

Charles Malik has been a supporter for the past 11 years. This is his third year serving as a board member.

Karim Muhammad is a strong supporter for the ASSF and this is his second year serving as a board member.                                                                                                              

 Rasheedah Shamsid-Deen is a North Carolina native. She is employed with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools where she enjoys working with children. Her passion to see children further their education prompted her to join ASSF 11 years ago. She has nine children and a host of grands and great grands.


 

Veda Shamsid-Deen is the legal advisor for the ASSF. Ms. Shamsid-Deen is a seasoned securities and corporate attorney. She has worked as the Director of Securities for the District of Columbia, as a Connecticut Assistant Attorney General, in a law firm and more recently as chief corporate counsel for a start up technology company. Ms. Shamsid-Deen resides in Houston, Texas with her husband, Iain and triplet sons, Khalid, Aidan and Dillon.



Meet the ASSF Staff

                                                                                                                                   

Executive Director - Carolyn Yasmin Saleem is the small business owner of Yasmin’s Pies and Catering. She is a native of North Carolina. She has worked with the ASSF for 11 years.

Administrative Assistant - Hafeeza Muhammad has been a supporter of the ASSF for the past 6  years. Hafeeza attended the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School. This is her third year serving as administrative assistant.

                                                                                                                                       

Financial Secretary - Alana Davenport is a regional office generalist at Scholastic Book Fairs of Charlotte, NC. Alana attended Livingstone College and has been living in Charlotte for 20 years. This is her third year serving as financial secretary.

                                                                                                                                              

Donor Relations Coordinator - Joi Kennedyis a flight attendant for US Airways Express and an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay. She attended Virginia State University and is a native of Charlotte. Joi has worked with the ASSF for 11 years.

                                                                                                                                                     

Scholarship Coordinator - Vivian Andrewshas worked with the ASSF for 4 years. She is a retired educator and mother of 1 daughter, Ashleigh.

 

Public Relations Coordinator - Marlo Prioleau MBA is the CEO of Career Bounds. He Career Bounds.  He attended South Carolina State University. This is Marlo’s third year working with the ASSF.