SAVE THE DATE: ISPU ANNUAL BANQUET — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021
8:30–9:30 p.m. EST – Meet us virtually on Zoom
Note: Banquet Scholar Sponsors and above, plus their guests, will join at 8 p.m. for pre-banquet event, Spin the Wheel of Research with an ISPU Scholar!
Millions of Americans rely on ISPU research to create meaningful change in their communities, from parents dealing with school bullying to community leaders designing more welcoming mosques to members of Congress working to pass meaningful legislation. We count on your support during the ISPU banquet to fuel this essential work in communities across America.
BUY A TICKET
Pricing options are available for students, individuals, and families. We trust you to select whichever option is best for your circumstances.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Our sponsors enable ISPU to create a foundation of life-changing facts that stand the test of time. Learn more about our sponsorship levels and perks.
BID ON ITEMS
We opened bidding for our banquet’s silent auction early so you could start the process of adding an exclusive piece of memorabilia to your collection, while supporting ISPU! Start bidding today!
AN ISPU PRODUCTION…
We are updating this page and ISPU social media platforms with information about ticket sales, sponsorship, silent auction, event speakers, and more!
Last year, we successfully hosted our first virtual annual banquet as communities across the country faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. For ISPU’s 2021 annual banquet, as our communities begin to heal, we look forward to engaging with supporters from all over the nation once again in this creative, interactive format as we celebrate the work that has been done and will continue to be done.
This year’s banquet features renowned speakers from across the country, including keynote speaker Lena Khan, director and co-writer of the 2018 film The Tiger Hunter starring Danny Pudi (Community), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Karen David (Galavant), and Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek).
During the evening, we’ll create spaces for virtual mingling so you can interact with old friends, make new ones, and get to know people from across the country who are invested in ISPU’s work. Be on the look out for our silent auction which will feature once-in-a-lifetime items and experiences.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Lena Khan
A film director and writer, Lena Khan co-wrote and directed The Tiger Hunter, which released across the United States in 2018. The Tiger Hunter was received positively with strong reviews in publications like The New York Times, Variety and Los Angeles Times, leading Disney to tap Lena to helm the family comedy Flora & Ulysses. Flora and Ulysses premiered in 2021 on Disney+ and was in the top 3 streamed movies in the world for several weeks.
Khan recently filmed several episodes of Mindy Kaling’s Netflix show, Never Have I Ever, and is now working on producing a television show, as well as working on a pilot and several feature films that she will direct. Her educational background is at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, and she holds experience from production companies such as Participant Media. Before her first film, Khan spent years directing short films, commercials, and music videos.
EMCEE
Rizwan Manji
Rizwan Manji is a Canadian actor known for his role as Ray Butani, a serial entrepreneur in the award-winning TV show Schitt’s Creek. He played a role in the 2018 film The Tiger Hunter—a film also directed and co-written by our 2021 banquet keynote speaker Lena Khan—alongside actors Danny Pudi, Jon Heder, and Karen David. He has also appeared in [Outsourced], The Magicians, Mr. Robot, and many other television programs. In 2022, Rizwan will play a recurring role in Peacemaker, an HBO Max limited series inspired by DC Comics, directed by James Gunn, and starring John Cena.
Rizwan is not new to the ISPU stage, either. In 2017, Rizwan was ISPU’s banquet emcee in Dearborn, Michigan, where he seamlessly (and hilariously) guided our supporters and banquet attendees through an evening of community. This year, he is reprising the emcee role virtually. But rest assured that, in Rizwan’s hands, there will be just as many laughs and entertaining anecdotes as any ISPU banquet before.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Muzammil and Asra Ahmed
Zulfiqar and Nadia Ahmed
Safwan Badr
Mustafa Ahmed and Maryam Rahman
Moumen Asbahi and Dalia Mohammad
Mohammad Khalil and Laila Sabagh
Afshan and Adam Paarlberg
Kashif and Aliya Poshni
Anjum Shariff & Anjum Mughni
Adnan Hyder & Momina Mastoor
Thank you to our sponsors!
Muzammil and Asra Ahmed
Zulfiqar and Nadia Ahmed
Safwan Badr
Mustafa Ahmed and Maryam Rahman
Moumen Asbahi and Dalia Mohammad
Mohammad Khalil and Laila Sabagh
Afshan and Adam Paarlberg
Kashif and Aliya Poshni
Anjum Shariff & Anjum Mughni
Adnan Hyder & Momina Mastoor
Sponsor Us at Any Level
✷ 1 complimentary ticket (for 1 household screen) to the virtual banquet
✷ Digital advertisement on online event page night of banquet
✷ Sponsor spotlights on social media in weeks preceding banquet
✷ Inclusion in virtual exhibition hall
All perks of Community Sponsor +
✷ Your own scholar’s table & 10 complimentary tickets to virtual banquet
✷ Inclusion in “Thank You to Our Sponsors” video during banquet
All perks of Scholar Sponsor +
✷ Your support will be acknowledged in our American Muslim Poll publication
✷ Name recognition in all event publicity
✷ Access to the private ISPU sponsors’ virtual event (Sunday brunch)
All perks of Research Sponsor +
✷ Placement of corporate logo in all event publicity
✷ Special ISPU Gift Box mailed to you
All perks of Benefactor Sponsor +
✷ Prominent placement of corporate logo during all ISPU banquet events
✷ Video advertisement during banquet
✷ Verbal recognition and thank you from ISPU staff during banquet
You can view our banquet sponsorship brochure here. To purchase a sponsorship, fill out this form. Contact ISPU Director of Development, Michelle Gale, with questions about sponsoring out banquet.
Sponsor Us at Any Level
✷ 1 complimentary ticket (for 1 household screen) to the virtual banquet
✷ Digital advertisement on online event page night of banquet
✷ Sponsor spotlights on social media in weeks preceding banquet
✷ Inclusion in virtual exhibition hall
All perks of Community Sponsor +
✷ Your own scholar’s table & 10 complimentary tickets to virtual banquet
✷ Inclusion in “Thank You to Our Sponsors” video during banquet
All perks of Scholar Sponsor +
✷ Your support will be acknowledged in our American Muslim Poll publication
✷ Name recognition in all event publicity
✷ Access to the private ISPU sponsors’ virtual event (Sunday brunch)
All perks of Research Sponsor +
✷ Placement of corporate logo in all event publicity
✷ Special ISPU Gift Box mailed to you
All perks of Benefactor Sponsor +
✷ Prominent placement of corporate logo during all ISPU banquet events
✷ Video advertisement during banquet
✷ Verbal recognition and thank you from ISPU staff during banquet
You can view our banquet sponsorship brochure here. To purchase a sponsorship, contact our Director of Development, Michelle Gale.
Your Support = Your Impact
When you purchase a ticket or sponsorship, you support research making an impact. You are furthering well-informed dialogue and decision-making. Here are just a few of the stories your support has made possible.
A STUDENT’S COMPELLING TESTIMONY
We know anecdotally that Muslim college students suffer from Islamophobia, but there was room to learn much more. So, ISPU partnered with MSA West to survey over 500 Muslim college students across California, gaining important insights on the well-being of a vulnerable and under-researched population… Read more→
A TEMPERATURE CHECK
As the executive director of digital content and innovation at VPM, Virginia’s home for public media Angela Massino turned to ISPU resources when she began conceptualizing a new podcast on refugee resettlement more than two years ago. Her team used ISPU’s toolkit for journalists and data on demographics and Muslim experiences to… Read more→
AN IMAM EMBRACES INCLUSIVITY
Imam Hassan Selim has led the Islamic Center for Cedar Rapids for more than eight years. Like many in his position, he is tasked with forming a more inclusive mosque, one that can assist an always changing and diverse community in often challenging times. One recurring obstacle was the lack of real-life examples… Read more→
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Gale at events@ispu.org or (630) 624-2654. Lineup subject to change.
Want to Do More?
Raise money for ISPU by asking your friends and family to join you in making a difference. You can join a Champion Team or create your own Champion fundraising page. If you raise $1,500 or more, you’ll receive 10 complimentary banquet tickets for yourself, friends, and family!
Want to Do More?
BECOME A CHAMPION by raising money for ISPU! Ask your friends and family to join you in making a difference. You can join a team in your area, or start your own.
Our Teams
Select Silent Auction Items
Thank you to our event sponsors and partners, including:
Mohamed Elnabtity & Rania Zagho, Hamzavi Dermatology Specialists, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Mustafa Ahmed & Maryam Rahman, Zulfiqar & Nadia Ahmed, Muzammil & Asra Ahmed, Amana Mutual Funds, Moumen Asbahi & Dalia Mohammad, Kashif & Aliya Poshni, El-Hibri Foundation, Adnan & Michele Munkarah, The Gasby Group, Aamir A. Rehman and Hina Z. Ghory Family Charitable Fund, Marwa Zohdy, Colleen & Ahmad Ezzeddine, Basim Dubaybo & Amal Sinno, Whitney Bodman, Mohammed Khalil & Laila Sabagh, Adnan Hyder, MUHSEN, ACCESS, American Muslim Community Foundation (AMCF), Emgage, The Family and Youth Institute, and Helping Hands
Spin the Wheel of Research
Enjoy this year’s interactive perk for Scholar Sponsors and above, a virtual “table” with 10 guests and your very own ISPU scholar! Ask them your questions and have fun as a group in the half hour before our main event begins.