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Generosity Across Cultures: Fostering Interfaith Relationships Through Listening

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Headshot of Dilnaz WaraichSupporting Generosity and the Harmony of Acceptance

An early life experience encountering the kindness of strangers continues to guide the generosity of Dilnaz Waraich, President of the WF Fund, who has recently made a major gift to Augsburg University. 

Dilnaz was just 2 years old in 1972 when her family left Hyderabad, a city in Central India, to come to Chicago. Dilnaz had contracted chicken pox on the plane and was running a high fever. Her mom spoke little English, and she was struggling to manage two toddlers and an unfamiliar place. Her father was waiting for their arrival.

The TWA flight attendant noticed her mother and how sick Dilnaz was. She said, “Hold on! I am going to help you.” They were ushered straight to the immigration desk where again, they saw her mother’s distress. The agents said, “You should go straight to the hospital.” They did a cursory check of their documents and sent them through. 

Dilnaz thinks about the difference between then and now and wonders what if she were arriving in 2022 instead of 1972, an immigrant Muslim woman traveling with her children. Would she even be here? She believes they would very likely have been sent back to India. 

Born out of generations

The WF Fund was born out of two generations of family generosity; a generosity defined by openness and a non-judgmental approach to deep relationships. This spirit continues to guide the WF Fund in uplifting and empowering communities across the country through strategic philanthropy to support religious pluralism, civic engagement, and human services. 

WF Fund president, Dilnaz Waraich, shared that the fund’s work is rooted in the practice of generous listening, something she experienced in her own life during the pandemic. Away at college, one of her sons shared his feelings of isolation, loneliness, and mental health. While Dilnaz was able to connect her son to the necessary resources, the experience inspired the Fund to explore ways to help students navigate the challenges of college life by creating access to Muslim chaplains on campus. The Fund went on to support Muslim chaplains at The Ohio State University, Butler University, and the University of Illinois Chicago. 

“We wanted to make sure Muslim students are supported by chaplains and we also know that these chaplains are there to support everyone.” Dilnaz went on to say that it’s noticing in relationships that often drive giving.  

“It was when we spoke with Najeeba Syeed, the El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director of the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg, that we decided to come see the campus for ourselves. Augsburg fosters a connection between leadership, faculty, students, and the broader community. That relational centering is important to us.” 

Supporting Acceptance Across Cultures

Last December the WF Fund made a gift of $100,000 to help build relationships and foster generosity among Muslim-led non-profits, family philanthropy, and institutional philanthropy. 

“Funding from the WF Fund will support the Interfaith Institute to strengthen interfaith relationships on campus and in the greater Twin Cities community. We are delighted and grateful to have this opportunity to foster multifaith, multisector, and multigenerational connections based on increased understanding and empathy,” Najeeba expressed.

“We want to promote a harmony of acceptance of different cultures and faith backgrounds,” Dilnaz said. “We appreciated seeing this on the Augsburg campus and in how the Interfaith Institute connects with the surrounding community.” 

The gift aligns with a new initiative at the WF Fund to foster connections between Muslim Americans and the philanthropic sector by showcasing stories of generosity. Inspired Generosity is inviting Muslim Americans to share their stories of generosity through artistic expression. These stories will be curated into a national showcase opening in Atlanta this September. The Fund believes that we can break down relational barriers and disrupt blind spots by amplifying these stories of generosity, told by Muslims themselves. 

As Dilnaz noted, stories about the Muslim community are often told by those outside of the community, which can lead to misunderstanding the generosity of this diverse group. 

Dilnaz notes that “it’s not often that we hear stories of generosity from our community. And when we do, who is telling those stories?”

“This gift demonstrates the spirit of collaboration that the WF Fund embodies. Augsburg deeply values the WF Fund’s partnership in our joint work to empower and uplift communities through sharing values and amplifying voices.” Paul Pribbenow

You can learn more about the WF Fund’s inspired generosity project by watching their short video (link https://inspiredgenerosity.org/ 

Paving the way for Interfaith Peacebuilding

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Najeeba SyeedNajeeba Syeed joined Augsburg in August 2022 as the inaugural El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director for the Interfaith Institute. She recalled hearing about the national search for this position through a direct message on Twitter from an adjunct faculty member. “One day I received a message saying ‘there’s a position opening and it sounds like your life story written in the job description!’” Najeeba reflected amusingly. After learning more about the role, she realized how reflective it was of her life’s work.

Although she hadn’t spent much time in Minneapolis, Najeeba was familiar with Augsburg through her interfaith work and noticed the cultural and demographic changes that had taken place over the years. “For a lot of us who are Muslim American, it [Minneapolis] has become this dynamic place that is a center for culture and community, as well as political organizing,” she said. 

This observation was reinforced through Augsburg’s demonstrated commitment to various communities on campus and its core mission support surrounding equity and inclusion. “What makes Augsburg special is how its diversity connects students to the neighborhood and really the world.” After a campus visit and lunch with students, Najeeba felt called to this opportunity. 

Najeeba brings her non-profit background and expertise in working with cross-cultural and interreligious groups to her role at Augsburg. “Ultimately, we all want similar things,” she stated. “Safety, a place of belonging… At the Institute we talk about the idea of pluralism. How do we bring different people together and find common purpose?” This overarching inquiry is what Najeeba hopes to explore and find tangible solutions to. “The work is never done, but by harnessing the power of different viewpoints, faith traditions, and moral perspectives, many of our problems can be solved.” Examining these complex topics and creating sustainable outcomes is a privilege that comes with an endowed position.

Endowed positions strengthen Augsburg’s financial resiliency, attract and retain talented faculty, and expand our capacity for leadership in specific areas. Since the inception of Augsburg’s Great Returns: We’re All In campaign, there have been five endowed positions established by incredible donors and seven endowed positions created overall. 

The importance of philanthropy remains at the forefront of Najeeba’s mind as she envisions the future of Augsburg being a central leader for interfaith leadership, dialogue, and peacebuilding. “I feel blessed in this role. The El-Hibris’ [Fuad, Nancy, and Karim] vision for this chair to have a place both in academics and the campus life of students, faculty, and staff is exciting.”

Since beginning her role, Najeeba has found ways to engage in Interfaith discourse with students in class and through experiential opportunities including, guest lecturing in classes across campus, traveling around the country to educate on the importance of interreligious dialogue and leadership, and teaching the Interfaith Scholars course. “Our students are so eager about the opportunities they have been given, there is so much energy and hunger to learn!” 

Augsburg’s first Interfaith Symposium took place on March 2 where Najeeba served as the keynote speaker and addressed the topic of interfaith leadership and healing in times of crisis. “My hope is that this annual tradition will attract intellectual leaders from around the globe and bring their voices on campus,” she said. 

“We’ve accomplished a lot already! The diversity of our student body coupled with a long-term investment in helping our students, faculty, and staff build intentional and caring communities will further amplify the work we’re doing.”

Learn more about Endowed Professorships or visit our website.

Augsburg Associates support Christensen Scholars

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For more than 30 years, Augsburg Associates have raised funds to support Augsburg University and today’s students. Their hard work and commitment has enabled more than 50 students the opportunity to live out Augsburg’s motto, Education for Service, as they work towards their degrees. Besides sponsoring the Christensen Scholars with annual gifts, they give to capital projects, including sponsoring a space in the Hagfors Center, and have established an endowment for students and committed to service or participating in campus-wide interfaith programs. Thank you to the more than 90 Augsburg Associates!

Vision BagonzaNoah BrownVision Bagonza, Class of 2017
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Karagwe, Kagera, Tanzania
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry and Religion
My proudest academic achievement is excelling in classes and then being able to provide academic support for new students by tutoring and mentoring incoming first-year students.

Noah Brown, Class of 2017
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Bloomington, Minn.
Major: Biology
My favorite thing about Augsburg is the community of students and professors who are active and engaged in their communities.

Kayla GroverKayla Grover, Class of 2018
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Blanding, Utah
Major: Sociology
Minor: Religion
Augsburg has shaped me by encouraging me to open my mind and pursue a wide variety of interests. After graduation, I plan to work with AmeriCorps for one year.

owen-harrisonOwen Harrison, Class of 2018
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: New Hope, Minn.
Major: Psychology
Minor: Studio Art
My proudest academic achievement is making the Dean’s List every semester. I am also involved with the StepUP Leadership Team and the Mindfulness Club.

Leah McDougallLeah McDougall, Class of 2017
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Arden Hills, Minn.
Major: Youth and Family Ministry
Minor: Spanish
Augsburg has made me more aware of the world I live in. My proudest academic achievement was studying abroad in Central America and after graduation I plan to work with youth at a camp, church, or other organization.

Hannah SchmitHannah Schmit, Class of 2017
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Tomahawk, Wisc.
Major: Religion and Sociology
Minor: Biology
Thank you for your continued support of Augsburg and for your support of my education! You have helped make my experience possible and I cannot thank you enough.

Rebecca SchroederRebecca Schroeder, Class of 2018
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Giddings, Texas
Major: Management, Social and Artistic Entrepreneurship
My favorite thing about Augsburg is how diverse and well-rounded the curriculum is. I’ve been able to tailor my college experience to what I feel I’ve been called to do after college and to my future career.

Blair StewigBlair Stewig, Class of 2018
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Oakdale, Minn.
Major: Biology and Chemistry
Minor: Environmental Studies, Physics, and Religion
Thank you so much for providing me with this engaging experience. I am looking forward to growing both as a person and in my relationship with God.

Hannah ThiryHannah Thiry, Class of 2017
Christensen Scholar

Hometown: Stanchfield, Minn.
Major: Biology
Minor: Religion and Psychology
Through various experiences, debates, discussions, and philosophical thought, I’ve come to find a home in the ‘grayness’ of life—there’s no distinct ‘black and white’ side to anything. People, opinions, feelings, and passions are fluid, flexible, and unique.

Briana EkstromBriana Ekstrom, Class of 2018
Augsburg Associates Endowed Scholarship

Hometown: Chaska, Minn.
Major: Music Performance (vocal emphasis)
Minor: Music Theater
I sang in the Praise Band at my home church of St. Victoria for multiple years before leaving for college. Currently I cantor and sing for Augsburg daily chapel on occasion and am a box office volunteer at Theatre in the Round located in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. I am incredibly honored to be receiving this scholarship again this year.