Awal Khan: A Life Spent Opening Doors
Chapter 1: The First Classroom (2003–2007)
Long before NAAFSRI existed, Awal Khan was a community volunteer in DeKalb County who spent his weekends helping children with homework at the local library. "I remember a little girl named Destiny," he recalls. "She was brilliant — always asking questions, always curious. But she came to the library because her family couldn't afford the textbooks her school required. That moment changed everything for me." Those early years of informal tutoring laid the foundation for what would become NAAFSRI's core tutoring program.
Chapter 2: Building the Organization (2008–2012)
In 2008, Awal formalized his community work by incorporating NAAFSRI as a nonprofit. The early years were characterized by shoestring budgets and enormous ambition. "We ran our first supply drive out of my garage," he says with a laugh. "Twelve volunteers, 200 backpacks, and a borrowed pickup truck. We thought we were changing the world — and in a small way, we were." By 2012, NAAFSRI had distributed over 1,500 supply kits and awarded its first 10 scholarships, totaling $28,000.
Chapter 3: Scaling Impact (2013–2018)
The organization's turning point came in 2013 when NAAFSRI received its first major foundation grant — $75,000 from a regional education fund. "That grant allowed us to hire our first full-time staff member and open our first dedicated tutoring center," Awal explains. Over the next five years, the organization tripled in size, expanded to three counties, and built partnerships with 15 corporate sponsors. The scholarship fund grew to $200,000 annually, supporting 60 students per year.
Chapter 4: The Pandemic and Resilience (2019–2022)
The COVID-19 pandemic tested NAAFSRI like nothing before. "Overnight, the children we served lost access to school, to meals, to structure," Awal recalls. "We pivoted immediately — we started delivering supply kits door-to-door, we launched virtual tutoring sessions, and we partnered with food banks to ensure families weren't choosing between food and school supplies." NAAFSRI distributed 800 emergency supply kits during the pandemic and maintained 90% of its scholarship recipients through the crisis.
Chapter 5: Today and Tomorrow (2023–Present)
Today, NAAFSRI serves over 1,200 children annually with a team of 5 staff and 80+ volunteers. "Every time I see a scholarship recipient walk across a graduation stage, I think of Destiny and all the children like her," Awal says. "We are just getting started. The need is enormous, but so is the community's generosity. I believe we will look back on this era as the moment when North America decided that every child's education was worth fighting for."
