Dr. Hytham Rifai

Dr. Hytham Rifai calls the United States his home.He has lived in the country longer than in his native Syria, and the United States has democratic values he holds dear.

"We don't think we're really Syrian.We think we're American," he said.

For much of his life in the United States, he felt comfortable and accepted.But an unease set in after Sept. 11, 2001.After terrorists struck the nation, he and his children felt others eyeing them differently.

"When this happened," Rifai explained, "we had a major shakeup.The shakeup wasn't in our beliefs, but in other people's beliefs."

When he discovered that an organization in the community was working for cultural understanding, the Rifais attended a meeting.That meeting of United for a Purpose was a step in making them comfortable in their home again.

"It was very beneficial for my family," said Rifai, the father of Hadie, a student at Valparaiso University; Hashem, a sophomore at Valparaiso High School; and Dana, who attends Indiana University.
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To promote United for a Purpose's efforts, Rifai has asked the Asian American Medical Society to donate the $5,000 proceeds from its fall gala to the organization.As the past president of the organization, Rifai was able to designate the recipient of a donation.