“Is this real? Is this really real?” Yomna Abouelleil, winner of Islamic Relief USA’s ‘Name that Bee and Win a Wii’ contest said when she discovered she indeed submitted the winning entry.Hundreds of youth across the United States submitted their entries for the contest and a panel of judges voted on the best entry. The winning entry, Beelal, will be the official name of the new Islamic Relief USA children’s mascot. Seven children submitted the winning entry and a drawing was held to determine the winner of the Wii: 15-year-old Abouelleil from Oswego, IL.
Abouelleil said her cousins helped her select the name Beelal. She also had a message for children in the United States to become more active in helping others: “It’s always good to help out. Even the smallest amount of help can make a very big difference and affect someone’s life in a good way,” she said.
The following six runner-ups each received a Visa gift card: Sajid Ahmed, 12, of Bridgeview, IL; Youmna Elboghdady, 14, of Orland Park, IL; Ahmed Gaballa, 17, of Franklin Lakes, NJ; Basma Muhammad, 8, of Sterling, VA; Adam Musleh, 7, of Schererville, IN; and Laila Sabagh, 16, of Xenia, OH.
Other top entries included Bee-smillah, Humble Bee, Habeebee and Bee-liever.
Islamic Relief USA’s Public Affairs Coordinator, Christina Tobias-Nahi, said the organization chose a bee to be the company’s mascot because of how bees work together in building communities, helping the sick and making the world a more beautiful place.
