On Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m., ICNA Relief USA hosts its New England Annual Banquet at the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, 100 Cabot Street, Needham, MA 02494. The evening is an in-person fundraising dinner for the charity’s local and national work, already listed on the Mass Halal Events page with tickets sold through Eventbrite.
Tickets and who’s on the program
As of October 10, 2026, Eventbrite and event aggregators that mirror its ticket tiers list three options: an individual ticket at $65, a family-of-five ticket at $250, and free babysitting for ages 12 and under. Eventbrite’s summary also names the guest speakers: Dr. Suzy Ismail, comedian Usman Habib, and Shaykh Shamikh Sahadat. Refunds are allowed up to seven days before the event. Prices and babysitting details can change, so confirm the live ticket page before you pay—do not rely on a screenshot or a secondhand listing.
What we know about the speakers—and what we don’t
Public profiles place all three guests in roles that fit a charity banquet. Dr. Suzy Ismail is a Muslim educator and author who speaks on marriage, family, parenting and communication, and she founded the faith-based counseling nonprofit Cornerstone. Usman Habib is a Pakistani-American stand-up comedian known for clean comedy nights billed as “Halal Hilarity.” Shaykh Shamikh Sahadat serves with ICNA Relief USA—public listings describe him as National Director of Revenue and Operations—and has spoken at other ICNA Relief banquets around the country. Eventbrite does not publish a minute-by-minute agenda, dinner menu, or donation appeal target for Needham. Expect speeches, comedy and a fundraising ask; for door times, dress notes or table assignments, check the organizer’s Eventbrite updates or email closer to the date.
Why this banquet matters locally
ICNA Relief New England is the regional social-services arm that Massachusetts families already meet at food pantries, shelter referrals and casework desks. Its New England site says the chapter operates two halal food pantries, a women’s shelter, immigration legal support, computer education, family assistance, zakat aid, mental-health workshops, back-to-school help, health screenings, job support and legal mediation. The regional office is at 321–325 Washington Street in Dedham; the local phone is 857-302-4958 and the email is newengland@icnarelief.org. Nationally, ICNA Relief USA describes itself as a 501(c)(3) Muslim relief organization that serves people of every background, and it points to Charity Navigator and Better Business Bureau accreditation on its organizer profile. If you want the pantry map before you buy a banquet ticket, our Journal guide “Free Halal Groceries in Massachusetts” walks through ICNA Relief’s Roxbury and Lowell-area distributions and other Muslim-run pantries statewide: https://masshalal.com/articles/bd5d8aa2-bdeb-41b4-b3b3-402887b53752
Getting to Needham
The Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel sits just off the Route 128 / I-95 corridor in Needham Heights, about a fifteen-minute drive from Newton and under half an hour from much of MetroWest in light traffic. Drivers typically use Exit 36 (Highland Avenue) or nearby Cabot Street access from the highway loop; set your map to 100 Cabot Street, Needham, MA 02494. Hotel booking sites commonly list covered on-site self-parking with a daily surcharge—often around $17 for overnight guests—and note that spaces can be limited. Banquet parking for a Sunday evening fundraiser may be arranged differently, so ask the hotel front desk or ICNA Relief when you pick up tickets rather than assuming the overnight rate. On transit, the MBTA Needham Line’s Needham Heights station is the closest Commuter Rail stop; from there it is a short ride-share or a longer walk along Highland Avenue and Cabot Street. Sunday evening train schedules are thinner than weekday rush hour, so check the outbound and return times before you leave Boston. Ride-share drop-off at the hotel porte-cochère is usually the simplest option if you are coming from Cambridge, Roxbury or the South Shore without a car.
Before you go
Buy tickets on Eventbrite (search “New England Annual Banquet” or open the link from https://masshalal.com/events). Save a confirmation email, note the 5:00 p.m. start, and plan to arrive a little early if you need babysitting check-in. For day-of questions, start with the Eventbrite organizer contact for ICNA Relief USA, or call the Dedham office at 857-302-4958. If your masjid, MSA or relief committee is hosting a fundraiser, open house or pantry drive we have not covered yet, tip us at https://masshalal.com/contact and we will check it for the Journal and the Events calendar.