AHMAD RIVAZFAR

Ahmad with Sayeh and photo of Sara

Ahmad Rivazfar is the father of six children. He had three children, two daughters and a son with his first wife and four daughters with his second wife. In 1988, he and his first wife were divorced and sharing custody, although Ahmad was very concerned that his wife's life style was putting the children in harm's way and his reports to the child protective agencies both in Florida and New York fell on deaf ears. In the middle of the night of September 22nd 1988, the mother's boyfriend took the sisters from their home in Pensacola, Florida, drove to a remote area, raped them, cut their throats and left them to die. Sayeh, then 8 years old, survived. Sara, age six, did not.

One year later, Sayeh's testimony helped convict the murderer and he was sent to Florida's death row. Ahmad Rivazfar was granted full custody of Sayeh and her brother and they lived in Rochester New York, but years later their mother decided to fight for custody in Florida. The Rivazfars were joined by hundreds of supporters and community leaders for a rally and campaign to have the custody claims dropped. Sayeh and her brother did not, under any circumstances, want to be taken from their father and forced to live with their mother. After months of appeals back and forth, the mother dropped her claim to custody and the children remained with their father, his wife and their half-sisters.

Ahmad Rivazfar is an active volunteer leader in his community and in the cause for protecting and recovering children from abuse and abduction. Each September, for the past nine years, the Rivazfar family has hosted Sara's Race in Rochester, New York. Money raised helps missing children cases and last year the funds helped Rochester Crime Stoppers where Ahmad has recently joined its all volunteer board. Additionally, Mr. Rivazfar is a volunteer speaker and advocate for the NY branch of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He has also been active in Project Homefront, a volunteer effort sponsored by Home Depot to help families of military officers maintain their homes. Mr. Rivazfar is also a volunteer for the Points of Light - Hands On Network, a national non-profit collaboration established in August of 2007 to engage citizens in volunteering to help in their communities.