Loading ...
Arab American Heritage Council Honors Three at Awards Banquet
It is not just about the award winners. It’s about everyone who helps to make the community a better place.
That was the theme echoed on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 15, by the award winners honored at the Arab American Heritage Council’s annual “Ensure the Legacy” dinner and awards banquet.
The honorees included the physician of the year Dr. Ali Mohammed, the chairman of medicine at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc; young Arab American professional of the year Deema Hannan-Sawaf, founder and CEO of Absolute Home Health Care Inc., and community leader of the year Kathi Horton, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
The council announced its scholarship winners, local students John Elias, a Flint volunteer and student, and Hazar Abuaita, president of the Teen Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations at St. George’s Orthodox Church in Flint.
Mohammed was introduced by Dr. Abd Alghanem, a colleague in Flint. Alghanem highlighted Mohammed’s career, and then Mohammed had the chance to speak.
“I’m very grateful for the privilege to be a physician, and touch lives in this community,” Mohammed said. “It was a long journey, but I wanted to recognize my wife and kids for their support.”
Mohammed mentioned his love of the United States, having been an immigrant from Iraq, immigrating in 1986 and working in Lexington, Kentucky, and New York.
Detroit-based attorney Mohammed Abdrabboh spoke about how long he has known Hannan-Sawaf and the humanitarian work they’ve done together. He said they met 13-14 years ago when his sister went to school with her.
“Deema came to me about advice about her career, which has included Fortune 500 companies and healthcare companies,” Abdrabboh said. “I always knew she was going to be an entrepreneur.”
He said that everything Hannan-Sawaf has done to be successful came from learned behaviors, and she furthered that notion.
“My parents taught me … to be fearless and to not be afraid and to serve others,” Hannan-Sawaf said.
She said she always carried those values whether it came to helping refugees in Syria where Abdrabboh said it was funny to see her coming in with fancy shoes and a Louis Vuitton purse or to starting her own company in Flint where she would sometimes work until 2 a.m. to keep things up and running.
She said she has been extremely proud to be a part of the revitalization of Flint and to continue to provide jobs for local talent.
Longtime colleague of friend of Horton’s, Shannon White came to speak about their friendship.
“I was on the search committee to hire Kathi, and I always knew it was going to be her,” White said. She said that she had known Horton since their time back at the Young Women’s Christian Association of Greater Flint, where Horton served as CEO.
White highlighted Horton’s involvement in the reorganization of the national YWCA and role in establishing the Racial Justice Department at the association.
Horton said that this award is about all the people in her life who have supported and inspired her. These people included a father who thought she was special, a mother who planted the seeds of optimism in her heart, and her immediate family with her son, daughter, and husband. She said that even her grandchildren inspire her.
“They make me want to make sure there’s a better future for them,” Horton said. She said she was surprised and thrilled to receive the award, noting that it was a bit overwhelming for her.
Horton said she respects the heritage council that put the ceremony on, noting they put a great health fair on to try to help others who may not have access to the best healthcare.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, made an appearance before the event at the banquet. She said she thinks that the council is a very important organization and part of the professional business community.
“These awards are going to go to some great people,” Stabenow said. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, also attended.
Tommy Zimmer
Mlive