Congratulations to Muna and Basem Hishmeh, Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) board members and longtime ACCESS supporters, who on Saturday were honored as the 2012 recipients of the Alex Odeh Memorial Award at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s (ADC) National Convention in Washington. The award, named for the late ADC Southern California regional director who was killed in October of 1985, is presented each year to those who demonstrate exceptional leadership, public service and commitment to the mission of the Arab American community and ADC.
Among the many ways the Hishmehs (pictured center and center right) show their deep commitment to the community, the Muna and Basem Hishmeh Foundation was established in 2005 to support cultural organizations in the United States and Palestine. The foundation aims to break down cultural barriers through music and the arts.
The Hishmehs also have created the Arab American Scholarship Fund at William Paterson University in New Jersey. This fund issues four $3,000 scholarships annually to undergraduate students of Arab descent.
CAAP also congratulates this year’s recipients of the Jack G. & Bernice M. Shaheen media scholarships, who were also announced at the ADC convention last weekend: Diana A. Aqra, University of Denver; Faisal Attrache, University of Southern California; Valerie Bisharat, New York University; Ziad El-Bayoumi Foty, Concordia University; and Claire Stephens, University of Notre Dame.
Click here to join the Shaheens in supporting our community’s media studies students.