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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Mariam Issa of Houston has rendered exceptional |
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service to her fellow residents through her involvement in myriad |
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philanthropic organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in India and raised in Pakistan, Ms. Issa also |
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lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before settling in the United |
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States; since moving to Houston some two decades ago, she has not |
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only contributed to the community as a business owner but has |
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continuously found ways to help make the city a better place in |
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which to live; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Issa founded the Pakistani-American Volunteers |
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Association to share the rich heritage of Pakistan and to aid those |
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in need; under her leadership, the organization has participated in |
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projects with the March of Dimes, the Rehab Mission to feed the |
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homeless, the Houston International Festival, the Asian Arts |
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Festival, and the House of Charity; in addition, she has helped |
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Bosnian and Afghan refugee families settle in the area; following |
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the tragedy of September 11, 2001, she worked with the board members |
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of PAVA to raise $40,000 from the Pakistani community for Red Cross |
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relief efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the numerous other groups that have benefited |
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from Ms. Issa's time and talents over the years are the |
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Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association, the Asia Society, the |
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South Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Mayoral Advisory Board for |
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International Affairs and Development--Asia, the Asian-American |
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Voters Coalition, and the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston, |
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as well as Express Theatre, the Blaffer Gallery at the University of |
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Houston, the Ancestral Films Festival, and the AsiaWorld-Expo; |
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moreover, this dynamic humanitarian has served on committees and |
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advisory councils for UNICEF, the Houston Independent School |
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District, the Asian American Studies Program at the University of |
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Houston, and Census 2000; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Issa has received numerous accolades for her |
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civic engagement, including an award from the City of Houston for |
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her continued service to the Pakistani community and the Paul |
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Harris Award from the Rotary Club for a project she led that |
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delivered 69 hand pumps to two provinces in Pakistan that did not |
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have drinking water; and |
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WHEREAS, Through a lifetime of purposeful endeavor, Mariam |
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Issa has made a lasting and positive difference in the lives of |
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countless people, and in so doing, she has set an inspiring example |
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of compassion and generosity; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Mariam Issa for her outstanding civic and |
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humanitarian contributions and extend to her sincere best wishes |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Issa as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |