Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn honors Indian American community leader Zehra Quadri

CHICAGO- Today Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn saluted ZAM's Hope President Zehra Quadri for her grassroots efforts and contributions to the community at the ZAM's Hope Community Resource Center's third annual benefit dinner.

 

            "It is an honor to recognize Zehra Quadri, an inspirational woman that has made a significant impact on the lives of so many people throughout Chicago," said Quinn, noting that ZAM's Hope assists more than 500 families each year though its services. 

 

            In his remarks, Quinn mentioned how Quadri experienced the trials of being a single mother in a new country and was inspired to create a community resource center that would help new immigrants who found themselves in a similar situation. 

 

"I commend Zehra's humanitarian spirit that encourages individuals to become more active and involved in their communities," Quinn said.

 

            Joining Quinn was Guest of Honor Consul General Arun Kumar of India at Chicago; President and CEO of United Airlines Employees Credit Union David Mooney; and President and CEO of National Bank Card Corporation Iftekhar Shareef. 

 

Honorees for 2003 include Rajinder Bedi, Director of Asian/Australian Trade for Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO); Jatinder Bedi, Chief Editor of The Indian Reporter; Alderman Bernard Stone (50^th Ward); Gene Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chicago Mayor's Office; Tariq Malhance, Comptroller for the City of Chicago; Ray Vasquez, former Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Human Services; Tariq Bhutt, Director of the Board of Education for the City of Chicago; and Tom Moore of Mid-States Corporate Federal Credit Union.

 

ZAM's Hope is a grassroots agency that works to assist new immigrants, primarily low-income South Asian women and their families, to adjust to life in the Chicagoland area, and to improve their quality of life.  The resource center's services include after school programming, English as a second language (ESL) instruction, emergency food and financial assistance, crisis intervention, and computer instruction for adults, among others.

 

Co-chair of the ZAM's Hope Benefit Dinner Iftekhar Shareef, and 2003 honorees Rajinder Bedi, Jatinder Bedi, Gene Lee and Tariq Bhutt are members of Quinn's Asian American Advisory Council.