H.R. No. 1599
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Mariam Issa of Houston has rendered exceptional
service to her fellow residents through her involvement in myriad
philanthropic organizations; and
WHEREAS, Born in India and raised in Pakistan, Ms. Issa also
lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before settling in the United
States; since moving to Houston some two decades ago, she has not
only contributed to the community as a business owner but has
continuously found ways to help make the city a better place in
which to live; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Issa founded the Pakistani-American Volunteers
Association to share the rich heritage of Pakistan and to aid those
in need; under her leadership, the organization has participated in
projects with the March of Dimes, the Rehab Mission to feed the
homeless, the Houston International Festival, the Asian Arts
Festival, and the House of Charity; in addition, she has helped
Bosnian and Afghan refugee families settle in the area; following
the tragedy of September 11, 2001, she worked with the board members
of PAVA to raise $40,000 from the Pakistani community for Red Cross
relief efforts; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous other groups that have benefited
from Ms. Issa's time and talents over the years are the
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association, the Asia Society, the
South Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Mayoral Advisory Board for
International Affairs and Development--Asia, the Asian-American
Voters Coalition, and the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston,
as well as Express Theatre, the Blaffer Gallery at the University of
Houston, the Ancestral Films Festival, and the AsiaWorld-Expo;
moreover, this dynamic humanitarian has served on committees and
advisory councils for UNICEF, the Houston Independent School
District, the Asian American Studies Program at the University of
Houston, and Census 2000; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Issa has received numerous accolades for her
civic engagement, including an award from the City of Houston for
her continued service to the Pakistani community and the Paul
Harris Award from the Rotary Club for a project she led that
delivered 69 hand pumps to two provinces in Pakistan that did not
have drinking water; and
WHEREAS, Through a lifetime of purposeful endeavor, Mariam
Issa has made a lasting and positive difference in the lives of
countless people, and in so doing, she has set an inspiring example
of compassion and generosity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Mariam Issa for her outstanding civic and
humanitarian contributions and extend to her sincere best wishes
for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Issa as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Wu
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1599 was adopted by the House on May
1, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House