May 10, 2008

Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) today presented Zubeida Khan, chairwoman of the Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation, with a Woman of the Year Award for the 38th Congressional District for her contributions as a Board Member of the Beverly Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.

"Volunteerism allows us to make the world a little better than we found it," Khan said today as she accepted the award. "It allows me to practice a central pillar of my faith as a Muslim and set a positive example for my children. By committing myself to service, political empowerment and civic engagement, I am able to use my strengths and abilities for the common good while bettering myself."

Her diverse experience ranges from co-chairing the Finance Committee at a local Islamic Center, to serving on the Budget Advisory Committee of the city she lives in, to being the Treasurer of the Pakistan Arts Council of the Pacific Asia Museum for over six years. In addition, she serves on the board of the Islamic Studies Counci, at the Claremont Graduate University School of Religion, of which she was a founding member. The Islamic Studies Council embarked upon the ambitious project of instituting the first Masters program in Islamic Studies in the U.S., which came to fruition in the fall of 2005. In the summer of 2006, she was offered, and accepted a position on the Board of Visitors of the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University.

Not only is she an active participant in the Inter-faith circles of her city and surrounding areas, she also served on the Board of the United Nations Association of the USA Chapter of Whittier for a period of three years. In addition, she played a key role in saving the hills around her home by joining a group of activists in successfully having the land deeded as a perpetual greenbelt and wild life habitat.