Maryland has honored Pakistani-American Abdul Hai Sheikh with its 2018 Governor’s Service Award in recognition of his volunteer work for seniors and Syrian refugees.
Sheikh worked with Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF) to form a group for seniors, which now consists of 30 members from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and provides weekly trips, yoga, health and safety lectures, and computer literacy classes to its participants. The MCMF is a known charitable organization, founded by another Pakistani-American Tufail Ahmad.
Besides leading the seniors group, Sheikh serves as the volunteer refugee coordinator for MCMF “having jumped at the opportunity to help Syrian refugees, seeking to help give others the opportunities that he experienced when he first emigrated to the United States,” Governor Larry Hogan’s Office said while recognizing his contributions.
Sheikh has been recognized with the annual Governor’s Award in individual category.
According to the Governor’s Office, the Awards recognize Marylanders for their significant volunteer contributions to the state and its citizens and their work to change Maryland for the better.
Hai Sheikh helped 80 refugee families and arranged items, such as car donations, job opportunities, and food and supplies for them.
The award citation for Sheikh also acknowledges the recipient’s contributions as an engineers, his profession before retirement, and makes notes of his service as the volunteer construction manager for a future community center to include a senior lounge, clinic, and classrooms.
Sheikh also participates in interfaith work to find and strengthen common ground for collective welfare of communities.
The recipients of 2018 Maryland Service Award include Cathryn Paul, Skyline Technology Solutions, Yuri Chia, Gaithersburg High School, Janet Gentry, Mathew N. Silverman, Greater Baltimore Urban League Auxiliaries – Guild and Young Professionals, Abdul Hai Sheikh, Ginny Simoneau, Carolyn Core, Peter B. Rosenwald, II, Kelci Reiss, Mezu International Foundation Inc, Effie W. Cox, Charles Douglas Harris, Christina Zhou, and Calvin G. Butler, Jr.
