Five prominent Fort Bend County couples were honored as a part of Asians Against Domestic Violence’s fifth annual Corporate & Community Breakfast at Safari Texas last Friday.
Honorees included Dru and Louis Garvin, Marilyn and Albert Glover, Manmeet and Paul Likhari, James and Guy Thompson and Cassandra and Allison Wen.
AADA HONOREES – At its annual Corporate & Community Breakfast last Friday, Asians Against Domestic Violence honored five Fort Bend County couples. Honorees included, from left, Dru and Lewis Garvin, Marilyn and Albert Glover, Manmeet and Paul Likhari, James and Gay Thompson and Cassandra and Allison Wen.
The couples were recognized because, according to the AADA, “they have been an integral part of enacting positive change in their communities.”
In introducing the honorees, event chair Dee Koch quoted legendary comic Danny Thomas, saying “Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.”
“Each one of these couples brings some part of that caring to Fort Bend County,” Koch added.
AADA President and founder Shantha Raghuthaman said the organization’s mission is to prevent violence against women, particularly in the Asian community where language and cultural barriers often prevent them from seeking help.
“We want to bring awareness of domestic abuse in the Asian community to the forefront. These women often hesitate to seek help because of the many barriers they face,” Raghuthaman said.
AADA helps domestic violence victims with such services as counseling, child care, assistance with legal fees, providing shelter and offering English language classes.
In addition to recognizing the honorees, the event helped raise funds for AADA. County Treasurer Jeff Council and Former Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace helped auction off three specialty items, raising $7,600.
Items auctioned included VIP passes to the Grand Wine and Food Affair 2009 and ladies’ jewelry; a dinner party for 24 people at Safari Texas Ranch with food and beverage service provided by County Judge Bob Hebert, Sugar Land Mayor Jimmy Thompson, Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen and Rosenberg Mayor Joe Gurecky; and a quilt made by the Arab American Ladies Group.
The event also featured County Commissioner James Patterson presenting a proclamation honoring AADA on behalf of County Judge Bob Hebert, who could not be present.
Asians Against Domestic Violence provides advocacy and financial assistance services to women in crisis who are from India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, the Philippines and Middle Eastern countries.
In addition to Raghuthaman, AADA officers include Rehana Sarwar, vice president; Cynthia Hseuh, treasurer; Gin Ru Lee, secretary and board directors Farha Ahmed, Patty Fadhouli, Rev. Tim Marquez, Rick Pal, Cindy Sterling, Lilas Taha and Joseph Tornberg.
