DETROIT – The Arab American and Chaldean Council recognized humanitarians and political leaders last week for helping the community and supporting refugees. 

At its 36th annual Civic and Humanitarian Awards Gala, held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Saturday, Oct. 10, the council presented awards to six individuals. Community members, elected officials and business leaders attended the event.

A representative of Gov. Snyder promised to cooperate with the ACC to help with its humanitarian efforts.

“The governor remains absolutely committed to working with this organization and all of you to help with the Syrian refugee crisis,” said John Walsh, director of the Governor’s Office of Strategic Policy.

Auday Arabo, president and CEO of Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers Inc., received a Humanitarian Award. Arabo is the official spokesman for St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese. He has also served on a number of community boards and councils.

In his acceptance speech, the Iraqi-born Catholic called attention to what he described as the “disintegration of Christianity” in Iraq.

Arabo said countries throughout the region are governed by Islamic law and Christian populations are dwindling. 

“In 2003 we had 1.4 million Iraqi Christians,” Arabo said. “Today, we have less than 200,000. And who knows what we’ll have tomorrow.”

Humanitarian Award recipient Nidhal Garmo said all groups in the Middle East need help.

“You’re talking about Yazidis, Christians, Muslims — don’t tell me that there is one religion, one minority, one group is not affected by ISIS,” she said. 

Garmo, a Farmington Hills pharmacist and native of Iraq, was honored for her charitable work, which includes founding One World Medical Mission in 2005. The organization aids people suffering from poverty or lack of medical care because of war. 

The honoree said her next mission is to help the Syrian children who are living and begging in the streets.

“I’m going back [to the Middle East] to do something about that and I’m never going to quit ‘til the day I die,” Garmo said. 

Other award recipients included Jacques Panis, president of Shinola, who was recognized with a Community Leadership Award. Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan, received the Community Service Award. 

State Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R- Grand Haven) and House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D- Auburn Hills), each won the State Leadership Award.

Greimel said he was honored to receive an award from the ACC. 

“As all of you know, the ACC is critically important in uplifting lives and empowering people, revitalizing communities and welcoming and providing desperately needed services to some many immigrants and refugees,” he said. 

A recent refugee from Syria spoke about his experiences in the United States and the support he received from the ACC. 

ACC President Haifa Fakhouri said refugees can play a large role in the organization’s long-term efforts to revitalize Detroit.

“Most of you saw the disaster, the ugly face of war in the region, in the Middle East, whether in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen and so on and so forth,” Fakhouri said. “Every year, we add a new number of refugees, unfortunately, and the story goes on and on.”

Fakhouri said the skilled workers from Syria who have arrived in the state over the last year have a lot to contribute.

“We are looking forward to working with Mayor Duggan to have more refugees settle in Detroit,” she said. “We need the population. We need to work on the new economic force that’s great potential for all of us to reside in Detroit and to be part of the renaissance of Detroit.”