DEARBORN – Maha Freij, president & CEO of ACCESS, will be honored with the prestigious “Let Freedom Ring” Social Service award on January 15 at the Fox Theater. This event, held by Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition, recognizes individuals whose work and actions embody Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of social justice and humanity.

Freij has been a visionary in the Arab American community for 33 years, committed to philanthropy and institution-building. She has played a pivotal role in ACCESS’s growth from a regional human services provider to a nationwide community builder. Under her leadership, ACCESS has raised tens of millions of dollars for endowment building and vital projects, including ACCESS’ four national institutions — the Arab American National Museum (AANM), the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) and the Center for Arab Narratives (CAN).

A trailblazer in philanthropy and social impact, Freij serves on numerous boards, including the Michigan State Board of Ethics; the Council of Michigan Foundations; the Growing Michigan Together Council, an advisory body within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity; the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees and the DTE Community Advisory Council.

Past recipients of the “Let Freedom Ring” award include Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Aretha Franklin, U.S. Rep. John Conyers and other prominent figures who have left an indelible mark on society.

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