IRVINE- Marking Women’s History Month, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris has named Dr. Samar Aziz (Tustin) Jennifer Friend (Costa Mesa), and Dr. Shaista Malik (Irvine) as the 2023 Women of the Year Honorees.
Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris hosted her 5th annual Women of the Year event on Thursday, March 9, 2023. It is an annual recognition ceremony where community members are invited to celebrate the extraordinary leadership and contributions of three incredible women, one from each city the Assemblywoman represents in the 73rd District.
Dr. Samar Aziz is a 30-year resident of Tustin, is a force of nature, has a heart of gold, and is called the hidden gem of Tustin. Dr. Aziz is not only an award-winning activist, pharmacist, mother of two to Zak and Dean, a loving wife but, most notably, the CEO of Sabil USA, a Tustin health and human services nonprofit that has served 18,000 individuals with food security, 5,000 individuals with rental assistance, utility assistance, and 600 individuals with free mental health services which include, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, teen, marital and family counseling in the past year. In the aftermath of the earthquakes that devastated Syria and Turkey in early February, Sabil partnered with several organizations, including the Sunrise Foundation, and raised millions to fill 11 containers with new clothes, blankets, winter jackets, and medicine for families impacted by the earthquake. Over the last 11 years, Dr. Aziz has helped 1.5 million people with food and financial security for their families through her tremendous fundraising efforts and community partnerships. Dr. Samar Aziz sees herself as a humble servant doing her part to make a difference locally and globally. She credits her parents and grandparents for inspiring her to give back to the community.