Deputy Executive Director of ACCESS Maha Freij will be honored this month in Washington by the American Task Force for Palestine (ATFP) for the key role she played in raising funds to create the nation's only Arab American National Museum.

"Your vision of philanthropy and innovation in development has, among other noteworthy accomplishments, laid the foundation for the first Arab American National Museum," said Dr. Ziad Asali, ATFP president and founder, in a letter to Freij. "This important national center for Arab American culture and history honors our community and preserves its legacy, and helps build bridges between Arab Americans as well as with our fellow citizens from other communities."

Each year, ATFP honors the contributions of Palestinian Americans who have enriched their community and provided great service or unique achievement in the United States. Freij will receive the ATFP Award for Distinguished Service in Philanthropy on Oct. 19 at the organization's sixth annual gala at the Ritz Carlton in Washington. This year's gala, "Honoring Heritage, Embracing Originality," will showcase Palestinian culture.

Freij spearheaded the campaign to raise $18 million to build the Arab American National Museum, a Smithsonian-affiliated showpiece spotlighting the contributions, cultures and history of Arab Americans. In addition to her role as deputy executive director, Freij is also CFO of ACCESS, the largest Arab American social and human services organization in the country and the museum's parent organization. Among her many multi-million dollar initiatives, she raised $4 million to build a new ACCESS employment and training center that serves Dearborn and Detroit.

Freij is the driving force behind the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), a project of ACCESS that supports and encourages a culture of philanthropy and strategic giving among Arab Americans through education, asset building and grant-making.

Freij said she steadfastly believes that philanthropy unites the Arab American community, which is why it's vital for CAAP to highlight the impact of Arab American giving in broader society.

"CAAP empowers individuals to fulfill their philanthropic goals within and beyond the Arab American community," Freij said. "By giving through CAAP, donors are leaving a legacy of Arab American philanthropy."