Join your YWCA of Orange County for an evening of Bon Temps Mardi Gras Style celebrating our 29th Annual Gala, Dinner Party and Community Awards on February 13, 2021, 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM. You will be virtually in great company in the comfort of your home, dress-up or down with our Mardi Gras party favors, enjoy a sumptuous meal by Colette’ Catering (optional) and together we will recognize the our outstanding Leader of the Year, Sharon Quirk-Silva, California Assembly Member and Dr. Faisal Qazi, Humanitarian of the Year.
MEET THE HONOREES
Leader of the Year
Honorable Sharon Quirk-Silva
Assembly Member, District 65
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva was first elected to serve California’s 65th Assembly District in 2012. In 2016, she regained her seat to serve the constituents of North Orange County. In 2018, the constituents re-elected her to serve the communities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Palma, and Stanton. Prior to her service in the State Legislature, she served in local government as a member of the Fullerton City Council from 2004 to 2012, including serving two terms as Mayor.
As a life-long resident of Fullerton Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has close relations with the community. She was educated in Fullerton public schools through 12th grade and went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton College, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at University of California, Los Angeles, and a Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. As one of ten children, she honed negotiating skills and learned the advantages of teamwork early on. As a teacher in the Fullerton School District, Sharon was able to learn about the concerns of her community first hand. A practice she has continued with her work in the State Assembly. Quirk-Silva has been a strong influence in her Assembly District community, and in the lives of her constituents and their families, paving the way for the next generation of California's leaders. As a legislator, she is passionate about all Californians having access to affordable housing, quality education, and access to physical and mental health services.
Currently in her third term as State Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has developed the reputation as a hard worker, one who presses for more transparency and communication between state government, local government, and the people of Orange County. Keen to the ways of the legislative process, Quirk-Silva knows it takes people working together, with bipartisan effort, to find common ground when solving the state’s challenges.
Quirk-Silva’s history of local service in Orange County guides her philosophy on how state government should operate. Solutions are found at home, within the community. Her office’s priorities are simple: to use constituent feedback to prioritize the issues, to focus on finding solutions for the people she represents, and demand that Orange County residents receive their fair share of state services.
This past legislative year Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has supported and championed various bills that warranted her legislative efforts. At the top of her list of priorities are affordable housing, addressing the homelessness crisis, and supporting California’s businesses.
Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has been appointed by Speaker Anthony Rendon to Chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee. The Assemblywoman’s focus has been to continue to advocate for her top priorities, having many passed bills in the recent legislative session addressing causes related to Small Business, Housing and Homelessness, Education, Public Safety, and Mental Health. For a full list of committee involvements, visit a65.asmdc.org.
The Assemblywoman continues to champion for those issues and has done so with the following:
Ever since the beginning of her career holding office, she has been active in organizations serving all of District 65 and Orange County, becoming familiar with our district's cities and developing relationships with their leaders. Sharon knows the importance of community action and advocacy for Orange County's families and businesses. She will take to Sacramento that tireless advocacy and talent for bringing people together to solve problems.
As a wife and mother Sharon understands the challenges California families face in today’s difficult economy. She has cast key votes in the State Assembly after two terms in office, and is always ready to engage in more valuable causes for the State of California into the future. Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva is a mother of four children and married to Jesus Silva, Fullerton Council Member and Teacher.
As a life-long resident of Fullerton Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has close relations with the community. She was educated in Fullerton public schools through 12th grade and went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton College, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at University of California, Los Angeles, and a Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. As one of ten children, she honed negotiating skills and learned the advantages of teamwork early on. As a teacher in the Fullerton School District, Sharon was able to learn about the concerns of her community first hand. A practice she has continued with her work in the State Assembly. Quirk-Silva has been a strong influence in her Assembly District community, and in the lives of her constituents and their families, paving the way for the next generation of California's leaders. As a legislator, she is passionate about all Californians having access to affordable housing, quality education, and access to physical and mental health services.
Currently in her third term as State Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has developed the reputation as a hard worker, one who presses for more transparency and communication between state government, local government, and the people of Orange County. Keen to the ways of the legislative process, Quirk-Silva knows it takes people working together, with bipartisan effort, to find common ground when solving the state’s challenges.
Quirk-Silva’s history of local service in Orange County guides her philosophy on how state government should operate. Solutions are found at home, within the community. Her office’s priorities are simple: to use constituent feedback to prioritize the issues, to focus on finding solutions for the people she represents, and demand that Orange County residents receive their fair share of state services.
This past legislative year Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has supported and championed various bills that warranted her legislative efforts. At the top of her list of priorities are affordable housing, addressing the homelessness crisis, and supporting California’s businesses.
Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has been appointed by Speaker Anthony Rendon to Chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee. The Assemblywoman’s focus has been to continue to advocate for her top priorities, having many passed bills in the recent legislative session addressing causes related to Small Business, Housing and Homelessness, Education, Public Safety, and Mental Health. For a full list of committee involvements, visit a65.asmdc.org.
The Assemblywoman continues to champion for those issues and has done so with the following:
- Secured $2.5 million for the Fullerton Boys and Girls Club;
- Secured $2.5 million for the Fullerton Hunt Library;
- Secured $20,000 million for the Southern California Veteran’s Cemetery;
- Supported $4 million for the construction of a Korean American National Museum;
- Supported $14 million in building modernizations for Fullerton Community College;
- Authored: AB 368 Southern California Veteran’s Cemetery that was signed into law;
- Championed for the issue of Fairview providing an assistance for up to 200 individuals with severe mental illness in need of housing and supportive services by establishing a temporary mental health program at the Fairview Developmental Center;
- Joint-Authored: AB 2 Community Colleges: California College Promise that was signed into law;
- And many other budget and legislative wins that can be reviewed at her website.
Ever since the beginning of her career holding office, she has been active in organizations serving all of District 65 and Orange County, becoming familiar with our district's cities and developing relationships with their leaders. Sharon knows the importance of community action and advocacy for Orange County's families and businesses. She will take to Sacramento that tireless advocacy and talent for bringing people together to solve problems.
As a wife and mother Sharon understands the challenges California families face in today’s difficult economy. She has cast key votes in the State Assembly after two terms in office, and is always ready to engage in more valuable causes for the State of California into the future. Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva is a mother of four children and married to Jesus Silva, Fullerton Council Member and Teacher.
Humanitarian of the Year
Dr. Faisal Qazi
When Dr. Faisal Qazi graduated from medical school, his father said to him, “there is no success in you until and unless people around you benefit from your work.” He has since carried that mantra of community service his entire life.
His parents faced the struggles of an immigrant family with its economic and social challenges while focused on their children’s education and instilled the values of always giving back to society. Dr. Qazi is a devoted husband and a father to four children, including two adopted children and a foster child. He and his wife chose to relocate to Fullerton in 2012 for its diverse, culturally rich, and family oriented environment.
Through every stage of his career—as a medical student, a practicing neurologist, a health-clinic business owner, a nonprofit founder, and an educator— Dr. Qazi has made it his life’s mission to give back and serve others. While serving on Fullerton’s Community Development Citizen’s Committee, he helped invest in Fullerton’s nonprofit community.
Early in his medical career, as a resident in training in Detroit, he co-founded a free clinic to provide services in an area of the city where healthcare was not readily available. Dr. Qazi later co-founded and continues to serve as the President of MiNDS (Medical Network Devoted to Service), a community service non-profit based in southern CA, which focuses on providing free of cost specialty healthcare to patients-in-need and those with neurological disabilities.
In 2015, in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting in San Bernardino, Dr. Qazi spearheaded a campaign that raised $200,000 for the victims and their families on behalf of the American Muslim community, one of the largest sums collected for this cause.
Dr. Qazi serves on staff at St. Jude Medical Center, and is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Western University and UC Riverside. While contributing to the education of medical students he is maintaining a private group practice.
He completed his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at UCLA, medical school at Touro University, residency in Neurology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and a Neurophysiology fellowship at University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Qazi currently lives and practices in Fullerton, CA.
His parents faced the struggles of an immigrant family with its economic and social challenges while focused on their children’s education and instilled the values of always giving back to society. Dr. Qazi is a devoted husband and a father to four children, including two adopted children and a foster child. He and his wife chose to relocate to Fullerton in 2012 for its diverse, culturally rich, and family oriented environment.
Through every stage of his career—as a medical student, a practicing neurologist, a health-clinic business owner, a nonprofit founder, and an educator— Dr. Qazi has made it his life’s mission to give back and serve others. While serving on Fullerton’s Community Development Citizen’s Committee, he helped invest in Fullerton’s nonprofit community.
Early in his medical career, as a resident in training in Detroit, he co-founded a free clinic to provide services in an area of the city where healthcare was not readily available. Dr. Qazi later co-founded and continues to serve as the President of MiNDS (Medical Network Devoted to Service), a community service non-profit based in southern CA, which focuses on providing free of cost specialty healthcare to patients-in-need and those with neurological disabilities.
In 2015, in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting in San Bernardino, Dr. Qazi spearheaded a campaign that raised $200,000 for the victims and their families on behalf of the American Muslim community, one of the largest sums collected for this cause.
Dr. Qazi serves on staff at St. Jude Medical Center, and is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Western University and UC Riverside. While contributing to the education of medical students he is maintaining a private group practice.
He completed his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at UCLA, medical school at Touro University, residency in Neurology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and a Neurophysiology fellowship at University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Qazi currently lives and practices in Fullerton, CA.
MENU OPTIONS
Dinner Pick-Up
If you prefer to pick-up your dinner order you can go to Colette’s at
1568 Kimberley Avenue in the Fullerton Business Center complex
from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Saturday 2/13/21.
Dinner Delivery
Colette’s will be delivering dinners the day of the event from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm to residences in the cities of:
Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Fullerton, La Habra, Orange, Santa Ana and Yorba Linda.
If you prefer to pick-up your dinner order you can go to Colette’s at
1568 Kimberley Avenue in the Fullerton Business Center complex
from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Saturday 2/13/21.
Dinner Delivery
Colette’s will be delivering dinners the day of the event from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm to residences in the cities of:
Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Fullerton, La Habra, Orange, Santa Ana and Yorba Linda.
MENU #1
*Seafood Gumbo
*Cajun Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
with Andouille Pork & Beans + Red Potato & Corn
*Pecan Brown Butter Cake
MENU #2
*Seafood Gumbo
*Blackened Crispy Skin Salmon
with Zatarain’s Wild Rice with Pine Nuts & Chopped Herbs
*Pecan Brown Butter Cake
MENU # 3
*Vegan Seafood Gumbo
*Stuffed Zastarain’s Wild Rice Peppers
with Roasted Tomato & Chopped Herbs + Vegan Corn Maque Choux
*Vegan King Cake
*Seafood Gumbo
*Cajun Rubbed Baby Back Ribs
with Andouille Pork & Beans + Red Potato & Corn
*Pecan Brown Butter Cake
MENU #2
*Seafood Gumbo
*Blackened Crispy Skin Salmon
with Zatarain’s Wild Rice with Pine Nuts & Chopped Herbs
*Pecan Brown Butter Cake
MENU # 3
*Vegan Seafood Gumbo
*Stuffed Zastarain’s Wild Rice Peppers
with Roasted Tomato & Chopped Herbs + Vegan Corn Maque Choux
*Vegan King Cake
ITINERARY
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