The National United States Junior Chamber has named Houstonian Sanjay Ram (Ramabhadran) as one of the 2012 Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA).
The TOYA award is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the country and is given to people who exemplify immense accomplishment and/or leadership in the community. The award was initiated in 1938 and has been awarded annually since 1940. Recipients join the ranks of such honorees as Presidents John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton; Vice Presidents Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Gale Sayers, Michele Tafoya, and Elvis Presley.
“I am incredibly humbled by this recognition and honor,” says Sanjay Ram, who serves the greater Houston community through many community organizations and is a fine example of how an immigrant can contribute to society through active civic engagement. “It is humbling to even be considered for such a distinguished award as the TOYA and to win this has had a profound impact. I believe this is recognition of the good work of many community organizations I am involved with and speaks to the critical need for civic engagement and community involvement.”
A dedicated leader, Sanjay Ram has been a role model for many. His civic involvement has included serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of LEADERSHIP HOUSTON; Past-President of the HESS Club; Chairperson of the Houston Mayor’s International Trade & Development Council (South Asia); City of Houston –Building & Standards Commission; host of a public policy radio talk show –“Insights”; Past President of the Indo-American Political Action Committee; Greater Houston Partnership’s Public Safety Task Force; Kinder Institute at Rice University’s Connecting Communities Initiative; Board of Directors of the Indo-American Charity Foundation, and Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. He is routinely counted on to selflessly deliver results and tackle issues for the greater good of the community. Be it Houston’s Adopt a Village Program following an earthquake in India, post Ike/Tsunami relief efforts or kindling the philanthropic spirit of the community to benefit those in need right here in Houston, he has demonstrated that community involvement, civic engagement and service to humanity are essential ingredients in his life.
He has been recognized as one of Five Outstanding Young Texans for the year 2011 and as one of Five Outstanding Young Houstonians for the year 2010 by the Texas and Houston Jaycees respectively.
