Amir Omar Named 2012 One Man Dallas

May 21, 2012, Dallas, Texas – On May 10, 2012, the One Man Dallas project named Richardson City Councilmember and Methodist Richardson Cancer Center volunteer, Amir Omar, as the winner of the 2012 One Man Dallas Award.  Out of twenty–one nominees, Omar was selected as the one man who best represents the Dallas-Forth Worth area from the perspective of community involvement, personality, intelligence, and fitness.      

With women volunteering nearly five times more than men, the One Man Project was initiated to encourage more men to volunteer in their communities. One Man Dallas was launched last year after originating in 2009 with One Man Minneapolis.

Omar, whose mother passed away from cancer the summer before his senior year in high school, was nominated for One Man Dallas in recognition of his volunteer work with the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center, which has one of the most advanced cancer centers in North Texas. He currently serves on the Methodist Richardson Medical Center Foundation.

“Amir is truly an asset to both Methodist Richardson Cancer Center and the city of Richardson,” said Ann Bartnik, Methodist Richardson Foundation director. “He is proof that ‘One Man’ can make a difference.”

A first generation American of Iranian and Palestinian descent, Omar describes himself as the, “living proof that the American dream is alive and well.” He grew up in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and attended Texas A&M University where he majored in Industrial Distribution.

Omar is the City Councilman for Place 7 in Richardson, Texas. First elected to the City Council in 2009, Omar is the only American of Iranian descent to serve in public office in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.

As the Council Liaison to the Environmental Advisory Commission, Omar championed the “Tree the Town” initiative in partnership with the Texas Trees Foundation, which aims to plant 50,000 trees on public as well as private property in Richardson within the next ten years.  With widespread support from corporate and non-profit sponsors, Omar’s initiative has turned into the largest tree planting initiative Northern Texas has ever seen.

On May 6th, as part of One Man Dallas initiative, Omar combined his commitment to serve people affected by cancer and his tree-planting initiative by establishing a “Tribute Grove” at Methodist Richardson Cancer Center. 

PAAIA congratulates Amir Omar on being named as this year’s One Man Dallas. 

Click here for more information on the One Man Dallas project. 

Click here to view the One Man Dallas – Methodist Richardson Cancer Center video.