This week, my friend Akram Abdelaal, president of Express Systems and Parts Network, came to visit me in New York City.

Akram was on his way to Arab Health in Dubai and from there to the Indian Radiological & Imaging Association conference in Hyderabad.

After India, Akram plans to fly to Egypt to meet with health officials there to see if he can do anything to help with the country's health care needs. Akram is an Egyptian-American and it is only natural that he would volunteer to help Egypt.

Still, I was impressed and moved by the fact that Akram is willing to invest his own time and money in a charitable way.

Also, I was impressed with how optimistic Akram was about the prospects for Egypt. To an outside observer, as we approach the anniversary of last year's uprising, the country's future looks troubled and uncertain. But Akram told me when you visit Egypt and talk to people there, you find many who are still hopeful.


In any case, I asked Akram to keep me informed of his activities and let him know that we would share them with our readers.

For all of our political wranglings and economic problems, I am constantly reminded as I travel around the world of how fortunate I am and also, how fortunate we are in the USA.


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