2022 Honorees
Friends of Polonia Award
Naeem Khalid
Business leader and philanthropist, owner of Sam’s Food Stores
Naeem Khalid has arrived in Houston, Texas in late 1984. Planning on earning a Ph.D. in applied linguistics, life took a turn when he arrived later than anticipated and had to push off his class start date for the next year. Finding a job became a top priority and through a friend, Naeem received his first job in America at a convenience store. Working with management teams at companies like Circle K and Cumberland Farms he garnered enough experience to start his own business.
In 1992, Naeem opened his first convenience store, Sam’s Food Stores, in Hartford, CT. Since then, Naeem’s entrepreneurial spirit has led his business grow and expand to include diversified real estate projects, DB Mart, Smoker’s Discount World, and Ravi Petro. Sam’s Food Stores is now operating over 200 locations throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.
But as impressive as Naeem’s success as an entrepreneur is, it is in his magnanimous commitment to helping others that he has truly distinguished himself. That commitment is rooted in his appreciation for the opportunities that America has offered him and his family.
Naeem is the founder of Sam’s Children, Inc., which is committed to raising funds for children battling serious life-threatening diseases in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. Whether it is helping the young mother of a child suffering from a life-threatening disease pay her bills, purchasing a specially equipped chair for a boy with a severe feeding disorder, or providing a bed for a young girl suffering from spina bifida, Sam’s Children has helped countless children and families.
He is also on the Board of Trustees of Madina Academy in Windsor, the first Muslim-accredited high school in Connecticut. Madina Academy strives to develop conscientious Muslims who will follow the straight path, are devoted to their families, committed to their communities as American Muslims and are beacons of knowledge and character.
Naeem became acquainted with the Polish community with through his friendships with local municipal and business leaders.
