Posted by Sandra W Froese
McKinney Sunrise Rotary Club's adheres to the Rotary International motto of "Service above Self."  When David Azad, a young attorney joined the club, he was a natural fit as the next Director of Community Service.  David has a passion for helping under-privileged children and economically-disadvantaged adults who are seeking a better life.  David inherited a tall order to continue a wide range of community service projects in Collin County that were started under the direction of Dr. Tom Parker.  Tom has served as the club's Community Service Director for over eight years.
 
David Azad is a criminal defense attorney who lives in Allen, Texas.  He is a law partner in Azad and Barlow, PLLC, in Richardson, Texas.  His legal services not only include criminal defense, but he also assists clients who are immigrants seeking asylum or who are in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.  You may recognize David from his photo--he was a candidate for Collin County Commissioner for the Third Precinct this past year, but was not elected.  
 
David has been a Rotarian for only one year, but he is keenly interested in the service aspect.  His ideas include a partnership with all three McKinney Rotary Clubs (Sunrise, Sunset and Noon) to make a difference by selecting projects that have a large impact on the community.  Although Collin County is one of the wealthiest counties in the state and the nation, there are pockets of poverty that demand attention.  Illegal drugs and the abuse of prescription drugs are a problem everywhere, and McKinney is no exception.  Over 20 percent of the children in the public schools in McKinney are eligible for free or reduced lunches.  Affordable healthcare is a huge need for many families.  David's goal is to expand local projects not only to help those who are economically-disadvantaged, but to also increase Rotary's visibility in the community. 
 
McKinney Sunrise Rotary Club also funds two endowments that provide college scholarships and classroom teacher grants through the McKinney Education Foundation.  Clothing and educational resources for elementary and middle school kids in the McKinney ISD schools and economically-disadvantaged kids in private pre-schools are major initiatives funded by the McKinney Sunrise Rotary Club. 
 
David is a graduate of the University of North Texas and received his law degree from the University of Kansas.  He is married to Bethany and the couple has two children, Alex (age 6) and Sara (age 3). 
 
Rotary International is a global organization of over 2.8 million members that promotes "service above self" and honors diversity of people and ideas.  We welcome David as one of our newest members, and he wants to hear your ideas to make McKinney and Collin County a welcoming place for families of all races, cultures, and economic status.