CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Our newest Everyday Hero winner could be found at the Cascade Center in Chesapeake.
Once inside with News 3 cameras rolling, Ali Salaam knew something was up, but wasn't quite sure what it was.
I let him know News 3 has been hearing good things about him — most notably his decades of giving back to the community.
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Ali is an Imam, a religious leader in the Muslim community, and regularly helps organize efforts like food drives helping local families in need. He says he loves helping this way.
"I can't describe it, you know when you give — it's like a feeling you can't never describe," Salaam said.
And for that giving, caring spirit, his friend, community activist Bilal Muhammad had a surprise: he nominated Ali for a News 3 Everyday Hero Award, which comes with a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner Southern Bank.
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"Praise be to God! I mean, everything I try to do is for the pleasure of God, pleasing God," Salaam said. "And if that means helping people, that's what I'm devoting to...so I'm just humbled."
"He just work, work, work, and he just give, give, give," said Muhammad. "So the community need to recognize him and to appreciate him for his work."
The recognition had Ali at a loss of words, wiping away tears, and grabbing a hug from the friend who nominated him.
