ANNUAL CLUB VISITATION AND PRESENTATION
Abbas Rajabi, an American by choice, grew up in Hamadan, Iran in a large family. His passion for education brought him to the United States where he pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas in Arlington. After working at several large companies, Abbas decided that his entrepreneurial spirit was too strong to deny. He began several small businesses in Texas, South Carolina and then Colorado while also building a family. Most recently, he is the founder and president of Mohegan Capital, a private real estate investment fund specializing in value-add and income producing industrial real estate.
Abbas is a very proud Denver Southeast Rotarian; he believes Rotary is the most prestigious Service, Philanthropic and Networking organization ever. Abbas has a great passion for service. As tragedies erupted around the world, he channeled the power of his Rotary family to help those in need. His passion for education inspired him to create “Pencils for Peace” - a program that gave school supplies to Afghan children. Abbas along with his Rotary friends were involved in remodeling numerous orphanages in Mexico as well as the coordination and execution of a trip to Thailand to help victims of the 2004 Tsunami. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Abbas arranged a fundraiser to benefit the brave NYFD firefighters and took a check to the New York City Rotary club. At the height of the housing crisis in the United States, Abbas coordinated the efforts of Rotarians and volunteers to help families in Denver’s east Colfax area motels buy much needed food and gifts during the holiday season. When Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy and the tornados in Joplin, Missouri happened, Abbas was quick to organize his club and the Rotary District to help those in need. Most recently Abbas served on the District’s Flood Relief Committee, fundraising for victims of the 2013 Boulder flood. In 2002-2003 he was named District 5450’s Rotarian of the Year, and remains a committed Rotarian after more than 25 years.
Abbas is married to Sami Rajabi who he met in Iran while in high school. Their first big adventure together was when Sami joined Abbas in the United States over 44 years ago. She is involved in their businesses, and uses her financial acumen and passion to help ensure a successful family business.
Sami and Abbas are proud of their four very accomplished children; a journalist and mother, a lawyer and volunteer firefighter, a physician at Harvard, and a post-doctoral fellow at U of Penn Annenberg School. All of the Rajabi's children are also Paul Harris Fellows. They have two grandchildren who bring them great joy. Aside from time with family, Abbas and Sami love spending what time they may have dreaming about traveling, reading, boating, watching films, grilling on the back deck and hosting their friends for fun, food, and fellowship!