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Bollywood Calling Hollywood
By Laju Shah
July 26, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC: Washingtonians got a bite of Indian glamour and fashion when organizers Manan Katohora and Tejash Natali put together an event called "Bollywood Calling Hollywood" at the The Indian Experience restaurant on July 17, 2010.
This event, which drew in a crowd of a few hundred people was a fundraiser for the South Asian non-profit Sankara Eye Foundation which collects funds to help develop eye care centers in India. With over twenty models, the Comedian Dan Nainan as the MC for the evening, and a variety of fabulous music played by an amazing DJ, this event really was the place to be seen that night.
Tejash Natali, one of the co-organizers of the evening was delighted that his vision of "unity and diversity" of Indian cultures manifested into an evening where models from a variety of ethnic background including Indian, African, Asian and even Eastern European were able to display the lovely Indian outfits created by designer Afsa Zahid. Manan Katohora another organizer said "the beauty of the event was that even though not all the models were professionals, they did an amazing job". "With a lot of hard work, we put together a great show in a short period of time". One model, Alpita Patel traveled with a friend all the way from Philadelphia to take part in the show. When asked why she she had traveled all the way to Washington DC, she said "I believe in the fundraiser and the work of Sankara Eye Foundation. Manan is a friend and I wanted to support his work on this event".
The event, which had over 560 people in attendance raised $1001 for Sankara Eye Foundation. When asked about the allocation of the funds, Manan Katahora stated that free VIP passes were given to local celebrities, community leaders, and decision makers in DC/MD/VA and only 1/3 of all profits were donated to support Sankara Eye Foundation.
Clearly everyone was committed to throwing a fantastic event devoted to raising funds for a great cause and entertaining audiences with a culminating party full of music and fashion.
For more information on Sankara Eye Foundation please visit: www.giftofvision.org
This event, which drew in a crowd of a few hundred people was a fundraiser for the South Asian non-profit Sankara Eye Foundation which collects funds to help develop eye care centers in India. With over twenty models, the Comedian Dan Nainan as the MC for the evening, and a variety of fabulous music played by an amazing DJ, this event really was the place to be seen that night.
Tejash Natali, one of the co-organizers of the evening was delighted that his vision of "unity and diversity" of Indian cultures manifested into an evening where models from a variety of ethnic background including Indian, African, Asian and even Eastern European were able to display the lovely Indian outfits created by designer Afsa Zahid. Manan Katohora another organizer said "the beauty of the event was that even though not all the models were professionals, they did an amazing job". "With a lot of hard work, we put together a great show in a short period of time". One model, Alpita Patel traveled with a friend all the way from Philadelphia to take part in the show. When asked why she she had traveled all the way to Washington DC, she said "I believe in the fundraiser and the work of Sankara Eye Foundation. Manan is a friend and I wanted to support his work on this event".
The event, which had over 560 people in attendance raised $1001 for Sankara Eye Foundation. When asked about the allocation of the funds, Manan Katahora stated that free VIP passes were given to local celebrities, community leaders, and decision makers in DC/MD/VA and only 1/3 of all profits were donated to support Sankara Eye Foundation.
Clearly everyone was committed to throwing a fantastic event devoted to raising funds for a great cause and entertaining audiences with a culminating party full of music and fashion.
For more information on Sankara Eye Foundation please visit: www.giftofvision.org
Sharing is Caring: Share & Care Foundation 4th Annual Gala
By Shafaq Khan
June 8, 2010
Supporter Masquerading
New York City: Share and Care 4th Annual fundraising Gala on June 4, 2010, held at the Midtown Loft.
Held in a seductive loft overlooking Midtown’s rooftops, gathered New York’s glamorous supporters of this very unique Foundation. Share and Care takes pride in addressing women’s empowerment, education, and entrepreneurial development of rural India. The Share & Care Foundation, started over 25 years ago, has not only raised an astonishing amount of funds for its causes, but also an awareness and deeper understanding within all that support these causes. The Foundation had great impact at the Gala through a presentation of its efforts and annual development in rural India.
The crowd was young, chic, and intellectually stimulating. The theme was masquerade and the venue was full of bright colored masquerade masks. The DJ played the hippest along with traditional classics. The catering was delectable, as the drinks were refreshing. This Gala went beyond traditional black tie events in ways as innovative as the on ground operations they hold.
The silent action was not the only buzz of the night. The most impressive part was how far this foundation’s loyal supporters would go; offering themselves as auctioned dates in the name of charity. As New York’s most beautiful came on stage to be bid on for one special night, the bids started at a humble $50 to end at an incredible $900s. To raise money is one thing, to raise it within the energy Share and Care provided on a very special Friday night, is truly another.
For more information on the Share & Care Foundation visit: www.shareandcare.org
Held in a seductive loft overlooking Midtown’s rooftops, gathered New York’s glamorous supporters of this very unique Foundation. Share and Care takes pride in addressing women’s empowerment, education, and entrepreneurial development of rural India. The Share & Care Foundation, started over 25 years ago, has not only raised an astonishing amount of funds for its causes, but also an awareness and deeper understanding within all that support these causes. The Foundation had great impact at the Gala through a presentation of its efforts and annual development in rural India.
The crowd was young, chic, and intellectually stimulating. The theme was masquerade and the venue was full of bright colored masquerade masks. The DJ played the hippest along with traditional classics. The catering was delectable, as the drinks were refreshing. This Gala went beyond traditional black tie events in ways as innovative as the on ground operations they hold.
The silent action was not the only buzz of the night. The most impressive part was how far this foundation’s loyal supporters would go; offering themselves as auctioned dates in the name of charity. As New York’s most beautiful came on stage to be bid on for one special night, the bids started at a humble $50 to end at an incredible $900s. To raise money is one thing, to raise it within the energy Share and Care provided on a very special Friday night, is truly another.
For more information on the Share & Care Foundation visit: www.shareandcare.org
Knowledge is Power: Nanubhai's Celebrity Gala for Education
By Indy Rishi Sekhon
May 26, 2010
Kirsten Hill, Raj Shah and Lyndi Milton
New York City: Nanubhai Education Foundation Second Annual Gala held on May 21, 2010 at the Chelsea Art Museum.
A sunny day welcomed a gala, celebrities, fundraising for a great cause, gorgeous outfits, and art: all in one place. Located on the Hudson River, the Chelsea Art Museum was perfect for the occasion. The Nanubhai Education Foundation was created in 2004 to help provide equal access to education for children in poor rural areas. Nanubhai sends fellows and teachers to India where they spend time teaching children and adults in villages. One of the primary goals of the Foundation is to lay down an infrastructure that villagers can follow long after Nanubhai leaves.
Some heartfelt speeches during the Gala included Kirsten Hill, the India Program Director and Cat Biddle, the Executive Director. They were both very passionate about Nanubhai and their experiences helping children in India. During their speech, a wonderful slideshow displayed pictures of their students and events that they experienced while working in Gujarat.
Sprinkled across the floor were an assortment of celebrities and public figures. Among them was American Idol’s Anoop Desai, who put on a great performance later in the evening. Melanie Kannokada, former Miss India and "Bicycle Bride" actress joined the beautiful Bollywood Hero actress Pooja Kumar to support the foundation. Janina Gavankar dropped by to exclaim her admiration and support of Nanubhai.
Indrani, a celebrity photographer, was among the stars that donated to the silent auction. Of the many exciting prizes donated to the auction, one was a ride in a fighter jet with Raj Shah, the Founder and President of Nanubhai. Raj’s hard work and dedication has been critical to the foundation’s success. Manu Narayan of Bombay Dreams donated voice lessons, and there were many other items that were donated in support of Nanubhai.
During the evening hour, infin8 Dance and AATMA Performing Arts presented incredible dance exhibitions in the middle of the art gallery. The art displays on the wall were also quite interesting. There were robotics and surrealistic video montages. The gala was replete with several bars and dining for guests. The Nanubhai Education Foundation had organized a terrific Second Annual Gala and raised awareness and donations for a worthy cause.
If you would like to donate or get involved with Nanubhai, please visit http://www.nanubhai.org/ or email: info@nanubhai.org
A sunny day welcomed a gala, celebrities, fundraising for a great cause, gorgeous outfits, and art: all in one place. Located on the Hudson River, the Chelsea Art Museum was perfect for the occasion. The Nanubhai Education Foundation was created in 2004 to help provide equal access to education for children in poor rural areas. Nanubhai sends fellows and teachers to India where they spend time teaching children and adults in villages. One of the primary goals of the Foundation is to lay down an infrastructure that villagers can follow long after Nanubhai leaves.
Some heartfelt speeches during the Gala included Kirsten Hill, the India Program Director and Cat Biddle, the Executive Director. They were both very passionate about Nanubhai and their experiences helping children in India. During their speech, a wonderful slideshow displayed pictures of their students and events that they experienced while working in Gujarat.
Sprinkled across the floor were an assortment of celebrities and public figures. Among them was American Idol’s Anoop Desai, who put on a great performance later in the evening. Melanie Kannokada, former Miss India and "Bicycle Bride" actress joined the beautiful Bollywood Hero actress Pooja Kumar to support the foundation. Janina Gavankar dropped by to exclaim her admiration and support of Nanubhai.
Indrani, a celebrity photographer, was among the stars that donated to the silent auction. Of the many exciting prizes donated to the auction, one was a ride in a fighter jet with Raj Shah, the Founder and President of Nanubhai. Raj’s hard work and dedication has been critical to the foundation’s success. Manu Narayan of Bombay Dreams donated voice lessons, and there were many other items that were donated in support of Nanubhai.
During the evening hour, infin8 Dance and AATMA Performing Arts presented incredible dance exhibitions in the middle of the art gallery. The art displays on the wall were also quite interesting. There were robotics and surrealistic video montages. The gala was replete with several bars and dining for guests. The Nanubhai Education Foundation had organized a terrific Second Annual Gala and raised awareness and donations for a worthy cause.
If you would like to donate or get involved with Nanubhai, please visit http://www.nanubhai.org/ or email: info@nanubhai.org
Singer Anoop Desai
Actress Janina Gavankar
Actress Pooja Kumar
Celebrity Photographer Indrani
SAYA!: In Action!
By Sakshi Jain
May 25, 2010
Elmhurst, NY: South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) celebrated its 2009-2010 End of the Year Talent Showcase on Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, from 12-4pm, at its center in Elmhurst, Queens.
On a sunny spring day, SAYA! youth came together to showcase their talents at the annual end of the year event. Through art, photography, video, skits, and dance; youth presented to the community the different projects they had been working on throughout the year.
Udai Tambar, Executive Director who has been working with SAYA! for twelve years, welcomed the crowd with memories from his early days at SAYA!, “Today is a culmination of the hard work and talents of so many people. I am thrilled at what the youth have accomplished this year”. New York State Senator, Jose Peralta congratulated SAYA! for its successful academic program in which students saw an average rise of 200 points in SAT scores. After the speeches, the showcase provided a forum for youth to highlight issues that affect them and their community such as poverty, peer pressure, and cultural identity. The event concluded with a public service announcement by the After-School leadership program at Richmond Hill which included a discussion on ending poverty. The SAYA! Event was a great success and enlightened the audience on the hardwork that SAYA! has accomplished throughout the year.
SAYA! was founded in 1996 with the mission to create social change and opportunities for South Asian youth to realize their fullest potential. It is the only organization in the country dedicated to providing non-sectarian comprehensive youth development services to the South Asian community, which is one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the city.
For more information on SAYA! and how to get involved, please visit: www.saya.org
On a sunny spring day, SAYA! youth came together to showcase their talents at the annual end of the year event. Through art, photography, video, skits, and dance; youth presented to the community the different projects they had been working on throughout the year.
Udai Tambar, Executive Director who has been working with SAYA! for twelve years, welcomed the crowd with memories from his early days at SAYA!, “Today is a culmination of the hard work and talents of so many people. I am thrilled at what the youth have accomplished this year”. New York State Senator, Jose Peralta congratulated SAYA! for its successful academic program in which students saw an average rise of 200 points in SAT scores. After the speeches, the showcase provided a forum for youth to highlight issues that affect them and their community such as poverty, peer pressure, and cultural identity. The event concluded with a public service announcement by the After-School leadership program at Richmond Hill which included a discussion on ending poverty. The SAYA! Event was a great success and enlightened the audience on the hardwork that SAYA! has accomplished throughout the year.
SAYA! was founded in 1996 with the mission to create social change and opportunities for South Asian youth to realize their fullest potential. It is the only organization in the country dedicated to providing non-sectarian comprehensive youth development services to the South Asian community, which is one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the city.
For more information on SAYA! and how to get involved, please visit: www.saya.org
Masala Bhangra Tenth Anniversary/DVD Launch
By Rachna Kapur
May 8, 2010
Sarina Jain
The "Indian Jane Fonda", Sarina Jain just launched her latest 'Masala Bhangra' workout DVD during the ten-year anniversary of the "Masala Bhangra Workout". The anniversary and DVD launch celebrations were held in New York City at the Red Bull Space in Tribeca on May 8, 2010. A percentage of the ticket sales benefited the Greater New York City affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The event featured a performance by the musical group "Red Baraat", a henna artist, Indian themed cocktails and food.
The Masala Bhangra Workout® is a cardiovascular and strength-training dance routine that modernizes the high-energy folk dance from Punjab in Northern India by blending it with the exhilaration of Bollywood moves. Since the launch of Jain’s first video ten years ago, Masala Bhangra has expanded to include the training of more than 100 MBW® instructors throughout the U.S.; seven workout videos; Sarina Jain’s own one-hour fitness show on Discovery Channel’s Fit TV, and the first and only Indian-inspired Certified Fitness Program. For more information visit: www.masaladance.com
The Masala Bhangra Workout® is a cardiovascular and strength-training dance routine that modernizes the high-energy folk dance from Punjab in Northern India by blending it with the exhilaration of Bollywood moves. Since the launch of Jain’s first video ten years ago, Masala Bhangra has expanded to include the training of more than 100 MBW® instructors throughout the U.S.; seven workout videos; Sarina Jain’s own one-hour fitness show on Discovery Channel’s Fit TV, and the first and only Indian-inspired Certified Fitness Program. For more information visit: www.masaladance.com
Sarina Jain
Red Baarat
Masala Bhangra Instructors
Red Baraat
Manavi's 25th Anniversary Gala
By Rachna Kapur
May 9, 2010
Actress Zeenat Aman
Celebrating 25 years of helping in the struggle to eradicate violence against women, Manavi has come a long way from its humble beginnings to a well established organization that has its voice heard at the state and national level. Manavi celebrated their accomplishments by organizing a formal gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jersey City, NJ on May 8, 2010. The event included a beautiful venue overlooking the New York skyline, a guest speaker who is known for her work in Indian cinema, delicious Indian cuisine, and most importantly words from survivors of domestic abuse. Joya Dass (AVS host), emcee of the gala honored Ellen Pence, who has dedicated 30 years to ending violence in lives of women and children. Zeenat Aman was a guest speaker who spoke about the controversial roles that dealt with social justice issues that she took on during her career in Indian cinema, survivors spoke about the abuse they had experienced and the help they received from Manavi. From the many women that spoke about their experience with Manavi, guests learned that Manavi's mission is not only to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence against women, but to also help women that are suffering and provide them with the needed help. After the many moving speeches, guests were treated with a special musical performance by Raje Shwari.
Manavi provides victims of abuse with a safe haven called "Ashiana", they provide clothing, food, support and shelter. Manavi also goes steps further and provides victims with therapy, legal support and cellular phones donated by Verizon Wireless. Manavi was founded in 1985 and was the first organization of its kind for the South Asian community in the United States. They have helped countless victims get back on their feet and many of them have turned around and supported other victims of domestic violence.
For more information on Manavi and to donate visit: www.manavi.org
Manavi provides victims of abuse with a safe haven called "Ashiana", they provide clothing, food, support and shelter. Manavi also goes steps further and provides victims with therapy, legal support and cellular phones donated by Verizon Wireless. Manavi was founded in 1985 and was the first organization of its kind for the South Asian community in the United States. They have helped countless victims get back on their feet and many of them have turned around and supported other victims of domestic violence.
For more information on Manavi and to donate visit: www.manavi.org
Ragas & Rhapsodies
By Rachna Kapur
May 3, 2010
The non-profit organization Neerupama organized a tasteful event at the Aicon gallery in New York City on Friday, April 30, 2010 to raise funds for their organization while giving its guests a glance into global poverty and it's movement to empower the lives of street children in Kolkata. The event featured renowned director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, Jeffrey Sachs who discussed the issues that surround global poverty.
After the moving speeches and getting a glimpse of the movements in process in helping to eliminate poverty and educate the underpriviledged, guests were given an incredible classical and fusion concert by sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee and tabla player Samir Chatterjee. Guests were treated with champagne, wine and Indian appetizers, and got a chance to take home a gift pouch made by Neerupama's students.
Neerupama is a 501 C-3 organization, founded in 2008 with the goal of empowering street children to realize their potential using muti-media tools and resources. They currently work with street children in Kolkata and Mumbai between the ages of 5-14 to deliver programs in English literacy, basic math, disease prevention as well as in the performing arts with the goal of supporting Neerupama's children to avail higher education and employment opportunities.
For more information on Neerupama and to help visit: www.neerupama.org
After the moving speeches and getting a glimpse of the movements in process in helping to eliminate poverty and educate the underpriviledged, guests were given an incredible classical and fusion concert by sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee and tabla player Samir Chatterjee. Guests were treated with champagne, wine and Indian appetizers, and got a chance to take home a gift pouch made by Neerupama's students.
Neerupama is a 501 C-3 organization, founded in 2008 with the goal of empowering street children to realize their potential using muti-media tools and resources. They currently work with street children in Kolkata and Mumbai between the ages of 5-14 to deliver programs in English literacy, basic math, disease prevention as well as in the performing arts with the goal of supporting Neerupama's children to avail higher education and employment opportunities.
For more information on Neerupama and to help visit: www.neerupama.org
Neerupama Presentation
Jeffrey Sachs
Purbayan Chatterjee
Guests watching a film on Neerupama
Celebrity Poker Tournament
By Rachna Kapur
April 26, 2010
Ever wanted to play poker against your favorite sports player in an upscale classy venue? Those that came out to the Royalton Hotel in NYC on April 26, 2010 got a chance to play with players from the Jets and former players of the Giants in a Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament. The event, hosted by Sports Profiles Plus, raised money for the Mount Sinai Children's Hospital, FDNY Foundation and the 9-11 Police Aid Foundation. Celebrities in attendance included: Steve Weatherford of the NY Jets, Sean Landeta former player for the NY Giants, Howard Cross former player for the NY Giants, David Z of Z02 and Joey Cassata of Z02. The event was sponsored by Absolut, Perrier and Jack Daniels, it featured an open bar, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction. The event was a great way to raise funds for worthy causes while getting a chance to play with your favorite professional sports player!
Engendered's "Indophile"
By Rachna Kapur
March 1, 2010
Engendered has once again organized a successful night that has shattered the boundaries created by race, gender, sexuality and religion. This event brought together well known South Asian comedians from around the world on one stage at the Broadway comedy club in New York City, "Carolines". The "Indophile" event was hosted by comedian Anu Kalra, who is a regular performer at Carolines. The headliner for the night, Vidur Kapur was recently nominated for a NewNowNext Award by MTV Network's Logo channel. Other comedians included Shazia Mirza, a British Pakistani comedian that has appeared on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, Monrok, California based comedian that recently won the title "California’s Funniest Female" and Hari Kondabolu, who has appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham” and is currently appearing on the network’s “John Oliver’s New York Stand up Show.”
The comedic line-up for this event was outstanding; the topics were widespread and ranged from anything like colored contacts to same-sex marriage. The comedians made light of topics like sexuality, race, religion, sex, etc. The comedians kept the audience laughing and made them also think about the topics at hand in a different light whether it was racism for South Asians in the US, being an openly gay South Asian or arranged marriages. The performers did an amazing job of raising awareness of topics that affect the South Asian community.
For future events that explore the complex realities of gender and sexuality in modern South Asia, visit www.engendered.org.
The comedic line-up for this event was outstanding; the topics were widespread and ranged from anything like colored contacts to same-sex marriage. The comedians made light of topics like sexuality, race, religion, sex, etc. The comedians kept the audience laughing and made them also think about the topics at hand in a different light whether it was racism for South Asians in the US, being an openly gay South Asian or arranged marriages. The performers did an amazing job of raising awareness of topics that affect the South Asian community.
For future events that explore the complex realities of gender and sexuality in modern South Asia, visit www.engendered.org.
Comedian Anu Kalra
Comedian Monrok
Comedian Shazia Mirza
Comedian Vidur Kapur
YOUR DIL's "La Nuit Mystique"
By Rachna Kapur
December 13, 2009
La Nuit Mystique was a memorable night full of dancing, delicious food, excellent entertainment and most of all for a great cause. The YOUR DIL fifth annual gala was sold-out and very well organized by the YOUR DIL volunteers. The gala was held on December 12, 2009 at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan. YOUR DIL is a chapter of Dil which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works toward eradication of illiteracy in Pakistan by raising funds to establish schools for underprivileged children. Dil's fundraising activities with contributions from YOUR DIL have helped to operate 150 schools in the rural areas of Pakistan with approximately 16,000 students.
The gala served as a platform to raise awareness of YOUR DIL's support in Pakistan as well as to raise funds to help educate more children in Pakistan. The event held a silent auction, raffle, flute performance, magical performance, tarot card reader and dinner. The event was a tremendous success and helped raised thousands for a great cause!
For more information on how you can contribute or get involved with YOUR DIL visit: www.yourdil.org
The gala served as a platform to raise awareness of YOUR DIL's support in Pakistan as well as to raise funds to help educate more children in Pakistan. The event held a silent auction, raffle, flute performance, magical performance, tarot card reader and dinner. The event was a tremendous success and helped raised thousands for a great cause!
For more information on how you can contribute or get involved with YOUR DIL visit: www.yourdil.org
Pratham's Annual Gala
By Sapna Pandya
December 7, 2009
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful ballroom of the Pierre hotel in Manhattan, Pratham's Tri-State Gala was held on December 3, 2009. Pratham USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for India's underprivileged children with an opportunity to better their living situations by providing with what we may take for granted here in the US, reading and education.
The Gala served as a platform to increase awareness about the need for education in India as well as honoring Mr. and Mrs. Nilekani from Infosys Technologies, Ltd. The couple are the Chairpersons of the organization and have helped to contribute over $37 million to Pratham USA. The year of 2009 marked Pratham's Ten Year Anniversary, and served as a reminder of the growing need for education in India, along with recognizing Pratham's past accomplishments. Event co-sponsors were Peggy and Avinash Ahuja, Artha Capital, CSFB, Goldman Sach's, and the Sanger Family Foundation. Other major corporate sponsors included Morgan Stanley, American Express, Nomura, Greenberg Traurig LLC, and Ernst and Young.
Daljit Dhaliwal of World Focus PBS MC'ed the event and the evening featured many speakers, with the main guest speaker, Fareed Zakaria of CNN. Video footage following Pratham volunteers in India also made it's debut at the event, including a five-minute clip of Pratham volunteers "in action". Fareed Zakaria stated that there is definitely a difference in China and India; China being the number one socioeconomic force in the world, followed by India. "When you land in Beijing, you take a taxi and immediately you hit eight lane highways; when you land in Mumbai, India and you take a taxi, you see slums on the side of the roads, however, keep taking that taxi and you will see entrepreneurs, these entrepreneurs represent the microfoundations of India, and within these microfoundations lie the strength of India." Zakaria also went on to mention that there are many millionaire families in India, however unfortunately those same families do not make donations to organizations such as Pratham, however they will donate millions of dollars for a temple of gold with their name listed as the main benefactor.
The event concluded with a formal dinner and a live musical performance by Falu. The fundraiser gala was a success and provided guests with an overview of the foundations of Pratham and what the organizations achievements have been and what they plan to achieve in the future.
For more information on how you can contribute or get involved with Pratham visit: www.ny.prathamusa.org
The Gala served as a platform to increase awareness about the need for education in India as well as honoring Mr. and Mrs. Nilekani from Infosys Technologies, Ltd. The couple are the Chairpersons of the organization and have helped to contribute over $37 million to Pratham USA. The year of 2009 marked Pratham's Ten Year Anniversary, and served as a reminder of the growing need for education in India, along with recognizing Pratham's past accomplishments. Event co-sponsors were Peggy and Avinash Ahuja, Artha Capital, CSFB, Goldman Sach's, and the Sanger Family Foundation. Other major corporate sponsors included Morgan Stanley, American Express, Nomura, Greenberg Traurig LLC, and Ernst and Young.
Daljit Dhaliwal of World Focus PBS MC'ed the event and the evening featured many speakers, with the main guest speaker, Fareed Zakaria of CNN. Video footage following Pratham volunteers in India also made it's debut at the event, including a five-minute clip of Pratham volunteers "in action". Fareed Zakaria stated that there is definitely a difference in China and India; China being the number one socioeconomic force in the world, followed by India. "When you land in Beijing, you take a taxi and immediately you hit eight lane highways; when you land in Mumbai, India and you take a taxi, you see slums on the side of the roads, however, keep taking that taxi and you will see entrepreneurs, these entrepreneurs represent the microfoundations of India, and within these microfoundations lie the strength of India." Zakaria also went on to mention that there are many millionaire families in India, however unfortunately those same families do not make donations to organizations such as Pratham, however they will donate millions of dollars for a temple of gold with their name listed as the main benefactor.
The event concluded with a formal dinner and a live musical performance by Falu. The fundraiser gala was a success and provided guests with an overview of the foundations of Pratham and what the organizations achievements have been and what they plan to achieve in the future.
For more information on how you can contribute or get involved with Pratham visit: www.ny.prathamusa.org
Once Upon a Time in Manhattan...
By Rachna Kapur
November 21, 2009
On Thursday, November 19th, guests were invited to a magical and mystical fairytale evening served to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of New York City. Held at NYC hotspot Marquee, "Once Upon A Time In Manhattan" included a celebrity-studded red carpet, speakers from RMDH, food catered by Cipriani, cocktails by Diageo Spirits, a musical performance and a huge silent auction with items such as jewelry, baseball memorabilia, spa items, etc. Music filled the air by celebrity DJ Catherine Oullette (a.k.a. "SynCity"). Thousands of dollars were raised for a great cause and guests had a great time with the music spinning, drinks flowing and the delicious food being passed around. This fabulous event was organized by Stacy Karp of Starlet Events.
For more information on Ronald McDonald House visit: http://www.rmdh.org
