The event will be held at Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.
By Raif Karerat
The Virginia chapter of the American India Foundation (AIF) will host its third annual gala on June 10 at the Science Museum of Virginia, according to the organization.
The gala — which is expected to attract more than 250 attendees — will honor Terry McAuliffe, the 72nd Governor of Virginia, for his leadership and contributions to bolstering an improved Virginia economy.
The proceeds will benefit social and economic programs in both India and locally throughout Virginia, the AIF said in a statement.
Beginning this year, AIF Virginia has selected Family Lifeline as its local partner in order to generate funds to support both Indian and U.S.-based initiatives.
“AIF continuously seek opportunities to make difference in the lives of people who need help,” Sanjay Mittal, chair of the chapter, told The American Bazaar. “Supporting our programs in India will always remain key to us but at the same time, it is important for us to support and give back to the communities where we live and work.”
In addition to benefitting Family Lifeline, the gala will aim to raise funds for AIF’s Digital Equalizer Program, which connects under-resourced government schools in India to a wider scope of technology.
The honoree, McAuliffe, has conducted a series of trade missions, including two to China, and personally delivered Virginia’s calling card to business leaders around the globe. He has secured thousands of jobs and more than $10 billion in capital investment for communities across the Commonwealth.
In order to elevate Virginia to a competitive economic platform, he is implementing significant development initiatives designed to strengthen the Commonwealth’s pro-business climate, ensure efficient investment in world-class infrastructure, and develop a modern workforce capable of meeting the needs of emerging businesses and industries.
Earlier in 2016, Gov. McAuliffe gleaned widespread bipartisan support for $1 billion toward new investments in education at all levels. He also successfully secured passage of a law establishing a pay-for-performance workforce training program, which is the first of its kind in the United States.
Furthermore, Virginia is home to nearly 800,000 veterans, and the Governor has committed himself to advocating for the brave men and women who have served their country domestically and abroad.
McAuliffe has led the charge in establishing the Virginia Values Veterans initiative, which encourages employers to recruit, hire, train and retrain veterans, and toiled to facilitate partnerships that increase Virginia veterans’ access to health care.
Due to the governor’s influence, Virginia has even garnered the distinction of becoming the first state in the union to functionally eradicate the plight of veteran homelessness, and he is making unprecedented strides in restoring civil liberties to rehabilitated felons who have completed their sentences and duly paid their debt to society.
McAuliffe — who attended Catholic University and Georgetown Law School — is the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a position he held from 2001 to 2005.
He is also a trusted ally of the Clinton camp, having served not only as chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, but also as co-chairman during President Bill Clinton’s 1996 push for re-election.
When | June 10, 2016 |
Where | Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond |
Registration link | http://aif.org/event/3rd-annual-virginia-gala/ |