CEO of MasterCard Ajay Banga headlined the meet.
By The American Bazaar Staff
VIENNA, VA: Indian American CEO of MasterCard Ajay Banga headlined Pratham DC’s 2014 annual fundraiser held here at the Gannett headquarters on October 4.
More than 200 people attended the gala, which raised more than $210,000 for Pratham DC. (The amount includes previous commitments as well.)
Banga, who is also the chairman of the US-India Business Council, referred to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said India is undergoing a transformation under the new premier.
Banga had shared the stage with Modi on September 30, at the reception USIBC gave in honor of the prime minister.
Indian American actor Omi Vaidya, Pratham DC President Ramesh Mahalingam and the organization’s National Board of Directors Executive Chairman Dinyar (Dinny) Devitre also spoke on the occasion.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, lit the ceremonial lamp. Among the guests was Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and Assistant Secretary for Global Markets at the Department of Commerce Arun M. Kumar.
One of the highlights of the evening was a performance by the New York-based Indian American bhangra artist Bikram Singh.
Pratham DC’s goal for the year is fund the education of 8,000 children in India and transform their lives.