Delphi’s Raj Gupta, Al Jazeera America’s Ali Velshi headline the event.
AB Wire
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PHILADELPHIA: The American India Foundation, which is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India, launched its latest Chapter in Philadelphia on October 2.
Nearly a hundred people from the Greater Philadelphia region attended the event held at the downtown Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
Raj Gupta, chairman of the board of directors of Delphi Automotive, was the chief guest, while Al Jazeera America host Ali Velshi delivered the keynote address.
In an emotional and moving speech, Velshi, whose great grand parents moved to Africa from Gujarat a century ago, recalled the struggles his forefathers had to endure in their adopted land. He praised the work AIF is doing to provide opportunities for the less privileged in the Indian society.
In his remarks, Gupta stressed the importance of philanthropic work organizations such as AIF is doing in the United States and India. “A dollar and 25 cents can make a difference,” he said, urging everyone to share his or her wealth.
AIF CEO M.A. Ravi Kumar spoke about the mission of the organization.
Other speakers included the chapter founding members Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Kavita Gupta, AIF Senior Director of Philanthropy and Development Venky Raghavendra, and Deepak Jolly, a vice president at Coca-Cola India.
“Philadelphia being the city of firsts and with the huge potential that it holds, it is important to have a strong presence and chapter here,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta told the American Bazaar.
He also pointed out that Philadelphia will become the hub that will connect the AIF’s New York and Washington, DC, chapters.
“We have been following the work of AIF for many years now,” said Dr. Kavita Gupta. Having attended the recent Gala in New York and seeing first-hand the power of the collective vision and efforts, we felt very compelled to bring like-minded people together and launch a chapter here in the greater Philadelphia.”
Greater Philadelphia region, comprising the City of Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware, is home to leading universities, businesses and a population that has strong ties to India. With the launch of its new chapter, AIF hopes to tap these resources.
AIF was founded by the initiative of former President Bill Clinton after the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake following a suggestion from former Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. The foundation is one of the largest development organisations in the US dedicated to helping poor and marginalised people in India.
The ten other cities and regions AIF has chapters are Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New England, New York Tristate Area, Orange County, Richmond VA and Washington, DC.