The actor headlines the AIF’s New England gala, which raises $800,000 for the organization’s programs in India.
Popular Indian actor Jaaved Jaaferi and visually impaired Indian tech professional Madhubala Sharma were among headliners at the American India Foundation’s 11th annual New England gala held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on March 18.
The event, which attracted top entrepreneurs, philanthropists, thought leaders and the youth force from the area and showcased the convening power of AIF, raised $800,000 for the organization’s programs in India.
More than four hundred of the area’s committed enthusiasts joined the evening of inspiration that was the recurring theme throughout the evening.
Jaaferi, the gala’s special guest, echoed the “Inspire†theme in his speech.
“We must correct the imbalances in society which are totally man made and change can happen only when individuals and organizations like AIF take responsibility, he said. “It is entities like AIF that are empowering those who are at the fringes of society and need to be uplifted from poverty in India.â€
The actor also moderated a chat with the visually impaired Sharma, a Learning & Development manager at Concentrix in Gurgaon, India. She shared her personal story of the challenges she faced while growing up in India and how she overcame them through support from organizations like the National Association of the Blind and AIF which has helped her in leading a full life.
Sharma was accompanied by AIF NGO partner National Association for the Blind Director Shalini Khanna on stage.
Boston-area couple Andy and Deepa Acharya-Gupta, the gala chairs for the evening who conceptualized the “Inspire†theme this year, said in their opening remarks, “The people in need in India have the same aspirations as each one of us, but do not have the resources to bridge dreams and reality.â€
Andy Gupta also urged people to reflect on their own personal journeys and the difference people made to their own path to success. He said people have the power today to completely transform the lives of people and he urged everyone in the room to give joyfully.
Alex Counts, President and CEO of AIF, shared his vision of AIF after taking office last year and that his agenda included a more focused monitoring and evaluation of all programs in AIF in India. He urged everyone to leave the night inspired and be better agents for positive change in the own communities here and in India.
Boston-area’s Channel 5 Chief Meteorologist Mike Wankum lead an exciting live auction for the evening.
The mater of the ceremonies was comedian Anish Shah, who had the audience in splits.
Other attractions of the evening included a special surprise hit feature, a Robot that teleported AIF president Lata Krishnan so that she could mix and mingle with the guests and another Butler robot that moved around serving hors d’oeuvres.
Rage Frameworks, founded by Venkat Srinivasan, who is a member of the AIF Board of Directors, gave $100,000 as a challenge grant boosting the final fundraising tally for the evening.
Besides chairs Dr. Gupta and Dr. Acharya-Gupta, the organizing team included Nalini and Raj Sharma, Namita and Santhana Krishnan, Pratima and Dr. Venkat Srinivasan, Drs. Sunita and Brian Pereira, Vandana and Vivek Sharma, Venky Raghavendra, Farida Kathawalla, Nimit Nathwani, Sangita Thakore, Srini Ambati, Vikram Mahidhar, Anu Chitrapu, Asha Shah, Jayati Vaidya, Sahil Aggarwal, Nirmala Garimella and Suchitra Krishna. Other volunteers included Alankrita Narang, Andraea Dewaele, Archana Jauhar, Arya Anand, Diya Anand, Hongyu Lin, Josh Patel, Nikhila Ambati, Nikita Patel, Sabrina Choi, Sangita Murali and Shrunothra Ambati.
