iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Akshaya Patra USA will hold its first virtual gala of 2021, Partnerships for Happiness, on Saturday, April 24th, to raise funds for hunger relief to migrant families and the mid-day meal beneficiaries in India. The event is hosted by Boston, Buffalo, Grand Rapids, Maryland and Virginia Chapters.
“Boston Chapter has always been the leader in innovative fundraisers, including being the first chapter to lead the virtual galas, last year,” said Vandana Tilak, President of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA.
Plans are underway to have an extravagant virtual gala featuring various speakers, including Sonu Sood, a Bollywood actor, producer, and humanitarian. In May 2020, Sood helped thousands of stranded Indian migrant workers reach their homes by arranging buses, special trains, and chartered flights for them.
In July 2020, he organized a chartered flight to bring home over 1,500 Indian students stranded in Kyrgyzstan, flying them from Bishkek to Varanasi. As a result of Sood’s humanitarian and charity work during the pandemic, he was chosen for the prestigious ‛SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award’ by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Joining Sood will be world-renowned, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing and a member of the Advisory Board of Akshaya Patra USA. Dr. Chopra, the author of bestseller ‘Ageless Body, Timeless Mind’ and 30 other such books, is an Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate.
A prominent figure in the New Age movement, his books and videos have made him one of the best-known and wealthiest figures in alternative medicine. The final speaker will be the talented Milind Pant, CEO of Amway and Vice-Chair of the U.S.-India Business Council Global Board of Directors.
Established in 2006, the Boston Chapter is the oldest US Chapter and pioneered the way for the other 30 US Chapters. The Boston Chapter has a supportive and generous donor base throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
It is anticipated that 1,000 families will be in attendance. Anyone interested in becoming an event sponsor or donor, can find out more information by visiting the Akshaya Patra USA website. All event sponsors and donors will be recognized and thanked through event promotional and marketing material, social media, and an e-newsletter.
Mark your calendars for an exciting and fun-filled evening as you join for Partnerships for Happiness virtual gala on April 24th. The gala is coordinated by the Boston chapter Co-Chairs Ajita Bhat, Venkat Kolluri, Bela Chandok, Rajeev Jain, and Chandu Shah, along with the Board of Advisor, Rakesh Kamdar and Chairman Emeritus, Desh Deshpande.
The Akshaya Patra Boston chapter last year announced the transition of the local leadership Then Boston Chapter Chair Rakesh Kamdar transitioned to an Advisory Board member, and was succeeded by four new Co-Chairs, Ajita Bhat, Anjan Mehta, Venkat Kolluri and Chandu Shah.
