PRESS Release – Children’s Hope India
October 2011
New York, USA
Children’s Hope Royal India Gala
It was the night of maharajas and maharanis, of pomp and splendor. The occasion was Children’s Hope India Royal India Gala and Pier Sixty in Chelsea Piers, Manhattan had been transformed into a royal retreat with life-size peacocks, rich silks and gorgeous live mannequins draped in Mughal couture.
Over 540 guests, dressed in their royal best, attended to support the cause of health and education in India. The guests included Consul General Prabhu Dayal and Mrs. Chandini Dayal, Congressman Frank Guarani, Derek O Brien, Member of Parliament, Ghazal King Talat Aziz, Raphael and Linda Benaroya, and Drs. Sandra and Arnold Gold of the Gold Institute for Humanism in Medicine. The Master of Ceremonies was television personality and advisory board member Tinku Jain who wove the whole evening seamlessly together.
Guests got to take their official portraits on royal thrones and feast and drink like royalty on a menu designed for maharajas. A striking dance tableux from ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ by Aatma Performing Arts set the royal mood of the evening, leading on to singer Falu’s lively performance with her band, which had guests moving to the dance floor.
The Making a Difference Award was presented to the amazing Urmi Basu, founder of New Light Center which works with women in the red light district of kalighat in Kolkata. This award was sponsored by HSBC Private Bank. Basu spoke movingly of the ‘six degrees of separation’ which connect us all in doing good work.
The Lotus Awards were presented to Daryl and Dr. Mel Rand, great friends of India, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary that day, and to the noted cardiologist Samin Sharma, who has also received the prestigious Ellis Island Award, and is presently building a hospital in Jaipur, India.
The Lotus Awards were sponsored by Poonam and AJ Khubani of Telebrands. Daryl Rand spoke eloquently about her personal connection with India and Children’s Hope. She has lead several delegations of American businesswomen to India and is once again taking one to India in February 2012, to forge new connections between the women of two countries, and also help in student-exchange.
Perhaps the most powerful 3 minutes of the evening was the screening of a video of testimonials from children who have benefited from the work of CH – it was a moving experience and many guests said they were deeply touched by it. All 11 members of the junior wing of CHI, known as CH2, who are young professionals in Manhattan, came on stage to talk about the importance of volunteering and supporting education for under-privileged children.
A new feature was also unveiled at the Royal India Gala – The Giving Tree. Through it, supporters could donate funds for the project of their choice and get a red rose or a tiny bracelet of thanks. “The Giving tree nurtures its saplings; much like Children’s Hope India aims to aid and support less fortunate children,” says Aditi Malhotra, a member of the Benefit Committee, who organized this. “By selecting a specific type of gift you are enabling a direct and immediate benefit to the children.”
A lively silent auction of luxury goods from artwork to resort stays to jewelry raised several thousand dollars. Media Sponsors were India Abroad and Sahara One.
Children’s Hope India is a volunteer organization of Indian women professionals in New York that has been raising funds for children’s health and education since 1992. We support over 20 projects across several major cities in India reaching out to over 20,000 children per year.
Visit us on the web: www.childrenshopeindia.org
About CHI, Inc.
Children’s Hope India, Inc. (CHI) is a New York-based 501 (c)(3) organization, founded in 1992 by a group of professional women in New York. It raises funds to support numerous children’s programs in India and here in the United States. The belief of the founders of Children’s Hope India, Inc. is that Every Child Counts. CHI’s mission is to give impoverished children in India a chance for a brighter future. Clean water, regular medical care, a secure food supply, and access to education-gifts like these can revolutionize a child’s life.
CHI started with a group of women sitting around a kitchen table wanting to share their blessings and good fortune with thousands of disadvantaged children in India. What started with $1000 supporting one preschool project for 25 children has grown into over 25 projects reaching out to 50 thousand children. Since its inception, Children’s Hope has raised millions to support a multitude of projects across several major cities in India providing education, food, shelter, and health services to thousands of children. In New York, Children’s Hope has given out 50 percent tuition scholarships to several South Asian students from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to assist them in pursuing their academic and career goals through college education.
Media Contact:
J, Nami Kaur
Executive Board member, Children’s Hope India
(914) 476-2082
namique@gmail.com
