BY SONAM MIRPURI
ANAHEIM HILLS, CA - Donating money to an organization that is doing wonders to help children is a great way to kick start the New Year and celebrate Diwali. Well-wishers of Akshaya Patra who believe in the cause gathered for an evening of fun and to open their wallets and donate at a Diwali Benefit Dinner at the Golf Club here...
ANAHEIM HILLS, CA - Donating money to an organization that is doing wonders to help children is a great way to kick start the New Year and celebrate Diwali. Well-wishers of Akshaya Patra who believe in the cause gathered for an evening of fun and to open their wallets and donate at a Diwali Benefit Dinner at the Golf Club here...
on Nov. 6 evening. Children in India go to work to help their families make money. These kids who should be going to school, getting an education and playing are unfortunately not able to because of their living situations. Instead they work and help their parents earn money to make it possible to afford food and other necessities.
The solution Akshaya Patra presents is to prepare and serve hot, healthy meals at schools so that children can excel physically and academically and break the cycle of poverty which grips their families. Akshaya Patra, public-private partnership, is an organization which works with the Indian government to assist in solving the issue at hand of children not being able to attain an education because of hunger and the need to work. The Indian government provides 60 percent of the funds needed and the remaining 40 percent is donated and raised. The Diwali Benefit Dinner was hosted in hope of raising money to fund their terrific cause. Funds were raised at the event to serve 17,000 mid-day meals to children.
Smita Mohindra, Advisory Board Member and Founder of Ethnic Essence, did an amazing job highlighting the Diwali aspect of the event. Beginning with all the fun was a cocktail hour where the attendees socialized with one another to catch up and eat appetizers. Starting off the program was emcee for the evening , Rajiv Satyal, a Los Angeles based comedian and entertainer. Satyal came on stage after his “I am Indian” video was shown. He then did what he does best - telling jokes to the delight of the audience, ranging in a variety of relatable topics.
“Indians are Republican because of the elephant, it has something to do with Ganesha,” joked Satyal to which the audience laughed hilariously! Satyal continued by joking about politics and immigration, both hot topics at the moment.
Taking a twist on the typical order of events, Satyal opened the dance floor for about 20 minutes for audience members to dance for a great cause and many came forward to dance to popular Bollywood hits.
Satyal then on a serious note, introduced a video depicting some of the work Akshaya Patra does and continues to do.
Krutika Pranav, Los Angeles Chapter Chair, who was introduced by Satyal came on stage to say a few words. One of the many points Pranav mentioned that resonated with the audience related to emotions. “No mother or child should go through the agony of not having food,” said Pranav. Emily Rosenbaum, Akshaya Patra USA C.E.O. then addressed the gathering and spoke about her experience when she visited India for the first time and the Akshaya Patra kitchen in Hubli.
“I was amazed at the great work the organization has been doing and continues to do,” said Rosenbaum.
Keynote speaker for the evening Akshaya Patra C.E.O Shridar Venkat, began by giving a brief summary of Akshaya Patra and continued by mentioning that we all attended this event to celebrate Diwali, a contrasting occasion, and he related the contrast to India as well. “We celebrate light during the darkest of times. India too is a contrast filled country. We have the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor,” said Venkat. Akshaya Patra provides 1.6 million children with a wholesome, nutritious mid-day meal in over 11,501 government schools in 27 locations across 11 states in India every day.
Additionally, Venkat mentioned that the goal is to feed 5 million children by 2020 and the ultimate goal is to not have a need for programs like Akshaya Patra because no child will go hungry.
“Let’s join hands to bring these children from darkness into the light,” said Venkat as his concluding statement.
Vandana Tilak, Director of Akshaya Patra USA, Pranav, and Rosenbaum then presented Venkat with a shawl and a plaque thanking him for coming as well as introducing them to such a great cause and the opportunity to serve.
Tilak then took the stage to give the audience some statistics about Akshaya Patra.“It takes 13 cents to feed one child one meal and 15 dollars to feed one child for an entire school year,” said Tilak.
Continuing, Tilak mentioned that Akshaya Patra plans on starting 17 new kitchens in the coming year and 42 new kitchens in the next five years. Then Tilak made a statement that caused the audience to clap profusely.“We have never skipped a day in the 15 years since we have started,” said Tilak in conclusion. Tilak requested audience members to donate however much they could to feed the hungry children. Throughout the evening, winners of the raffle draw were announced and the event came to a close with more raffle winners announced and prizes given. A sumptuous dinner was served to guests with hit Bollywood tracks playing in the background by ‘Special Occasions.’ Keeping the Diwali spirit, guests were given a goody bag as they left the venue.
The solution Akshaya Patra presents is to prepare and serve hot, healthy meals at schools so that children can excel physically and academically and break the cycle of poverty which grips their families. Akshaya Patra, public-private partnership, is an organization which works with the Indian government to assist in solving the issue at hand of children not being able to attain an education because of hunger and the need to work. The Indian government provides 60 percent of the funds needed and the remaining 40 percent is donated and raised. The Diwali Benefit Dinner was hosted in hope of raising money to fund their terrific cause. Funds were raised at the event to serve 17,000 mid-day meals to children.
Smita Mohindra, Advisory Board Member and Founder of Ethnic Essence, did an amazing job highlighting the Diwali aspect of the event. Beginning with all the fun was a cocktail hour where the attendees socialized with one another to catch up and eat appetizers. Starting off the program was emcee for the evening , Rajiv Satyal, a Los Angeles based comedian and entertainer. Satyal came on stage after his “I am Indian” video was shown. He then did what he does best - telling jokes to the delight of the audience, ranging in a variety of relatable topics.
“Indians are Republican because of the elephant, it has something to do with Ganesha,” joked Satyal to which the audience laughed hilariously! Satyal continued by joking about politics and immigration, both hot topics at the moment.
Taking a twist on the typical order of events, Satyal opened the dance floor for about 20 minutes for audience members to dance for a great cause and many came forward to dance to popular Bollywood hits.
Satyal then on a serious note, introduced a video depicting some of the work Akshaya Patra does and continues to do.
Krutika Pranav, Los Angeles Chapter Chair, who was introduced by Satyal came on stage to say a few words. One of the many points Pranav mentioned that resonated with the audience related to emotions. “No mother or child should go through the agony of not having food,” said Pranav. Emily Rosenbaum, Akshaya Patra USA C.E.O. then addressed the gathering and spoke about her experience when she visited India for the first time and the Akshaya Patra kitchen in Hubli.
“I was amazed at the great work the organization has been doing and continues to do,” said Rosenbaum.
Keynote speaker for the evening Akshaya Patra C.E.O Shridar Venkat, began by giving a brief summary of Akshaya Patra and continued by mentioning that we all attended this event to celebrate Diwali, a contrasting occasion, and he related the contrast to India as well. “We celebrate light during the darkest of times. India too is a contrast filled country. We have the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor,” said Venkat. Akshaya Patra provides 1.6 million children with a wholesome, nutritious mid-day meal in over 11,501 government schools in 27 locations across 11 states in India every day.
Additionally, Venkat mentioned that the goal is to feed 5 million children by 2020 and the ultimate goal is to not have a need for programs like Akshaya Patra because no child will go hungry.
“Let’s join hands to bring these children from darkness into the light,” said Venkat as his concluding statement.
Vandana Tilak, Director of Akshaya Patra USA, Pranav, and Rosenbaum then presented Venkat with a shawl and a plaque thanking him for coming as well as introducing them to such a great cause and the opportunity to serve.
Tilak then took the stage to give the audience some statistics about Akshaya Patra.“It takes 13 cents to feed one child one meal and 15 dollars to feed one child for an entire school year,” said Tilak.
Continuing, Tilak mentioned that Akshaya Patra plans on starting 17 new kitchens in the coming year and 42 new kitchens in the next five years. Then Tilak made a statement that caused the audience to clap profusely.“We have never skipped a day in the 15 years since we have started,” said Tilak in conclusion. Tilak requested audience members to donate however much they could to feed the hungry children. Throughout the evening, winners of the raffle draw were announced and the event came to a close with more raffle winners announced and prizes given. A sumptuous dinner was served to guests with hit Bollywood tracks playing in the background by ‘Special Occasions.’ Keeping the Diwali spirit, guests were given a goody bag as they left the venue.