LOS ANGELES, CA–Yoga Gives Back (YGB) honored Mallika Chopra, author of ‘Living with Intent,’ with the first-ever Yoga Gives Back Namaste Award at the fourth-annual Thank You Mother India fundraiser at the home of philanthropist Amarjit Marwah in Malibu, on Sept. 26.The sold-out event witnessed over 200 members of the Southern California yoga express gratitude to “Mother India” for the gift of yoga.
“We are truly overjoyed by the tremendous turnout at this year’s event,” said Kayoko Mitsumatsu, a Japanese-American documentary film producer and practicing yogi, who founded the L.A.based non profit Yoga Gives Back in 2007. “We were so happy to present our first Namaste Award to Mallika Chopra, who elegantly spoke about the power of meditation and led a brief meditation at the event.” The Namaste Award was established to recognize special people who have gone beyond the practice and teaching of yoga to incorporate humanitarian service, which elevates humankind and helps make the world a better place.
The fundraiser kicked off with a welcome cocktail reception which allowed guests to mingle and bid on the various silent auction items.This was followed by a performance by the Odissi dancers and a delicious dinner. After dinner, the Namaste Award ceremony took place, a short YGB FILM was presented, along with a live auction and raffle. Each event attendee received a generous gift bag from the event sponsors.
This local Malibu fundraiser serves as the launch for YGB’s annual five-month, global fundraising campaign. From September 2015 through January 2016, more than 150 YGB events will take place in over 15 countries heightening awareness of the realities faced by the poor, especially women and children India. “In 2014-2015, nearly $70,000 was raised globally through this annual global campaign. Yoga studios and communities hosted special yoga classes or fundraiser events whose proceeds raised the majority of funding for YGB’s programs,” says Mitsumatsu. “Including the proceeds of this year’s Malibu event, our end goal this year is to arrive at $100,000.” “For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life” is the organization’s mantra, which has grown 35% every year since 2009, and now funds nearly 700 mothers and children in Karnataka and West Bengal, India. YGB’s micro-loans and educational scholarships offer a minimum five-year commitment to each recipient.
The fundraiser kicked off with a welcome cocktail reception which allowed guests to mingle and bid on the various silent auction items.This was followed by a performance by the Odissi dancers and a delicious dinner. After dinner, the Namaste Award ceremony took place, a short YGB FILM was presented, along with a live auction and raffle. Each event attendee received a generous gift bag from the event sponsors.
This local Malibu fundraiser serves as the launch for YGB’s annual five-month, global fundraising campaign. From September 2015 through January 2016, more than 150 YGB events will take place in over 15 countries heightening awareness of the realities faced by the poor, especially women and children India. “In 2014-2015, nearly $70,000 was raised globally through this annual global campaign. Yoga studios and communities hosted special yoga classes or fundraiser events whose proceeds raised the majority of funding for YGB’s programs,” says Mitsumatsu. “Including the proceeds of this year’s Malibu event, our end goal this year is to arrive at $100,000.” “For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life” is the organization’s mantra, which has grown 35% every year since 2009, and now funds nearly 700 mothers and children in Karnataka and West Bengal, India. YGB’s micro-loans and educational scholarships offer a minimum five-year commitment to each recipient.
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