Indian Gala Sweeps $1.2 Million | Pratham Houston Steals the Limelight
Indian saris and ball gowns flowed at the Hilton Americas on Saturday April 21, as more than 800 people from a cross section of this city’s diverse communities gathered to support the Annual Pratham Houston Gala raising a whopping $1.2 million. Pratham is a Mumbai, India based nonprofit that helps educate underprivileged children in India.
The organization was founded in India in 1994 in the slums of Mumbai, and later in Houston by prominent Indian American Vijay Goradia. Today Pratham is one of India’s largest non-profits, with a presence in 21 of India’s 28 states, and has touched the lives of millions of children.
The gala themed ‘We are One World‘ was successfully chaired by Marie Goradia and Medha Karve, with cocktails in the foyer where guests noshed on chicken tikkas, kabobs and other delicacies. Guests displayed a colorful array of Indian fashion wearing designers like Satya Paul, Manish Malhotra and even outfits tailored by Houston refugee women from Bhutan.
The keynote address was delivered by Ajay Banga, President & CEO, Mastercard Worldwide and Dr. Rukmini Banerji, Director of Pratham programs, who inspired the audience encouraging to take ownership and informed about Pratham being the light for a poverty free India by eradicating illiteracy and lifting the prospects of millions to make India a success story. In between speeches and a three course Indian dinner, Naach Houston dancers entertained the audience.
With a target of one million, Pratham President Swatantra Jain was overjoyed with the record breaking unprecedented amount. “This means that over 60,000 children in India can get educated for an entire year, be rescued from a vulnerable lifestyle or attend a vocational training institute and have a shot at a brighter future,” shared Mr. Jain.
Supporting literacy were Judge Ed Emmett and Gwen Emmett, Asha Dhume, Pradeep Anand,Vibhu and Shreela Sharma, Subodh Bhuchar, Sam and Omana Abraham, Virendra Mathur, Manish Jain, Vijay and Marie Goradia, Suresh and Renu Khator, Bobby and Priti Singh, Akku Patel, Sanjay and Savita Rao, and many others spotted at this most anticipated Indian gala event.
Photos By Anthony Hynes
[galleryview id=140 showPanels=true showCaptions=true showFilmstrip=true panelWidth=565 panelHeight=580 panelScale=nocrop transitionSpeed=800 transitionInterval=12000 fadePanels=true overlayPosition=top overlayOpacity=0.2 frameWidth=60 frameHeight=60 filmstripPosition=bottom pointerSize=6 frameScale=crop frameGap=5 frameOpacity=0.3 easingValue=swing navTheme=dark startFrame=1 pauseOnHover=true]
