2015 DIL Houston Gala
DIL Houston 2015 chapter board, left to right: Huma Nawab Haider, Naila Qureshi, Neelofur Ahmad, Aquila Chawdhary, Wajid Mirza, Salma Siddiqi, Sharmeen Akbani Gangat, Maha Rasheed Khan, Saima Husaini, Farida Abjani, Ayesha Mahmood, Janey-Ali Rizvi
The Houston chapter of Developments in Literacy (www.dil.org) held its 13th annual gala, “1001 Arabian Nights”, on September 12, 2015 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak. Over 600 guests in elegant themed formal wear attended the sold out event. The gala raised more than $350,000 to continue DIL’s mission of providing quality education to underprivileged children in Pakistan.
Keynote speaker Brenda Erlinger
Drum Café South started the program with a high energy percussion performance. The evening was hosted by MC Rashi Vats of FOX 26 Houston. Chapter President Neelofur Ahmad introduced the keynote speaker, Brenda Erlinger, DIL’s Director of Program Development. She delivered a touching address with several video testimonials by DIL teachers and students. The program continued with a live auction and fund in need appeal, following by a brief awards ceremony. DIL Houston honored Uzma Bawkher for her years of dedication to the chapter. Houston event planning firm Deco Art was recognized for its beautiful work decorating the gala in the past two years.
Following the program, guests enjoyed a Middle Eastern dinner catered by Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet. Notable guests included Pakistan Consul General Mr. Afzaal Mahmood, Sri Lankan Consul General Dr. Bandula Wijay, and Houston mayoral candidate Mr. Adrian Garcia.
DIL Houston 2015 chapter board, left to right: Huma Nawab Haider, Naila Qureshi, Neelofur Ahmad, Aquila Chawdhary, Wajid Mirza, Salma Siddiqi, Sharmeen Akbani Gangat, Maha Rasheed Khan, Saima Husaini, Farida Abjani, Ayesha Mahmood, Janey-Ali Rizvi
Guests enjoying a photo op, left to right: Swati Narayan, Geeta Anand, Sippi Khurana, Farida Abjani
