LOS ANGELES: The South Asian Bar Association of Southern California Public Interest Foundation is having its Fifth Annual Public Interest Foundation Banquet on Thursday, April 24 At Union Station, Located at 800 North Alameda Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The South Asian Bar Association of Southern California is dedicated to supporting public interest projects which assist the South Asian communities in Southern California.

The Foundation provides grants to grassroots organizations that provide critical legal and social services to South Asian communities and fellowships to law students who wish to devote their careers to public service. Grants given by the Foundation play a vital role in allowing many worthwhile organizations to provide their valuable services.

Prior grant recipients include: Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice; South Asian Network; Asian Pacific Women's Center; California Sikh Council; South Asian Help and Referral Agency, and the Immigration Center for Women and Children, among many other organizations. The Banquet serves as the Foundation's primary fundraising event and will be a memorable and entertaining event.

The Banquet will gather 300 influential members of the Southern California legal and business community, as well as law students from prestigious local law schools and local state and federal judges who will be seated at sponsor tables. Each year the Foundation presents two awards: the Trailblazer Award, to an individual who has been a pioneer for South Asians in the legal community, and the Public Interest Award, to an individual who has made significant contributions to public service.

This year the Foundation is pleased to honor Trailblazer Award Recipient: Javade Chaudhri, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Sempra Energy and Public Interest Award Recipient: Nitasha Sawhney, Partner, Garcia Caldero´n Rui´z, LLP. Additionally, the keynote speaker will be Kamala Harris, District Attorney for the City of San Francisco.

Paul Saghera, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair of the Foundation, commented: "We are very excited about this year's Banquet. The Banquet will assist in continuing the Foundation's mission of supporting the often underserved South Asian communities of Southern California. We anticipate strong attendance at the event."