Surendra Ullal
Chicago: A meticulously planned virtual Metropolitan Asian Family Service (MAFS) 29TH SEMIANNUAL FUNDRAISER Gala streamed live around the Globe, highlighting contribution to build a safe nation, especially during this pandemic by providing essential medical and other frontline services.
The show opened with MAFS Board Member, Dr. Rakesh Asthana appealing to the people to donate for this important cause. Dr. Asthana along with Dr.Santosh Kumar, Executive Director-MAFS, Vasanti Bhatt – Board Member, Village of Hoffman Estates Trustees Michael Gatea, Anna Newell & Gary G Stanton and James DeMello Board Member, participated in the lighting of the lamp ceremony.
Followed by this was Ganesh Vandana rendition by Pavitra Anand and, her intermittent shower of songs captivating the audience. Dr. Santosh Kumar, gave the introduction speech where she mentioned the challenges the organization faced during the pandemic, yet it did not stop its relentless services to the community with door-to-door healthy food delivery, wellness checks through zoom calls and much more. She spoke about the spread of COVID-19 in India and urged everyone to help the Motherland.She made a trip to Washington DC to thank President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for releasing vaccines to India
Hoffman Estates’ Mayor William D. McLeod awarded a proclamation to Dr. Santosh Kumar honoring May 29th as “MA SANTOSH KUMAR DAY”. Village of Hoffman Estates Trustees Michael Gatea, Anna Newell & Gary G Stanton awarded Dr. Kumar with the Proclamation Plaque.
Sunil Shah-FIA presented an award of excellence to Dr. Santosh Kumar for her leadership and community service. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi saluted Dr. Santosh Kumar and her staff for their strength in providing continuous services to the Senior community including over 62,000 home delivered meals, 26,293 hours of wellness checks on zoom, and over 200,000physical In-home visits during the Covid Pandemic. He mentioned about his NOVID bill, which stands for NO MORE COVID, to abolish the deadly disease. Illinois State Senator Laura Ellman congratulated MAFS for their services to the community even during Pandemic crisis.
Seniors from Vernon Hills did a Zoom dance choreographed by ADS Coordinator, Namita Mathur following this beautiful show a very melodious song performed by Orland Park seniors “Yeh kaunchitrakarhai”. This colorful and picturesque dance, choreographed by Grishma Shah, Dr Santosh Kumar along with her Board Members,honored Kanchi Shah and Dipti Desai of Sewa International, with recognition for Sewa International’s Exemplary Leadership in serving people of India during COVID-19 Pandemic. Dr. Santosh Kumar said she was proud to join hands with Sewa International. Dr. Santosh Kumar along with Vijay Prabhakar and the Board Members also presented another award to AAPI – Dr. Suresh Reddy and Dr. Meher Madhavaram, In Recognition of American Association Of Physicians Of Indian Origin for their efforts to serve India during this Pandemic time.
Following that,Keynote Speaker, US Senator Dick Durbin praised MAFS for its extraordinary services rendered through its 12 Senior Centers assuring MAFS his extended his support to MAFS! The Mayor of Hanover Park, Rodney Craig, congratulated Dr. Kumar on her tremendous job sustaining a senior help program for 29 years The Illinois State Comptroller Susanna A. Mendoza showed her support for MAFS serving the immigration population for the past 3 decades. She understands the plight of immigrants, as her parents were immigrants too!
A commendable and inspiring music video by the seniors of the Schaumburg ADS Center was show cased. The video is titled “ Ham Har Nahi Manege”! Naperville ADSseniors did an awesome dance medley of songs ” Corona ko Haranahai” Chicago seniors put together a relevant play titled “Corona se Daro Na”! It is about an NRI family visiting India for their daughter’s wedding but gets caught in the clutches of the virus instead. A happy occasion turns into a nightmare, but the play takes a positive spin. It shows how the world is coming together as a global community to help those in need. Niles Seniors showcased noteworthy entertainment “NayeZamaneKe Seniors with Naya Andaz”. The significance of the entertainment is all the seniors are in their late 60s, 70s, and 80s
StafferRajender Singh, cook at MAFS, and an artist presented Dr.Kumar an oil painting and a charcoal sketch of herself, which was auctioned off for $2,000 dollars at the Semi-Annual Gala. The painting was so real. Dr. Kumar thanked Rajender Singh for his dedication to the organization and praised his skills
The crowd enjoyedPavithra Anand’s performance following which, Dr. Santosh Kumar thanked Pavithra and Rajendra Singh with flowers and a gift. The program ended with Sagar Kumar’s, CFO report. He thanked all the audience members, viewers, sponsors, dignitaries, and donors for their continued support to sustain the goal of MAFS.
Dr Santosh Kumar and Sagar Kumar called upon the Board Members, IT Team and the rest of the Staff members formaking this event a success. The IT Team led by none other than Prashant Kumar -IT Director came in for special praise.
To watch this show, click on the link https://youtu.be/3EYkjMY3eSg. It was announced that October 17 is also proclaimed as “MAFS Day” by the Governor of Illinois.
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