NEW YORK: Why would young people all be wearing sunglasses in the darkness of a happening bar? The Empire State Building was recently lit up with a very different kind of light – the light of giving –
when CH2 hosted the 20/20 Party Bring Sight Tonight at the Empire Room on July 26.
CH2, the junior branch of Children’s Hope India, held a swinging cocktail soiree for over 300 supporters – and the idea of this fun evening was to raise funds to correct and prevent blindness in children in India through the K.K. Eye Institute of Pune.
“I’m proud to say our CH2 organization and followers keep growing every year,” says Monica Lund, who is on the board of CH2. “This year we hosted over 300 young professionals from the NY/NJ area and were able to raise over $15,500 towards a great cause- Providing Sight for the Sightless. Not only were we able to raise money for an amazing cause, but we were able to have fun in the process!”
Indeed, CH2 has found a novel way of turning the quintessential New York party into a vehicle for creating good karma. Drinks, food and shopping all became a way of raising funds. Noted restaurants like Cafe Spice served chicken and paneer tikka and samosas, and Chef Jehangir Mehta of Mehtaphor contributed dishes like vegetable chat and beef kebabs.
For those with a sweet tooth, AMR Catering set up a heavenly feast of desserts. Vendors showcased Satya jewelry, Shawls by Sonika and Luv the World T-shirts. Guests won exciting raffles to the US Open and to trendy restaurants in the city.
DJ Kucha rocked the party and Jharna Jaisinghani of Artistic Affairs helped create the ambiance for the evening. Kucha had everyone dancing from all the Bollywood hits to “Call me Maybe” which is this fun pop song out right now. While everyone had a fun evening, the cool thing as a guest was to acquire a pair of dark glasses – given as a thank you gift to those who contributed towards funding eye care for children in rural India.
“Everyone was wearing their sunglasses, adding another fun element to the night while also a great reminder for why were all there,” recalls Puja Pahlajani, a CH2 board member. “It was our biggest turn out yet! Everyone left asking “When’s your next one?!”
The party buzzed with young professionals who were generous in opening up their wallets. Thanks to their efforts, over 15,000 children will be screened in rural Maharashtra under this program. Vitamin A supplementation, spectacles and eye surgeries will be provided to prevent and correct blindness. Areas in India to be covered are in Maval Taluka, Maharashtra, villages of Kamset, Khandala, Kanhe Phata.
India Post News Service
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