CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS), a facility serving seniors among Asian American community, celebrated twenty years of its existence in Chicagoland organizing one of the most successful fundraisers for further boosting its activities in the coming year.
The fundraiser at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, a Chicago suburb, attended by 900 plus guests and a host of Illinois officials, was reflective of the public and private backing for this burgeoning social organization.
As put by one of its most senior members, Shankar Prasad Bhatt, it would spur the executive team, the staff, workers and volunteers for reaching out more to the Asian American community, especially seniors. Bhatt was recognized for his yeoman services to the organization
MAFS provides comprehensive and integrated social services to the immigrant population of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middle East and European countries. “Our services include adult day care services, home care services, hot meal program, health education and screening, citizenship and immigration assistance, public benefits assistance, job training, computer training and ESL class, interpretation and translation services, support services for caregivers, medical clinic and health promotion programs,” said Santosh Kumar , Executive Director, often described as Mother Teresa of the Indian community, detailing the accomplishments of MAFS in her welcome address.
She pointed out that MAFS 7 offices serving 11 counties in the Greater Chicago area are actively pursuing its Assisted Living Project for seniors. She added that MAFS has established Adult Day service center in Vernon Hills and is working in McHenry County to have the similar facility.
Efforts are also afoot to have Adult Day service center and medical care in Schaumburg and Orland Park facilities in the near future. Yet another feather in its cap would be the start of a home health agency which is projected for coming year
The festivities started with lamp lighting and invocation prayer. The Master of Ceremony for this event was Masala-T, who is the co-star of the worldwide talk show Hotchaat. He introduced and invited all the guests of honor to the stage and prompted them to say a few words about this joyous occasion.
Following the speeches, there were dance performances presented by Soorya Dance Academy, from Northbrook Illinois. The first invocatory dance “Pushpanjali” was in praise of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati in Kuchipudi style. The performers offered flowers and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha, who is the destroyer of evil forces and Goddess Saraswati, who is the embodiment of knowledge. Patel girls presented Nimbuda Dance and it was relished by all.
The audience enjoyed a sumptuous dinner before the start of the music program. The legendary singer Kishore Kumar’s musical legacy was presented by two of his sons – Sumeet Kumar and Amit Kumar accompanied by a live orchestra from India. It was truly a remarkable concert taking the audience down memory lane and providing an opportunity to relish popular hits of yesteryears. The audience was totally spellbound by their charismatic performance which was interspersed with audio-visual clippings of Kishore Kumar’s musical career in Bollywood.
The program concluded with raffle drawing and announcement of silent auction winner.
Ramesh Soparawala & Asian Media USA
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