ANAHEIM, CA: Saahas for Cause brought together 350 community members, supporters, leaders, and change makers for its 3rd Annual Gala, held on September 12 at the Anaheim Marriott Suites. The evening celebrated a powerful idea that is at the heart of Saahas’s work: meaningful change begins when someone has the courage to take the first step, and that one step can create ripples that can transform families, communities, and generations.
The celebration began the evening before with an intimate Board and Honorees Dinner at Spice Affair in Beverly Hills, hosted by Karanbir Singh and bringing together Saahas leadership and this year’s distinguished honorees. The evening started with poetry and comedy skits and was concluded by a special book reading by Deepti Naval from her memoir, A Country Called Childhood. She highlighted not only the struggles but also what it means to be an immigrant, sharing powerful images from her story. One image that left a deep impact was that of her grandmother, who, after being displaced from Burma during World War 2, stood at the edge of a hill, her gramophone strapped to her back, forced to throw away the records her husband had bought for her. Each record symbolizes the treasured memories and feelings of home that one has to detach from as one is uprooted from their homeland.
The night came alive through their gala’s theme, “The Ripple Effect,” which highlighted how meaningful change can begin when people come together and start with the smallest act of care. Whether it is choosing to volunteer, reaching out to someone in need, giving resources, or just being there, a single act of care can create ripples that extend through families and into the wider community.
Board Chair Dr. Seema Arora opened the evening by warmly welcoming and honoring acclaimed Indian actress, filmmaker, and writer Deepti Naval as the Chief Guest, along with Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Consul General of India. The program unfolded like a conversation between where we are and what we want to achieve. A special highlight of the gala was an engaging fireside chat with Deepti Naval, hosted by Dr. Rohit Kohli. Their conversation brought an intimate and reflective dimension to the evening, reinforcing the gala’s themes of courage, humanity, compassion, and the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of others. This year, across all our programs, Saahas has already served more than 20,579 members of our community.
The gala program was hosted by Dr. Rohit Kohli and Aakriti Kundra, who guided guests through an evening of reflection, recognition, and celebration. The evening also recognized five distinguished leaders whose contributions exemplify the spirit of service, leadership, and positive change. Mr. Navneet Chugh facilitated the awards presentation: CEO of the Year — Mr. Himanshu Palsule; Humanitarians of the Year — Mr. Shaku and Jay Nitturkar; Visionary Leader of the Year — Mr. Shashi Tripathi; Lifetime Achievement Award — Mr. Vinod Bhindi.
Saahas concluded the evening by expressing its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Navneet Chugh, founder of Chugh LLP, for his extraordinary support and commitment. His support, ideas, and reflection have been the backbone of Saahas. From the earliest stages of planning through the execution of the gala, Mr. Chugh stood alongside Saahas not simply as a supporter, but as a dedicated member of the team. His efforts were instrumental in bringing these distinguished achievers to Saahas and helped advance our mission.
“You may never meet every person whose life you touch. You may never hear their name. You may never know the exact moment when your generosity created an opportunity for them, a resource, or simply a reassurance that they are not alone. Your generosity could be the answer to someone’s prayer.” – Payal Sawhney.
Also Read: Saahas Hosts Annual Gala: Celebrating Impact and Honoring Leaders
