Community Seva Gala raises $300,000

India Post News Service

MILPITAS, CA: Community Seva, California’s nonprofit of the year for 2018 from Assembly District 27, celebrated a very successful fundraising Tree of Life gala on September 22 at India Community Center in Milpitas. In five years of operation, this was the organization’s first fundraiser. They raised a staggering amount of $300,000 in total, which included sponsorships totaling $150,000 and another $150,000 in pledge amounts.

The first pledge of $10,000 came from an elderly retired gentleman followed by six other pledges of $10,000 each from other community members. Pledges kept coming in for various denominations in quick succession, and in no time, over $300,000 had been raised in total.
Donors spoke of their commitment to tackle hunger among the homeless in Bay area cities and suburbs.
The strong volunteer base that Community Seva relies on to cook meals every week ensures that 100% of funds raised go towards tackling its mission of feeding the homeless. Funds will be used to purchase a van to deliver hot meals, improve the central kitchen facility, fund a pilot project to bring mobile shower services, and to distribute winter blankets and backpacks this winter to homeless people living in shelters and encampments.

Nathan Ganeshan, Founder & President of Community Seva, delivered the keynote address that touched upon the impetus for starting this organization. Following a layoff from a tech company, on a whim he decided to buy a box of pizza for a homeless man. Soon, feeding the homeless on the weekend became a family activity.
Seeing the desperate need far outstrip the supply, Nathan reached out to ten friends who each chipped in $25 for the first group giving activity. From that point, there has been no looking back. The community of volunteers has only grown in number, determination and strength and the event was a way of thanking the small army of dedicated volunteers present as well.

Several elected officials including Ro Khanna, Congressman from District 17, Ash Kalra, State Assembly Member District 28, Kansen Chu, State Assembly Member District 27, Sunnyvale Mayor Glenn Hendricks, San Jose city council members, Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco, Sylvia Arenas, Sergio Jimenez and Johnny Khamis were present along with Sunnyvale city council member Nancy Smith and Cupertino City Council Member Savita Vaidhyanathan. Ro Khanna presented a Congressional letter of commendation to Nathan Ganeshan.
A short film that highlighted weekly cooking in the central kitchen was played and attendees heard from the true beneficiaries of this volunteerism – homeless people who were treated to a hot meal by members of the community. Mahesh Nihalani was presented the ‘Tree of Life’ award for his unstinting service on behalf of the organization. Several other volunteers from the organization were also recognized for their five years of service to the cause.

A sumptuous dinner by Dakshin and Sangeetha restaurants and desert by Jalsa was served. Puneet Kumar Pratap provided melodious saxophone music during cocktail hour, Tufaan, American high school’s Bollywood team opened the evening’s festivities and students of Farah Yasmeen Shaikh of Noorani dance used classical Kathak dance to narrate a story about giving food to alleviate hunger.