India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services celebrated its Pearl Anniversary this year. The remarkable event of 30 years of service to the community was held on Saturday, October 8, 2022. This year’s fundraiser gala was so special as MAFS, a multicultural/multiethnic, was recognized and licensed by State and federal Governments.
The event was emceed by Sameer Saini and Shweta Vasudev who had come from Texas. The celebration started with the traditional “Deep Lighting” performed by Pandit Jagdish Joshi, followed by a beautiful Kathak-based Ganesh Vandana by Gauri Jog and her students.
Prominent dignitaries in attendance were Rep.Bill Foster, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, US Sen. Laura Murphy, State Rep Michelle Mussman, State Repr Janet Yang Rohr, State Rep Barbara Hernandez, Mayor of Hanover Park Rodney Craig, Village PresidentOak Brook Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, Mayor of Orland Park Keith Pekau, Mayor of Barrington Paula McCombie, Executive Director of CLESE Marta
Pereyra, CEO, and President Age Options Diane Slezak, Darshan Dhaliwal, Dr. Bharat Barai, Chairman Maneesh Media Chandmal Kumawat.
The keynote address was given by Diane Slezak CEO, and President of Age Options, a long-standing partner of MAFS. She praised the incomparable work done by MAFS for so many years and she remembered the initial years, and how they started their partnership with MAFS.
The life journey of Dr. Santosh Kumar was showcased by the Board Members and the MAFS staff with a theatrical performance. The performance was the depiction of her story of how MAFS founded and touched thousands of lives of seniors. The storyline was beautifully narrated by Ms. Roshita Pandey, and the creation and direction were by Ms. Dipti Shah and scripted by Manju Karla.
Mrs. Kumar felt very emotional and appreciative toward the performers, the board members, and all the supporters. In her speech, she offered gratitude for all the guests, partners who attended, the seniors, all her staff, and all the supporters of MAFS.
Rep Raja Krishnamurthy, pitched all to stand united, to serve the seniors. MAFS is doing for so many years in the future. Mrs. Kumar and her sons Sager and PeasantKumar presented a beautiful painting of Raja Krishnamurthy as a gift to him during the event. The painting was made by highly artistic MAFS staff Mr. Rajender Singh. He commended Dr. Santosh Kumar for her exemplary service to the community for 30 long years.
Very special tribute was given to Dr. Santosh Kumar by the MAFS senior staff Promila Mehta, Dahyabhai, Himali, Harish Mahajan, Harivadan Patel. A trophy, shawl, and rose flowers were given.Ms Kumar was honored & congratulated for her on 30 years of services to greater Chicago IllinoisGovernor J. B. Pritzker’s sent a special video message on Pearl’s anniversary of MAFSthat was much appreciated. He praised and mentioned that MAFS has touched thousands of lives for 365-days through a variety of programs they offer for the past three decades. Later, the dignitaries in their speech acknowledged the exemplary 365-days of nonstop hard work MAFS is doing for such a long period.
The highlight of the show was giving away awards and recognizing their support throughout the three decades to form and run the Non-Profit organization that serves our elderly day and night. Dr. SantoshKumar gave the posthumous awards to the families of the founding mentors S. S. Bhatt, Manohar Manchanda, Ramesh Goyal, Naren Patel, and Pramod Kumar. She pointed out the astonishing support they gave to form the MAFS will never be forgotten. The next category of the award was the outstanding partnership without which the MAFSwould have not survived through.
The pillars of MAFS awards were given by the dignitaries to MAFS staff for their wonderful contribution over all these years. The Pillars of MAFS were Prem Jalota, Promila Mehta, Harish Mahajan, Harivadan Patel, Dahyabhai Patel, Awilda Gonzalez, Pankaj Patel, Zareen Ahmed, Jahnavi Bavisi, Khyati Dave, HimaliBharucha, and Dipti Shah.
Special Awards were given to Darshan Singh Dhaliwal (Pramod Kumar Philanthropy), Dr. Bharat Barai (Community Service Award), and Ms. Marta Pereyra (Partnership Award). Also, MAFS recognized and gave community support awards to Ramesh Soparwala, Vandana Jhingan, Prashant Shah, SureshBodiwala, Sohan Joshi, and Vijay Prabhakar.
The fashion show was presented with a stunning collection of Indo-Western styles by Raaz Boutique.The audience could not take their eyes off fashion show models. The showstopper of the fashion show was none other than glamorous Mannara Chopra, An Indian Actress, and Model who predominantly works in Telugu and Hindi films. The evening was filled with a musical night by the electrifying singers Shilpi Paul and Nimesh Nagar.
The audience was interacting with the performers by singing the famous Bollywood melodious songs. The singers thoroughly enjoyed themselves and created the same vibe in the audience that made the audience get up and dance with them. Shilpi Paul was out of this world. Her singing style was full ofenergy that lasts for more than two hours.
The celebration of the Pearl Anniversary of MAFS was a huge success with the fund raised about $200,000plus. Everybody had food, fun and entertainment.
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