CHICAGO: It was cross-border love and harmony that marked Metropolitan Asian Family Services’ Asian Heritage Month and mini fundraising gala dinner on May 31 at Naperville Senior Center in Naperville, a Southside suburb of Chicago.
The hall was packed with prominent dignitaries including local elected officials, Board Members of MAFS, volunteers, work force, senior members from various centers, and guests. The celebration started with lamp lightening ceremony which was performed by Swami Parmeshanandaji from Bharat Sevashram Sangha of Aurora, along with Board Members of MAFS and other prominent dignitaries present.
Dr Firdaus Jafri, President MAFS, welcomed guests. She praised Mrs Santosh Kumar and staff efforts to deliver solutions and to bring much needed social services to the community. Keynote speaker Dorothy Miaso, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of America, informed the crowd, how Mrs Kumar’s philanthropic nature helped Literacy Volunteers of America with her time, skills and resources 25 years ago as Vista Volunteer.
Miaso was impressed with MAFS & UMAS’ number of services and congratulated Mrs Kumar, Board members and staff for providing such quality social service to its population. She said that MAFS plays a pivotal role to navigate the tangled web of service delivery system. She summed up with the ‘power of one’ quote and praised Mrs Kumar for providing all needed services to the community all these years.
Chief Guest Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Chicago, was very impressed with the number of social services provided by MAFS to the immigrant population of India and its neighboring countries. George Pradel, Napverille Mayor congratulated the MAFS team for doing great work for the immigrant population in Naperville.
Krishna Bansal, Chairman of the Indian Community Outreach Mayor’s Office City of Naperville, congratulated MAFS team for providing much needed services to the community.
Speaking to over 300 guests, Mrs Kumar pointed out her initial obstacles and challenges in the United States that led her to establish a MAFS organization for the immigrant community. She urged the community to come forward and take active part in this charitable cause of giving back to those in need. Mrs Kumar thanked Mr Kumar and other collaborative services such as Metro Family Clinic, Metro Home Health and Universal Family Services for supporting and nurturing MAFS to provide core integrated services.
Naren Patel, Vice president of MAFS, congratulated the MAFS team for serving the needy in the Chicagoland Area and extended his full support to this charitable cause.
Ms Dorothy Miaso was honored with the Community and Educational Impact Award and Ausaf Sayeed was recognized with the Public Service Award.
Pooja and Radha Thakkar mesmerized everyone with their Bollywood dance performances. Meeti Vyas touched everyone’s heart with her mellifluous voice. The seniors of the Chicago Adult Day Care performed a very entertaining and engaging skit named Atut Shraddha. Seniors from the Niles location presented “Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki”.
Naperville seniors fascinated everyone with “Medley Dance”, a performance on yesteryear Bollywood songs. Chalte Chalte, another classical Bollywood dance, was performed by the Naperville and Carol Stream seniors. Bipinchandra Sanghavi, a Carol Stream senior, left few eyes dry with his songs.
Surendra Brahmbhatt, a Niles senior, surprised everyone with his magic show! However, the greatest attraction of the evening was Shyam E Bahaar – A Musical Show by Swar Sarita, music group from Bombay, India. The singers were Samsuddin Vaghela, Madhuri Goswami and Kunal Mahant who were accompanied by musicians, Jayesh Raval and Pankaj Raval. They enthralled everyone with pulsating Bollywood numbers and also mesmerized all with a variety of nostalgic, old songs.
The celebration culminated with Vote of Thanks by Ms Beena Patel,
Secretary, MAFS. It was compeered by Neelam Desai, Naperville Manager and Jahnavi Bavisi, Niles Manager.
Asian Media USA
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