You could call it Broadway on Bowery Street! At The Capitale, the downtown hot spot, there were noted names like Phylicia Rashad, the Tony award winning actress, Madhur Jaffrey, who has acted in theater on three continents, Aasif Mandvi, the star of Guantanamo, and the stars of Bombay Dreams – Manu Narayan, Krystal Kiran Garib, and Sriram Ganesan.
All these celebrities had come together on October 24, 2004, to support the cause of children’s health and education. The event was A Million Dreams, the annual Children’s Hope (India) Gala and it was dedicated to the dreams of millions of children in India for education and the basics of health care.
Over 350 people turned up for the glittering event that raised $132,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, and a silent auction. The diamond sponsor, United Retail Group, and the platinum sponsors, Atlast Sportswear and the Sani Family Foundation, were recognized along with gold sponsors Andrew Sports Club, I.E. Industries, Telebrands, Tanzara International, and Raju and Vanita Mirchandani. Product donations for the evening were made by Johnnie Walker, Bilimoria Wines, and Cobra Beer. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Aasif Mandvi. Maya Rajani, president of CH, highlighted the various projects being funded by the organization. The Making a Difference Awards were presented to Phylicia Rashad and community activist Gokal Gurnani by Consul General of India, Pramatesh Rath.
Rashad was honored for her caring and dedicated work with children at the Prasad Chikitsa, a charitable organization in Maharashtra’s Tansa region. She was a lead supporter in the development of a free eye hospital that restores eyesight to 2000 patients a year. Rashad is the national spokesperson of The PRASAD Project, which was initiated by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda.
Gokal Gurnani was honored for his selfless work in offering free treatments at a charitable dispensary in Mumbai, where approximately 20,000 patients are treated every year. Besides free consultations and examinations, the medicines are also provided at no cost. His trust also provides free vocational training to young women. Gurnani is an ardent advocate of one of the education initiatives of Children’s Hope, Guru Teg Bahadur School in Andheri, Mumbai. Here Children's Hope has built a computer center and purchased equipment for a science lab along with free medical services to 650 children of the school.
The producers of Bombay Dreams have generously supported Children’s Hope and stars of this Broadway show, Manu Narayan, Krystal Kiran Garib, and Sriram Ganesan, dazzled the guests with live performances.
One of the exciting offerings at the silent auction was donated by Hollywood screenwriter Tracey Jackson - a dinner for six at Jackson's Manhattan home, with the dinner cooked by master chef Madhur Jaffrey. Needless to say, the winning bid on this super dinner was $3000! Children’s Hope (India) is a New York-based nonprofit organization of women professionals that has been raising funds for children’s causes for the past decade. The funds raised go to support over 25 health, educational, and vocational projects that impact the lives of 50,000 children.
Some of the programs supported by Children’s Hope include Asha Prayas, a comprehensive project funding health and education initiatives for children in the slums of Kathputli Colony in Pandav Nagar, Delhi; Health Clinics and Mobile Units through Prayas in New Delhi with 35,000-40,000 children served; health clinics in the Calcutta slums through Society for Indian Children's Welfare; Arushi Shelter for Girls through Salaam Balak Trust, Delhi; and balwadis at Sangam Vihar, Delhi. Children’s Hope also built the children’s wing at the Community Health Center in Lakadiya, Gujarat, to replace the one destroyed by the earthquake in Bhuj.
