AAPI’s Share-the-Warmth Drive Brings Comfort to the Needy

Ajay Ghosh Media Coordinator, AAPI

(Chicago, IL: April 1, 2025) “We are thrilled to announce that this year, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) “Share the Warmth” program has been a great success! Thanks to Chair Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu and Co-Chair Dr. Malti Mehta,” said Dr. Satheesh Kathula, President of AAPI.

Inspired by the AAPI New Jersey Chapter, the AAPI "Share a Blanket" Project was launched in 2019 with the objective of sharing warmth during the winter months with those in need. Since its inception, this initiative has become a cherished tradition, and we are proud to see that other local chapters have embraced similar efforts in their communities,” added Dr. Kathula.

Continuing the tradition, several state chapters of AAPI have actively participated, offering invaluable support to homeless individuals and others in need. AAPI’s “Share-The-Warmth” project has donated thousands of blankets to the poor and the needy in several homeless shelters across the nation every year.

In addition to AAPI’s contribution of up to $500 to some of these chapters, several chapters generously funded the entire initiative themselves. “Your commitment and efforts have made a meaningful difference in our community. Your generosity and commitment to this cause have been truly inspiring,” said Dr. Kathula.

AAPI leadership has expressed its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the presidents and members of the following chapters and the dedicated organizers of the Share the Warmth Drive.'

• AAPI Alabama
• AAPI Arkansas
• AAPI Catskill
• AAPIO California
• AAPI Tennessee
• Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian Sub-Continent (CAPI)
• Florida Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (FAPI)
• Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPI)
• Indian American Medical Association of Illinois - IAMA (IL)
• New Jersey State AAPI

“The feedback we’ve received from our state leaders has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Dr. Kathula. Recipients have expressed deep gratitude for the donations, and the impact has been truly heartfelt. We extend our sincere thanks to all state chapter leaders for their unwavering dedication and enthusiastic participation.

 

“We are immensely happy to state that our AAPI’s ‘SHARE THE WARMTH’ program has been highly successful this year,” said Dr. Raghu Lolabhattu, Chair, Share-The-Warmth program. “The winter season is a time for us to care and share again! Over the last few years, AAPI, along with several local chapters and some of our members, made tremendous efforts and helped numerous needy people by donating blankets, and we are proud to say that this was very well received by the targeted communities.”

AAPI launched the Share-A-Blanket project in 2019 during the presidency of Dr. Suresh Reddy to bring warmth to the needy around the nation. Dr. Binod Sinha, founder President of AAPI Chapter in New Jersey organized and conducted it successfully that year, and since then it has been held annually by AAPI and local Chapters of AAPI.

Praising the concerted efforts of several other AAPI Chapters, Dr. Sunil Kaza, Chair of AAPI BOT said, “I am happy to share those thousands of homeless and other needy citizens benefited from this program in the past. We at AAPI are extremely grateful for the opportunities we have been blessed with to serve the communities we live in and work in,” said Dr. Sunil Kaza, Chair of APPI BOT. “As a token of our appreciation and gratitude, we believe we are happy to be able to give back and serve the less fortunate in our society in times of their need.”

“This has been a one-of-a-kind experience for the teams of physicians and young volunteers alike who have generously volunteered their time and resources to bring joy to the less fortunate. I want to thank all the State Chapter leaders for their commitment and their enthusiastic participation,” said Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, President-Elect of AAPI.

“Realizing how this initiative benefits several needy in the community, gives us the motivation to organize many such events and give back to the local community. We are very happy to say that the purpose of the program has been accomplished by AAPI working with so many state Chapters and hope more things will happen in the future,” Dr. Meher Medavaran, Vice President of AAPI said.

Dr. Raj Bhayani, Secretary of AAPI, urged “all AAPI members to carry on this program in the coming years as well and make AAPI and our local organizations proud. We request that every one of you make a generous donation for this fund, and your contribution would surely give a great comfort to a needy person.”

Dr. Bhayani expressed his appreciation and gratitude to “Mr. Steven M. Fulop, the Mayor of Jersey City in the state of New Jersey, who joined in with the New Jersey Chapter of AAPI in our annual Blanket Donation Drive this year.”  

“After experiencing the generosity of AAPI members, we strongly feel that we can accomplish much more with support and participation from all our AAPI physicians led by the local Chapters,” said Dr. Shirish Patel, Treasurer of AAPI.

Dr. Kathula, while expressing gratitude and appreciation to the AAPI Chapters for organizing the Drives around the nation, said, “Knowing that such measures benefit several needy in the community gives us the motivation to organize more such events and give back to the local communities where we live and serve. Together, AAPI and its state chapters have successfully fulfilled the mission of this program. We are excited to continue organizing more meaningful initiatives in the future.”

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), founded in 1982 is the largest ethnic medical organization in the United States, representing the interests of over 120,000 physicians of Indian origin. In addition to several programs in India, AAPI has been in the forefront, advocating for the interests of the medical fraternity and organizing regular CME programs, health & wellness events, and financial workshops for its members and outreach, public health education, and advocacy activities for the community both locally and internationally. For more details and to join the Share-A-Blanket Drive in your state/community, please visit: www.aapiusa.org