America
American India Foundation expands reach
Washington, Oct 6
The American India
Foundation, dedicated to catalysing social and economic change in India,
launched its eleventh chapter in the historic city of Philadelphia. The
foundation is one of the largest development organisations in the US
dedicated to helping poor and marginalised people in India.
AIF
was founded by the initiative of former President Bill Clinton after the
2001 Gujarat Earthquake following a suggestion from then Indian Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Nearly a hundred people from the Greater
Philadelphia region attended the event held at the downtown Loews
Philadelphia Hotel Oct 2, according to the American Bazaar.
In
the keynote address Al Jazeera America host Ali Velshi, whose greatgrand
parents moved to Africa from Gujarat a century ago, recalled the
struggles his forefathers had to endure in their adopted land.
He praised the work AIF is doing to provide opportunities the less privileged in the Indian society.
Chief
guest Raj Gupta, chairman of the board of directors of Delphi
Automotive, stressed the importance of philanthropic work organizations
such as AIF is doing in the US and India.
"A dollar and 25 cents can make a difference," he said, urging everyone to share their wealth.
AIF CEO M.A. Ravi Kumar spoke about the mission of the organization.
Other
speakers included the chapter founding members Sanjay Gupta and Kavita
Gupta, AIF Senior Director of Philanthropy and Development Venky
Raghavendra, and Deepak Jolly, a vice president at Coca-Cola India.
Philadelphia
being the city of firsts and with the huge potential that it holds, it
is important to have a strong presence and chapter here," Sanjay Gupta
told the American Bazaar.
Greater Philadelphia region, comprising
of City of Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware, is home to leading
universities, businesses and a population that has strong ties to India.
AIF hopes to tap these resources.
The ten other cities and
regions AIF has chapters are Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area,
Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New England, New York Tristate Area,
Orange County, Richmond VA and Washington DC.