American India Foundation raises $100,000 at Atlanta gala to support livelihoods programmes in India

Atlanta: The premier US philanthropic organization focused on India, the American India Foundation (AIF) boasts of a national network of chapters - volunteer hubs composed of some of the nation's leading figures of the Indian diaspora in the United States, global and local corporations, volunteers of all ages from youth to seniors, and community leaders with a passion for India's development.

Joining hubs in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Orange County, California, Washington, DC, and Richmond, Virginia, AIF's most recent chapter is in Atlanta, the nation's 9th largest metropolitan area and a bustling center of diverse business and industry, from IT and media to logistics and professional services.

AIF's most successful diaspora engagement platform in the United States is its tradition of Galas, which are held annually across the country. AIF is well-known for trailblazing the Gala trend and setting the standard in the South Asian community.

These elegant evenings attract between hundreds of the diaspora's foremost leaders and high-net worth individuals, including Fortune 500 CEOs, C-level executives from the corporate sector, individual and institutional philanthropists, politicians, members of the mainstream and Indian media, academics, social sector and community leaders, and renowned figures from the arts and entertainment industries.

In total, approximately 5,000 high net-worth individuals (HNI) attend AIF galas annually, a list that includes such household names as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President William J Clinton from the political arena, Jeffery Immelt (CEO, GE), MukeshAmbani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Azim Premji, and Adi Godrej from business circles, as well as artists and celebrities such as Richard Gere, Madhur Jaffrey, Sunidhi Chauhan, Usha Uthup, AR Rahman, and Pandit Hariprasad Chourasia

On Friday, March 27, hosted itsinaugural Atlanta Gala, bringing together more than 215guests, including some of theregion's most influential philanthropists and entrepreneurs, C-level executives, luminaries, and community leaders to raise $100,000 in support of AIF's flagship livelihoods programs offering opportunities for economic development for the underprivileged in India: the Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST) program and Ability-Based Livelihoods Empowerment (ABLE) initiative.

AIF's Founding Chair of the Atlanta Leadership Council, Amitabh Sharma and President of USPAACC, Neera Bahl, welcomed the audience. Veteran leader of the environmental movement, progressive social activist, and celebrated author Carl Pope was presented with the inaugural the Lillian Gordy Carter Award for Exceptional Service to India, instituted in honor of the mother of President Jimmy Carter's legacy of medical and nursing excellence to the underprivileged, both in India as a member of the US Peace Corps in the late 1960s and to African-American communities in Georgia during the Civil Rights movement.

Jason Carter, grandson of President Carter and Georgia State Senator, commemorated the Award. Carter has continued the family legacy of global service by serving in the US Peace Corps in South Africa, working on education issues in rural areas, after his graduation from Duke University.

"This occasion and the award is incredibly important to us. At the age of 68 for my great grandmother to go into the Peace Corps and her experience in India has infected the entire family. Our family's commitment to social change can be traced back to my great grandmother's experience In India. It is an honor for us to be a part of this organization. Her journey is also a testament what one person can do. She has been the change that Gandhiji said we should be," stated Mr. Carter.

AIF Vice Chair Pradeep Kashyap introduced Carl Pope, who is best known for his work with the Sierra Club for more than thirty years, including eighteen years as its Executive Director. Under Mr. Pope, the Sierra Club helped protect nearly 10 million acres of wilderness.

During Mr. Pope's tenure, the Sierra Club led the charge in helping to block more than 125 proposed new coal fired power plants, achieving a 40% improvement in the pollution and fuel efficiency of America's passenger vehicles, and launching the Club's Climate Recovery Partnership. Mr. Pope is currently serving as a Special Advisor to Michael R. Bloomberg and is also the Principal Advisor at Inside Straight Strategies.

Faizal Kottikollon, founder and chairman of United Arab Emirates-based KEF Company Ltd., whose renowned valve-casting brand for the oil and gas industry led to its sale to Tyco International, was honored for his excellence in entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Mr. Kottikollon is a global philanthropist, with a strong footprint in India, including a special needs school, vocational education and rehabilitation center for autistic children in Kerala through the Faizal and Shabana Foundation.

The Foundation is also a major contributor to Nobel Prize Laureate RajendraPahuair's Light A Billion Lives campaign to introduce environmentally-friendly solar lights and power in rural villages of India, and to the Indian Community Center for Individuals with Disabilities in Dubai.Dinesh Paliwal, Chairman, President and CEO of Harman International and a member of the AIF Board of Directors, presented the award to Mr. Kottikollon.

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra of Harvard Medical School, the younger brother of spiritual guru Deepak Chopra and like his brother a celebrated author, delivered an inspiring keynote address, in which he touched upon leadership and philanthropy based on his experiences growing up in India and in the United States in the four decades since. Dr. Chopra talked about the need to think about the joy of giving and the importance of good acts however small they are, emphasizing that this practice is more important than the noblest of intentions.

Many of the region's leading political and community figures were in attendance. Georgia Representative Mike Glanton presented a special Georgia House of Representatives Congressional Resolution to AIF for being the leader in development work in India. "I applaud and salute the fact that you have not forgotten the communities around the world," remarked Rep. Glanton.

Acclaimed journalist and author Tulika Mehotra emceed the event. Former Mrs. India International Shaveta Jain led a stunning and fundraising drive dedicated to AIF's platforms for job creation for disadvantaged and disabled young people. The Ruby Red, Gwen Hughes and NNKB Dance Academy entertained the audience with their stellar performances.

AIF is revolutionizing the industry paradigm by providing equal opportunity and access to employment for persons with disabilities, based on a simple belief-it is one's ability, not disability that defines any individual. The Ability Based Livelihoods Empowerment (ABLE)initiative trains persons with disabilities in fundamental and specialized skill-sets, and facilitates their entry into the job market through a robust advocacy platform for disability inclusion, promoting inclusive growth in India. AIF's Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST)provides underprivileged youth with skills training and access to formal employment opportunities.