INDIA: Indo Americans Hold Glitzy Fundraiser for Seniors

NEW DELHI (The Hindustan Times), November 17, 2005: India Community Center, the largest community facility in North America, hosted its second annual fundraising banquet and auction on Friday, November 11 at the Santa Clara Marriott, reports Shalini Kathuria Narang in California Diary of the Hindustan Times today. "Building For Tomorrow" was a sold out event marked by a rare and splendid showcase of the dancing dexterity of some members of the geriatric community of the centre. Performances included a folk dance by youngsters, magic tricks by Las Vegas magician, Simon Winthrop and Qawwali renditions by the Nizami Brothers of Delhi provided great variety to the entertainment smorgasbord of the evening. Yet the highlight of the glitzy gala was the show by senior citizens. Dancers in the age group of 60 through 72 of the aptly named Jollywood Club of ICC gyrated into the hearts of the 650 plus audience with their peerless performance on the foot tapping and hand clapping Dhoom macha le and Mahi ve numbers. The well-applauded standing ovation to the elderly performers was a richly deserved response. Several successful Silicon Valley Indo-American community, Congressman Mike Honda and Mayors of Oakland and Milpitas were among those who attended. Raj Mathai, NBC 11 Sports Director and a two-time Emmy award winner was the master of the ceremonies. The India Community Center is focussed towards providing Indo Americans a tryst for communal intermingling through social, cultural, educational, professional and recreational programmes. Anil Godhwani, Founder-President of ICC announced the move to larger facility in Milpitas next year. Long-term goals are to open more facilities in the Bay Area and in other states in US on lines of the centres in Milpitas and Sunnyvale, he said. Significant target beneficiaries of the centre are the seniors who are offered communal support and health services besides a rendezvous for everyday conversations. ICC provides emotional care for seniors of the Indo American community and their enthusiastic performance was exemplary of camaraderie at its best. Talat Hasan, ICC Chairperson, said: "the aim of raising $250,000 for the evening had been exceeded at the gala."