On Saturday, March 18, the American India Foundation (AIF) will host its 11th Annual New England Gala at Boston Marriott Copley Place.

Guests can look forward to a cocktail hour-and-a-half beginning at 5pm with time to mix and mingle with friends, network with colleagues, and capture sweet moments at our photo booth with family and loved ones. This year we have some fun initiatives for you when you arrive and keep your eyes peeled for our Magnetic Photo display centered around this year’s theme: ’Inspire,’ To Take Action, To Make A Difference, To Give. Also enjoy our new ‘Portrait Project’ highlighting 7-8 of YOU and what inspires you to give. Last but not least and for the first time ever, we will have robots and to learn more about their role...you’ll have to join us on Saturday and find out for yourself!

During the evening, attendees should look forward to an exciting night led by our comedic emcee, Anish Shah, energetic dance performances by Boston’s very own professional South Asian dance team, Nazar, and a memorable act by Special Guest, Indian actor, Producer and Comedian, Jaaved Jaaferi. This is an evening NOT to be missed!

In addition to enjoying lively performances and connecting with peers, guests will have the opportunity to hear from Madhu Sharma, a beneficiary from AIF’s Ability-Based Livelihood Empowerment (ABLE) program, who will share touching stories of struggle, hope, and fortitude with us. In addition, we have a great live auction in store for you led by Mike Wankum, meteorologist for WCVB-Channel 5. Saturday night is sure to delight and some truly breathtaking paintings, gorgeous vacation homes in Maine and Mexico, and spectacular diamond earrings are just some of the items attendees will have the chance to bid on with all proceeds going towards fulfilling AIF’s mission of impacting the lives of 5 million of India’s poor population by 2018-19.

Thank you to all who work throughout the year and build lasting bridges between the United States and India through high-impact interventions in education, livelihoods, public health, and leadership development, with a particular emphasis on empowering girls and women to achieve gender equity. Whether it is your time or your donations, each gift, small or large, makes a huge impact on those in need.

The harsh reality that exists in our world today is “that 800,000,000 people in India live off less than $2/day…and that is over 2.5x the USA population living on less than what we spend on our morning latte.” Thank you to all who have given and plan to give again this year. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday! - American Indian Foundation (AIF) New England Planning Committee 2016-17

 About AIF: The American India Foundation (AIF) is one of the largest development organizations in the United States dedicated to helping poor and marginalized people in India. AIF is committed to catalyzing social and economic change in India and building a lasting bridge between the US and India through high-impact interventions in education, public health, and leadership development. AIF offers many opportunities to get involved through several programs including: Learning and Migration Program (LAMP), Digital Equalizer (DE), Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST), Ability-Based Livelihoods Empowerment (ABLE), Rickshaw Sangh, William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India, and Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI). Learn more at www.AIF.org.

Sangita Murali, a resident of South Dartmouth, MA, is a third-year dental student at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience from Bates College in 2012 and her M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2014. In addition to holding membership in the American Indian Foundation (AIF), she holds membership in the American Association of Dental Research (AADR), the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), the American Dental Association (ADA), the Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE) and the United India Association (UIA). Sangita has participated in several dental public health programs including that of IMANE where she had the opportunity to provide oral cancer and soft tissue pathology screenings along with educational oral health promotion to children and adults. She was inducted into the Robert R. Andrews Research Honor Society at Tufts for her exceptional commitment to conducting research at Tufts and helping her colleagues fulfill their professional dreams in this regard. She enjoys working with AIF New England to fulfill their mission of helping those less fortunate in India to attain quality education, health and gender equity.

|