LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): India Association of Long Island (IALI), one of the oldest and largest Organizations serving the Indian community of Long Island celebrated, June 14, its 36th Annual Award and Fund-Raising Gala at Huntington Hilton in Melville, NY amidst a good mix of dignitaries, business and community leaders, media, patrons and friends.

IALI President Satnam S Parhar gave the welcome address and appealed for donations for IALI’s “India Center”. At hand to greet and welcome all invited guests was IALI’s Executive Council. A Souvenir Journal created by journal chair Ms. Beena Kothari was officially launched.

On the occasion six persons were honored for their contribution to community. They included  Dr. Ramanathan Raju, President /CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation; Kamesh Nagarajan, Senior VP Wealth Management of Prandara Group Morgan Stanley; Bobby Singh Sidana, Hotelier / Owner Swan Club Roslyn; well-known political activist Chairman Sapient Party Bobby K. Kalotee, IALI’s Community Projects Chair Aruna Saxena and principal attorney at Banad Law Offices Dev Viswanath.

Dr. Manoj Mohapatra , Deputy Consul General of India in New York, Nassau County Business and Economic Director representing County Executive, Kamlesh Mehta, Nassau County 15th District Assemblyman Michael Montesano, Senior Councilman Town of Hempstead Anthony Santino, Suffolk County 10th District Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, Nassau County Legislator Laura Curran, Town Clerk of Hempstead Nasrin Ahmad and Human Rights Commission Chairman Zahid Syed and Human Rights Commissioner Sharanjit Singh Thind were at hand to do the honors.

The generous donors for India Center, the IALI home, were also recognized on the occasion. They included, among others, Elizabeth and Dr. Dev Chitkara; Dr. Parveen Chopra and Mrs. Usha P. Chopra; Suman and Gobind Munjal; Dalgit and Satnam S Parhar; Maninder and Mohinder Singh Miglani; and Sampurna and Dr. Yawantraj P Jain.

Mr Parhar also gave a special recognition plaque to IALI Vaisakhi Chair Mr. Ajay Batra and Ms. Pinki Jaggi for raising more than $20,000 from the IALI Vaisakhi Cruise : “Cruise for a Noble Cause”. All the money raised by Mr. Ajay Batra and his team will be used for the IALI India Center.

Mr. Parhar also recognized two leading News Papers CEOs for their contribution towards the community. Those two CEOs were South Asian Insider Mr. Sharan Jit Singh Thind and The  Indian Panorama Mr. Indrajit S  Saluja.

The Entertainment program was organized by Cultural Chair Ms. Jaya Bahadkar. It included beautiful performances by Shradhanjali Indian Arts Academy, a mix of classical, semi-classical and nautanki choreographed by Guru Srimathi Jamuna Mitcham, brilliantly performed by Preya Patel, Gia Mitcham, Prerna Chaudhary, Tarang Jain and Pragati Chaudhary. The NYC Bhangra Group performed a lively medley.

The organizers thanked the  main Sponsors HAB Bank, Indus American Bank, and the Media partners  IVS TV, ITV, TV Asia, The Indian Panorama, South Asian Insider, South Asian Times and Hum Hindustani. Simi Arora emceed. IALI Secretary Rekha Valliappan proposed a vote of thanks.