The 15th IAF Women’s Achievement Awards Gala Honors Four Women for their Outstanding Achievements; Two Young Achievers Recognized

HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): On Sunday evening, March 1^st, over 200 distinguished guests gathered at The Sapphire, located at 240 West Old Country Road in Hicksville, NY, to honor the remarkable achievements of this year’s honorees at the 15^th outstanding  Women’s Achievement Awards Gala, hosted by The Indian American Forum (IAF). This annual event, held during Women’s History Month, is dedicated to recognizing exemplary women for their unwavering courage, commitment, and compassion.

For the past 15 years, the IAF has maintained a tradition of acknowledging and honoring women who have made notable contributions to their communities and respective fields. The event commenced with opening remarks from Mrs. Indu Jaiswal, Chairperson of the IAF, who conveyed sincere appreciation to all attendees. Subsequently, Gala Chair Mrs. Shammi Singh along with Founder President and the Chairman of Human Rights Commission Nassau County, Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee, provided an overview and historical context for the event, establishing a formal tone for an evening dedicated to recognition and celebration.

Honoring Exceptional Women at the Gala

The Banquet Hall was packed with elected officials, Entrepreneurs, physicians, community leaders, honorees, and their guests. The event was not just a celebration, but a heartfelt tribute to the strength, resilience, and remarkable spirit of women who rise to challenges, lead with conviction, nurture others, innovate, and transform the world around them.

The honorees of the night were:

• Dr. Dolly Manwar – a respected physician and philanthropist
• Mrs. Prabha Golia – entrepreneur and builder of a successful business empire
• Mrs. Pratibha Maldonado – the first South Asian female to serve as a Commanding Officer of a Police Precinct in New York City
• Mrs. Sunita Manjrekar – Director of Employment at Nassau County’s Department of Social Services

The event also recognized young achievers:

• Ms. Aarthi Palaniappan – Senior at Herricks High School
• Ms. Harnoor Joneja – Senior at Jericho High School

Engaging Dialogue with the Honorees

During the gala, the honorees participated in an engaging question-and-answer session led by moderators Mrs. Roopam Maini, Mrs. Chanbir Kaur, DR. Nita Mehta, and Dr Pratichi Goenka. Demonstrating both confidence and courage, each honoree thoughtfully addressed the questions posed to them, sharing their insights and experiences with the audience.

Honors and Special Recognitions

To commemorate their outstanding achievements and contributions, each honoree was presented with a plaque, official citations, and elegant flower bouquets. These tokens of appreciation served as a heartfelt acknowledgment of their dedication and service.

A beautifully crafted journal was also unveiled during the event. This special publication featured compliments, best wishes, and messages from elected officials, further highlighting the significance of the occasion. The journal committee, comprising Mrs. Bina Sabapathy, Mrs. Roopam Maini, and Ms. Sanju Sharma, was invited to the podium to release the journal and share this memorable moment with the audience.

Distinguished Guests and Dignitaries

The event was graced by the attendance of several distinguished dignitaries. Among them was Hon. Jennifer Rajkumar, New York State Assemblywoman, whose leadership and advocacy have significantly influenced the community. Also, present was Hon. Elaine Philips, Comptroller for Nassau County, who contributed her expertise and support for the occasion. The gathering welcomed Hon. Jen DeSena, Town Supervisor; Hon. Ragini Srivastava, Town Clerk for the Town of North Hempstead, recognized for her vital role in local governance; and Hon. Rose Marie Walker, esteemed Legislative Member. Ms. Deborah Misir – Suffolk County Legislature, while Mr. Harry Malhotra attended on behalf of Town Supervisor Hon. Joseph Saladino from the Town of Oyster Bay.

Additionally, Mrs. Raja Laxmi Kadam from the Consulate office honored the event with her presence. Other notable attendees included Mr Jasbir Jat Singh, President of IALI, Mrs. Nilima Madan, President of AIA (National); Mr. Gobind Munjal, Former President of AIA (National); Mrs. Beena Kothari, President of AIA (NY Chapter); Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, President of IAAC; Mr. Vimal Goyal, President of IDP & IAF; Mrs. Bina Sabapathy, Founder President of IACV; members from CHI, Dr. Narinder Kukar and Mrs. Smiti Khanna, both former presidents of AIA; Dr. Rajiv Datta, Surgical Oncologist at South Nassau Hospital; Mrs. Anju Sharma, President of the Indian American Lions Club; Mrs. Shashi Malik, President of Seva Center For Humanity, prominent businessmen Mr. Kanak Golia, Mr. Shudh Prakash Singh Jasuja, Mr. Ravi Bhooplapur, Dr Adi Sharma, President On Mount Sinai South Nassau, Human Rights Commissioner Ms. Wioletta Dusza; Mrs. Geeta Shukla, realtor; Dr Raj Modi, Former President and Trustee of TLCA Raji Kuncham and Dr Kishore Kuncham. Harvinder Bhatia- a Community Activist, and Ms. Rhea Manjrekar – Miss Metropolitan. Collectively, these guests highlighted the community’s recognition of the honorees and underscored the importance of the occasion.

The event commenced with the American and Indian national anthems, performed by Mrs. Jyoti Gupta, Mrs. Bina Sabapathy, Mrs. Roopam Maini, and Dr. Jag Mohan Kalra. A Ganesh Vandana was subsequently presented by Ms. Hitanshi, an RS International student under the guidance of Ms. Shilpa Jhurani. Appreciation is also extended to the students from Columbia University, the Capella Group, and COLUMBIA SUR for their engaging contemporary musical performances.

From appetizers through to the main course, the dinner service was efficiently managed by the management of Banquet Hall.

The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks, recognizing the dedicated efforts of all volunteers who worked diligently in organizing the occasion, as well as expressing appreciation to the IAF Board Members for their wholehearted support. Gratitude was also extended to the sponsors, media representatives, performers, photographers, the Bedi Family for their sponsorship of the fire blankets, and all attendees.

( Based on a Press release issued by  Bina Sabapathy)