Austin Holds Its First Gala

Reaching Our Fundraising Goal &
Spreading Pratham’s Message

Pratham Austin held its first Gala on November 12th, 2011 at the intimate St. David Episcopalian Church in downtown Austin. The evening was a rousing success. Thanks to all the supporters, Pratham Austin met its fundraising goal, raising $30,000 on the floor, which will be matched at the national levels and will allow Pratham Austin to achieve its annual goal of $100,000 for the year (excluding the match). Even more important, people previously unfamiliar with Pratham learned about an organization whose simple motto of “Every child in school and learning well” continues to have a powerful impact on millions of children in India.

Throughout the evening, Pratham supporters enjoyed delicious cuisine, inspiring speeches, and dynamic musical performances. Approximately 180 supporters attended the event, greeted and looked after by pleasant student volunteers from Pratham UT. The evening began with cocktails and appetizers, as attendees mingled and became acquainted with likeminded individuals. Upon sitting down at their tables, attendees listened to Pratham DFW president Aradhana Asava give the inaugural address and learned about Pratham USA’s achievements and initiatives. Soon after, the remarkable 15 year old Divya Walia spoke of her involvement with Pratham since the age of 6 and how visits to Pratham centers in India continue to motivate her to do more.

Keynote speaker Vinay Bhagat, co-founder of Convio, began with how illiteracy is linked to gender-bias, poverty, infant mortality, and infectious diseases. He spoke of the impact education had in the transformation of one family in one generation with his family’s support, a reason he supports the mission of Pratham today.

Finally, Pratham Ambassador Yogi Patel moved and inspired the audience with a compelling speech of what drives him to support the Pratham organization. He illustrated how illiteracy and poverty combine to form a vicious cycle and urged audience members to follow him in his passion for education.

Dinner was then served, catered by the delicious Bombay Bistro. After dinner, supporters listened to the sounds of Sangeet Millennium and Kiran Ahluwalia. A blend of traditional Indian and western instruments created a unique fusion of Hindustani classical and modern styles. Kiran Ahluwalia’s enchanting performance kept the audience engaged into the midnight hour and beyond.

By Sonia Ladha