CHICAGO: The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) organized a Silver Jubilee musical evening program at the Avery Coonley School’s Performing Arts Center, Downers Grove, a southside suburb of Chicago. It was attended by over 150 members, guests and invitees.
Trupti Kuvadia and Dr Kumar Moolayil served as Co-Emcees for the evening. Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Chicago graced the program with his presence. BFI efforts organizing the event proved successful as it could raise $13,000 for its activities, included among others funding for a medical van for the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Smriti Mandir, Khetri, Rajasthan in India.
A highlight of the event was a musical evening with melodious songs by Dr Dipak Shah and Dr Sheela Shah who are dentists but have been organizing musical concerts often. This was their 5th Musical Program organized to benefit BFI.
Young artists from the Falguni Rana Suhani Dance Academy Monika Shah and Hrushikesh Vora gave enchanting performances to enthrall the audience. Hitesh Master from the Sa Re Ga Ma Orchestra kept the audience engaged throughout the evening.
Dr Manu Vora, President of BFI, highlighted the plight of over 15 million blind people in India which translates to 1 out of every 3 blind people in the world. He also shared exponential power of prevention such as $1 of Vitamin A drops administered from age 4-6, prevents the child from going blind. Also, in India it costs only $20 per Cataract operation compared to $4,000 in the US.
BFI was established in 1989 with a mission to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India.
Over the years, BFI team has raised over $3.5 million dollars to examine eyesight of over a million people. So far, BFI has conducted over 110,000 free Cataract operations, donated 110 medical vans to transport doctors and patients, and distributed over 10,000 Braille Kits to blind children for their education. The current BFI focus is on prevention of blindness through Child Sight Projects.
Over 500,000 children in government schools are examined for their eyesight and given necessary glasses, eye drops, Vitamin A and even Cataract surgeries in rare cases. Drs Shah and Dr Vora thanked the Platinum Sponsor, Dr Ashok Ray and Mrs Purnima Ray, all other sponsors, and the audience.
Delicious Indian food was served courtesy the Saffron of Westmont, Sai Saffron Sweets & Chat House, Shree Indian Vegetarian Restaurant and Masala Indian & Fusion Cuisine. The generosity of all the sponsors for the worthy cause was acknowledged and is highly valued.
Ramesh Soparawala
