SAN Raises Funds to Continue Serving the Needs of Southern California’s South Asian Community
Over two hundred South Asian Network volunteers, donors, and supporters gathered at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens to commemorate another year of SAN’s successful health, violence prevention, and civil rights efforts.
“The night was magical as we came together at the gorgeous LA River Center and Gardens to share in SAN’s achievements over the past twenty-one years,” said Board Co-Chair Sanjay Chhugani. “It is important to recognize the work of SAN’s staff and volunteers and understand how the organization meets the needs of South Asian American community members in Southern California on a daily basis. Especially in today’s economy, it is our responsibility to support SAN’s work.”
The fundraising event began with emcee Parvesh Cheena, star of the NBC television show, “Outsourced,” welcoming everyone. Manisha Shahane performed four melodic songs on her guitar for the audience, while Akhila Ananth danced two pieces, one a classical bharatnatyam number and another a fusion number.
During the program, Manjusha Kulkarni, SAN’s Executive Director, remarked, “For more than two decades, SAN has been dedicated to advancing the health, empowerment, and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin. It is only through your generous support that SAN continues to offer services to members of Southern California’s South Asian American community and advocate for progressive social change.”
SAN shared with guests its major accomplishments this year, including a series of health education workshops on nutrition, stress and depression, release of its Human Rights report, “From Displacement to Internment,” collaboration of SAN’s domestic violence survivor clients in the “Sunoh, Sister” performance, and hosting a “Ten Years After 9/11” community hearing,.
SAN also honored two of its most dedicated and passionate volunteers, Binna Chahal, MD and Dipti Baranwal. Binna, a founding SAN board member, served as a volunteer with the organization for over twenty years, remaining committed to the development of its mental health services. Dipti has volunteered with SAN for a decade, informing people of their rights at the time of Special Registration, assisting with queer visibility and now serving on a leadership team for gender and equity.
The event was sponsored by WellPoint/Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, and Sempra Energy. Community sponsors included the following: APAIT Health Center/ Special Services for Groups, Inpamami Arulanantham and Family, Asian Pacific American Legal Services, Asian Pacific American Student Services of USC, Nazleen Bharmal, M.D. and Rab Razzak, M.D., Hamilton Brewart, Meenaxi Deo and Rohit Singla, Esq., Tess Ebrahim, Manju Kulkarni, Esq. and Shai Halbe, Esq., Suma Mathai, Esq. and Manoj Mathew, M.D., Jyoti Nanda, Esq. and Harit Trivedi, Esq., Suresh Seeram, H.K. Shamasunder, M.D. and Family, Sara and Dinesh Sadhwani, Tarsadia Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, and Asad and Azra Zaidi.
SAN looks forward to another year of growth, collaboration, and justice in 2012.
