$500,000 raised for India

The Share and Care Foundation, a US based not-for-profit voluntary charity, raised $500,000 at its recent 23rd annual fundraiser at the New Jersey Center of Performing Arts, with more than 2,000 patrons, donors and well-wishers in attendance.

Among the donations, the largest single amount, $175,000, came from the estate of Madhusudan and Katja Damania of Tuscan, Arizona through their niece and nephew, Nutan Ruparel and Manish Khadepau.

The highlight of the fundraiser was performance by a Bollywood ensemble of Shreya Goshal, Parthiv Gohil, Ayub Patel, Prachi Shah and Ravi Raj. The performance, titled 'Tribute to the Legends,' was a musical journey down memory lane.

The songs rendered included hits of Manna Dey, Mukesh, Rafi, Talat and the recent hits of Goshal. Parthiv Gohil received a special applause from the audience for his rendition of a Gujarati doha. A couple of duets by Ayub and Goshal were also appreciated.

United States Representative Frank Pallone attended the fundraiser towards the end and praised the work of the foundation and its partners in India. He called the attendees for their continued support to the foundation.

At the venue, the foundation had a

display of the arts and crafts products made by its partner nongovernmental organizations in India. It has been funding this 'Learn and Earn' project for the past five years.

It provides new skills to needy women, supports the development of youth by supplementing their income, and improves living conditions of youth and women in rural areas. Eight non-governmental organizations are participating in this program.

Another attraction was a silent auction at an exhibition of 15 large oil paintings of Hardini Gada, a young artist from Mumbai. The auction raised funds for the education of mentally challenged children. The foundation introduced a new program to raise funds for charities of the donor's choice. Envelopes were distributed at the door for this purpose.

Rajshekhar Parikh, president of the foundation, made a presentation on the foundation's activities this year. It included the foundation's responses during several natural disasters around the world.

The organization has made 22 shipments, with an estimated value of $3 million, of used clothes, medical equipment, computers, medical supplies, milk powder, and school kits for the children and blankets, which served millions, according to a release.