Thank you for making our gala a night to remember!

What a night it was! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in IAC’s 35th Annual Gala: A Home Away From Home.

We’re thrilled to share that together we reached our fundraising goals in support of IAC’s critical work serving the South Asian immigrant community!

At this year’s Gala, we were honored to celebrate the spirit of community that makes the Indo-American Center a true “home away from home.” We began by recognizing Mr. and Mrs. Rattan and Bharati Khosa with our Distinguished Benefactor Award, honoring their lifetime giving of more than $300,000 which is the highest philanthropic recognition bestowed by IAC. We also paid tribute to Mrs. Mukul Roy, whose memorial endowment will sustain her legacy of cultural preservation and immigrant empowerment, and remembered Mr. Sher M. Rajput, whose decades of leadership embodied compassion and community service. In addition, our keynote panel, Mrs. Gurbachan Kaur Shewakramani (Hindi Club of IL, Regal Jewels), Mrs. Susan Patel (South Asian American Chamber of Commerce IL, Patel Brothers), and Mr. Rattan Khosa (AMSYSCO), offered a thoughtful discussion about immigrant resilience and building community through business serving as anchors of connection and belonging. Together, these legacies remind us that home is not only where we come from, but also the community we create through care, resilience, and generosity.

Another special thanks to all those that participated in the evening, including our emcee Sonal Aggarwal, comedian, actor, and movement artist. The scrumptious samosas by  Tahoora Sweets & Bakery, a splendid dinner catered by Basant Modern Indian Restaurant, and dessert by Galleria Marchetti. For entertainment we had an exhilarating dance performance by Meher Dance Company, and an amazing music set by DJ Jeet. 

IAC thanks VChilli Group for providing event decor and management, Jaqueline James for Graphic Design, Steven M. Koch for event photography, and James Smith Grattan for video production, and helping IAC share our impact with you all!

Congratulations to winners of the vacation packages generously offered by AmFund. Your contribution helps support the critical services to IAC.

Here are some photos from the event. More will be uploaded by next week.