COMMUNITY NEWS
In 10th anniversary celebrations,
CRY raises $220,000 for poor children
A CORRESPONDENT
Child Rights and You America Inc, a nonprofit that works for under- privileged children, especially in
India, celebrated its 10th anniversary,
hosting benefit dinners in New York
and Seattle.
Uphaar 2012 was held at Seattle’s
Fairmont Hotel, and Pledge 2012 at
New York’s The Pierre. Over $220,000
was raised during the events.
‘We are really celebrating the 411,539
children in 2,254 villages and slums
across India, whose lives have been irre-
versibly transformed through our col-
lective efforts,’ Shefali Sunderlal, presi-
dent, CRY America, said at the New
York event. ‘ We thank our 17,000 gener-
ous donors, 2,000 committed volun-
teers and 56 dedicated project partners
and media supporters without whom
this change would not have been possible.’
The New York event drew 110 people while 120 people
attended the Seattle one. Paintings donated by the late M F
Husain and Murali Nagapuzha, an autographed guitar by
Paul McCartney, baseballs signed by President Barack
Obama and former President Bill Clinton, a signed Beatles
album along with a private brunch by celebrity chef Maneet
Chauhan were all auctioned by Sotheby’s Priyanka Mathew
at the New York dinner.
According to CRY, In 10 years, CRY America’s work with
From right, Shefali Sunderlal, David Bloss, Bobby Ghosh and Maneet Chauhan
essential for a child’s development, but
also for the growth of society and coun-
tries. Economic growth cannot be sus-
tained unless nations and societies
invest in social parameters like educa-
tion and health for their children,’ he
said.
Chef Chauhan said, ‘There is a saying
that it takes an entire village to raise a
child. I feel that CRY is that village.
Each one of us should do our best possi-
ble to support CRY America to raise
these children who are the future of this
world.’
Priyanka Jain, 18, compared her life
to a girl of her age in India who was
married at a much younger age and
deprived of opportunities. ‘We have the
same dreams,’ she said. ‘She just wasn’t
given the opportunity to fulfill them.
But by supporting organizations like
CRY America, we have the power to
projects has resulted in 119,987 children being immunized,
76,821 children provided with regular health check-ups,
and 364 public health-care centers activated; 1,089 public
schools have been activated and 501 villages in India are
free of child labor.
Virginia Democrats pick three
community delegates
A CORRESPONDENT
More than 1,700 people at he Virginia Democratic State Convention June 2
were witness when Jay Bhandari,
Julie Agarwal and Lovely Lall
were appointed national delegates
at large to represent the state party
at the national convention, to be
held September 2 in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
United States Senators Mark
Warner and Jim Webb, former
Virginia governor Tim Kaine and
US Representatives Gerry
Connolly, Jim Moran and Bobby
Scott were the main speakers at
the event, held at the George
Mason University in Fairfax,
Virginia.
Bhandari is president of the Virginia chapter of
the Global Organization of People of Indian
Origin; Agarwal is senior counsel at the maritime
administration; Lall is, among other things, chair
of the Loudoun Health Council.
Jay Bhandari, left, in conversation with former Virginia governor Tim Kaine
Counting took about seven hours and 10 male
and 13 female candidates were picked. The result
were declared by Virginia Democratic Committee
chair Brian Moran in the presence of US
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is
also chair, Democratic National Convention.
Aniket Zinzuwadia,
16, wins $10,000
scholarship
;Page A32
January, were quoted as saying that said they had a lot of fun with the
competition and getting to see the West Point campus was a great expe-
rience. Both attended St Francis de Sales Middle School, where they were
first exposed to the West Virginia State-wide West Point Bridge Contest.
Nick now attends Shady Spring High School and Aniket attends
Woodrow Wilson High School.
The nationwide Internet-based competition was designed by two engi-
neers at West Point Military Academy and is intended to promote math,
science and technology education in middle and high schools.
“Our entire family feels that this is a great achievement for our son,”
said Aniket’s mother Dr Bella Zinzuwadia, a native of Sihor near
Bhavanagar, Gujarat, said. She practices internal medicine and is presi-
dent, Beaver Family Clinic. “My son discovered the software contest from
his middle school science teacher who used the software as a class proj-
ect, and he competed in various state contests for the software,” she said.
In 2010, when Aniket became eligible for the national contest in eighth
grade, he finished at the top 15 in the semifinals. Once he entered ninth
grade at Woodrow Wilson High School, he competed again last year and
finished as one of top 15.
Aniket is interested in majoring in bio-medical engineering or medi-
cine in college. He has placed in math, science, and history competitions
in the state. He takes part in various clubs and sports in the school, plays
the guitar and volunteers at local hospitals.
His father Dr Nayan Zinzuwadia, from Ahmedabad, is an anesthesiol-
ogist at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.
