Raksha’s Annual Benefit Raises Over $20,000
Raksha, the Georgia-based non-profit organization founded to benefit the South Asian community, raised over $20,000 with its annual fund-raiser, Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam (An Evening in the Name of Raksha).
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Atlanta, Georgia ? Raksha, the Georgia-based non-profit organization founded to benefit the South Asian community, raised over $20,000 with its annual fund-raiser, Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam (An Evening in the Name of Raksha).
Over 1,200 people attended the sold-out event on September 20 at Earthlink Live in Midtown Atlanta.
"This was the fifth year of our signature fundraising event and it has truly become a community event where people expect and receive a warm, welcoming experience," said Raksha Executive Board President Khurram Hassan.
Hosted by Suchita Vadlamani of WAGA's Good Day Atlanta, the evening featured performances from Tanweer Mian and The Melody Group. Bollywood playback singer Mukul Agarwal also made a special appearance. Dances to selected songs were performed by artists from the Kruti Dance Academy.
The evening came to a close with an after-party at the Vinyl Lounge with DJ Ashu providing the back-drop into the wee hours of the morning.
In the weeks leading up to the event, the organization raised over $20,000 through donations from various corporations and individuals. Although the final ticket tallies and other donation pledges made during the event were not yet fully counted, Raksha officials estimated they raised nearly $40,000 in total.
"Overall, we couldn't have been more pleased with another successful Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam event," Hassan said. "Every year we have been able to raise a little more money than the previous, and I'm confident that we will match or surpass last year's results. Even matching last year's results would be amazing because non-profit organizations have suffered due to the poor economy and the inability of donors to support non-profit organizations as they have in the past."
"The funds will be used to directly benefit the community that Raksha serves," Raksha Executive Board Member Aruna Rao-McCann said.
"The funds raised will be predominantly used for direct client services and outreach work," she said. "Raksha's statistical growth over the last 10 years - particularly evinced in the July/August numbers this year - show that there are many in this community who require critical support, compassion, and resources at different levels."
Raksha worked with over 100 clients - 57 of them new - over the course of July and August, said Raksha's Executive Director Aparna Bhattacharya. The numbers do not include the organization's outreach work.
In August alone, 49 of the calls were related to domestic violence, eight were employment related, over 10 children received supportive services and the organization provided training and outreach to over 100 law-enforcement officers, community members and students.
Raksha staff spent an average of three to five hours a week per client providing services such as crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, mentoring, giving referrals, career assistance, interpretation, and translation, Bhattacharya said.
"Raksha is at a critical juncture where the need for services keeps rising exponentially, unlike our funding sources," Rao-McCann said.
Founded in 1995, Raksha has received over 10,000 calls over the last eight years. Raksha's mission is to promote a stronger and healthier South Asian community through free and confidential direct services, education and advocacy. The organization addresses social issues within the community such as family violence and divorce, as well as issues concerning children, senior citizens and new immigrants.
More information about the organization is available at.
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