Over 360 guests attended the September gala hosted by the Washington, D.C., chapter of Pratham USA, raising $275,000 to combat childhood illiteracy.
Pratham USA is a four star-rated charity that provides quality education to underprivileged Indian children. The event was held Sept. 20 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.
“Pratham is doing an extraordinary job in making a huge difference in the lives of people, especially children and women, in India,” said actor, writer and filmmaker R. Madhavan in his keynote address.
Nisha Sisodiya, a young woman from Rajasthan, took the stage to share how she overcame an abusive marriage, discovered Pratham’s vocational program and became a successful entrepreneur. Through seed money from Pratham, she launched her own beauty salon, where she provides livelihood for other women in the community.
“From the beginning to the end, the evening was electrifying,” said chapter President Chethan Rao. “We welcomed so many guests and successfully highlighted Pratham’s achievements. This year marks an important moment for our growing chapter, and it’s a testament to our strong community in the D.C. metro area and our collective support for the great work Pratham is doing.”
