The American India Foundation (AIF) marked its 25th anniversary at its annual New York Gala on June 9, drawing more than 600 guests to Cipriani Wall Street to celebrate the organization’s work in India.
The event raised a record $3.8 million to support AIF’s programs in public health, education and economic opportunity. More than $1 million of that total came through the gala’s pledge drive, including a leadership contribution of $300,000 from Global Board member Saira Lal.
Since its founding in 2001, AIF says its programs have reached more than 23 million people across 35 Indian states and union territories through initiatives focused on improving health outcomes, expanding access to education and strengthening livelihoods.
The gala also recognized BNY, former TD Bank Group CEO Bharat Masrani and Infosys CEO Salil Parekh for their contributions to business, innovation and community impact.
READ: American India Foundation raises $2.6 million for development in India (
Attendees included corporate executives, philanthropists and members of the Indian diaspora who gathered to support AIF’s mission and learn more about its work. The program was hosted by comedian and former venture capitalist Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and featured a performance by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.
Guests also experienced a virtual reality presentation highlighting AIF’s Learning and Migration Program, or LAMP, which focuses on improving educational outcomes for children affected by migration. The evening included a dinner curated by Chef Gaurav Anand.
Among those honored was Masrani, who reflected on the people who helped shape his career and connected those experiences to AIF’s mission. “We all had someone in our lives who believed in us…Someone who looked at us and saw—not what we were at that moment, but what we could become. AIF’s mission makes this possible for millions, and it’s why we are all here tonight,” Masrani said.
Parekh also was recognized during the event. In his remarks, he highlighted AIF’s role in expanding opportunity and spoke about the responsibility of business and technology leaders in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from AIF. Over the past 25 years, AIF has transformed countless lives by creating opportunities where they are needed most. Infosys and I are proud to be part of this journey. As we navigate an AI-first era, our shared responsibility is to ensure that technology expands human potential, broadens access to opportunity, and creates meaningful impact for communities around the world,” Parekh said.
BNY also was recognized during the gala, with Chief Data & AI Officer Sarthak Pattanaik accepting the honor on behalf of the company. Pattanaik spoke about the role of technology in addressing longstanding social and economic challenges and highlighted BNY’s partnership with AIF.
“We are at an inflection point where technology has the power to rewrite systems and eliminate long-held socio-economic barriers, with people at the center. BNY supports AIF at its own historic moment, leveraging 25 years of service and partnership for a tomorrow we can truly be proud of,” Pattanaik said.
AIF CEO Nishant Pandey reflected on the organization’s growth over the past 25 years and its plans for the future.
“AIF at 25 shows that enduring impact is possible when people come together across borders, sectors, and communities. Our success is driven by visionary philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and the ability to scale, and I cannot be more excited about the next 25 years,” Pandey said.
The evening concluded with recognition of the donors, longtime partners, staff members and communities that have supported and benefited from AIF’s work over the past 25 years.