SKN Foundation hosts star-studded evening in New Brunswick surrounding children’s wellbeing and heart health
By Venkatesh Raghavendra and Payton Souders
The 2022 Hope Gala was an evening to remember. Hosted by the SKN Foundation, close to 250 guests gathered in New Brunswick, New Jersey this past Friday to help bring awareness to heart health in the South Asian community.
The gala was the featured attraction during a landmark event also hosted by SKN Foundation, an international research conference entitled “Advancing South Asian Cardiovascular Health.â€
Read: SKN Foundation gala to discuss South Asians’ heart health (September 5, 2022)
This event included three incredible celebrity guests. Salim Merchant lit up the room with his voice and accompanying piano. Kabir Khan gave everyone an inside look at the making of his movie ’83,’ including his eventful travels to Afghanistan.
Mini Mathur was in her element, engaging the audience with her characteristic charm. Mini took the time to recognize three special attendees for their contributions to the cause and the field of philanthropy: Sam S. Jain, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, and Ritesh Shah.
What made the evening even more special was the presence of so many medical luminaries from across the US and Canada, sharing their thoughts on the future of heart health.
The event also took time to recognize and advocate for children with special needs. One of the highlights of the event was a group of these children taking to the stage, touching the hearts of all audience members.
Read: SKN Foundation to discuss heart health of South Asian people (September 5, 2022)
Dr. Naveen Mehrotra and Sonalika Ahuja. Dr. Mehrotra, Founder and Trustee of the Foundation, described the impact and milestones of the Foundation. Sonalika Ahuja, the orchestrator of the gala, expressed her gratitude for all of the support.
All proceeds will go to the Special Needs Community Outreach Program for Empowerment (SCOPE) and the SKN South Asian Diabetes Center at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
(Venkatesh Raghavendra is a global social entrepreneur and philanthropic consultant. Payton Souders is a young professional working in impact consulting)