The Asian Indian Community Foundation (AICF) will hold its annual 3 mile walk on Saturday, May 13 at the Ellicott Creek Trailway1 1398 N. Forest Road in Williamsville, New York.
“This is our 10th year, and it grows bigger and bigger every year,” Dr. Sudha Krishnaswamy, AICF Board chairperson, said in a statement. “This is an opportunity to honor all mothers of our community and raise funds for underprivileged families facing challenges.”
The annual walk event is organized to benefit a number of local and international charities such as the Family Justice Center and Haven House.
“We really believe in our cause,” said Harbinder Gill, a member of the foundation. “I think when people understand what we do and how we help, they will want to come out and support it.”
So far AICF has raised about $1.38 million to support women’s and children’s causes in the country as well as internationally. Since its inception in 2008, the association has approximately raised $250,000.
Neelam Kholi, who is the event coordinator said: “People give back to society individually, but when we work together in a group, we can really make an impact.”
On-site registration for participating in the walk will begin at 9 a.m. at the trail entrance, which is located at the corner of North Forest and Maple roads. The registration fee is $25 for a family and $10 for an individual. The walk will begin at 10 a.m.
There will also be food, games, raffles at the event and silent auctions will begin at 11 a.m.
According to event organizers the walk attracts more than 200 families from the community and serves as the organization’s only major fundraising event. This year, the walk will welcome Executive of Erie County, Poloncarz and the chief diversity officer at M&T Bank Carl Jordan, as distinguished guests.
Other fundraising events that AICF have completed include raising funds for firefighters and first responders post 9/11 attacks, assisting with rehabilitation during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, creating care packages for veterans and cooking in the soup kitchen for Buffalo City Mission four times a year.
AICF also helps internationally, as it had completed more than 25 projects on the Indian subcontinent, including reconstructing a school in Bihar and providing earthquake relief in Gujarat.
“When we do fund a project, we always follow up to make sure what we raise helps the ones in need.”
AMandeep
