Why India Matters and What Matters to India: A Conversation with Fareed Zakaria
February 5th, 2015
We are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors and all who joined us to make this event a success.
"Fareed Zakaria was incredible, weaving a compelling explanation of what distinguishes India, and Seva Mandir, from other places. Thanks to the clear direction from Uday Mehta, we worked to make the event not a 'gala' fundraiser but a true intellectual conversation and everyone who attended felt they had participated and received something distinct in return for their donation."
- Bonnie Stockwell and Bridget Taylor, Benefit Committee
In February, Friends of Seva Mandir hosted an event with renowned author and CNN global affairs host, Dr. Fareed Zakaria, at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. Our goal for the event was to raise $125,000 for Seva Mandir. Thanks to your immense generosity and support, we surpassed our goal and were able to raise $140,000! These funds will directly support the transformative development programs carried out by Seva Mandir in rural India. The funds raised will allow Seva Mandir to work with over 15,000 people this year.
The anticipation and planning for the event were intense and so worth all the effort. We would like to especially thank the Benefit Committee, our generous hosts at CUNY, and all the volunteers who put in so many hours.
This event would not be a huge success without two major contributors - all our supporters (corporate and individual) and Dr. Fareed Zakaria. We are very thankful for Dr. Zakaria's time and his perceptive words. His address tackled the big questions in contemporary global politics, drew a provocative counterpoint between the authoritarianism that has bred ISIS and the vibrant and peaceful democracy of India, and ultimately showed how organizations like Seva Mandir are indispensable towards making Indian democracy work.
