Blind Foundation for India (BFI) Musical Evening Fundraiser

Dr. Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah

Dr. Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah

NAPERVILLE: Recently, the Blind Foundation for India (BFI) organized a musical evening program at the Avery Coonley School’s Performing Arts Center, Downers Grove, Illinois.

Over 180 people enjoyed the musical evening with melodious songs by Dr. Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah. Young artists from the Soorya Dance School of Northbrook gave enchanting performances to enthrall the audience. Hitesh Master from the Sa Re Ga Ma Orchestra kept the audience engaged throughout the evening. Dr. Rajendra Dave and Dr. Kumar Moolayil served as Emcees for the evening.

    Through the musical Evening, BFI raised over $13,000 which will be used to fund a medical van in India.

Dr. Manu Vora, President of BFI highlighted the plight of over 15 million blind people in India which translates to 1 out of every 3 blind people in the world. He also shared exponential power of prevention such as $1 of Vitamin A drops administered from age 4-6, prevents the child from going blind. Also, in India it costs only $20 per Cataract operation, compared to $4,000 in the US, a multiplier of 200.

 BFI was established in 1989 with a mission to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India. Over the years, BFI team has raised over $3.5 million dollars to examine eyesight of over a million people. So far, BFI has conducted over 110,000 free Cataract operations, donated 104 medical vans to transport doctors and patients, and distributed over 10,000 Braille Kits to blind children for their education. The current BFI focus is on prevention of blindness through Child Sight Projects. Over 500,000 children in government schools are examined for their eyesight and given necessary glasses, eye drops, Vitamin A, and performed Cataract surgeries in rare cases.

Dr. Shah and Dr. Vora thanked the Platinum Sponsor, Dr. Ashok Ray and Purnima Ray, all other sponsors, and the audience. Delicious Indian food was generously donated by the Ashyana Banquets’ Shikara Restaurant, Saffron of Westmont, Sai Saffron Sweets & Chat House, and Shree Indian Vegetarian Restaurant. The generosity of all the sponsors for this worthy cause was acknowledged and is highly appreciated.

For further information about BFI, visit www.blindfoundation.org