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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 21, 2025 | The Indian Eye 20

GOPIO-CT Distributes Funds for Local

Charities, New Team Sworn-In

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY

lobal Organization of People of Indian Or-
igin Connecticut Chapter (GOPIO-CT) or-
Gganized its launch of 2025 activities on Fri-
day, Feb. 7th in Stamford, CT. On this occasion the
newly elected Executive team headed by President
Mahesh Jhangiani took the Oath of Office admin-
istered by Connecticut State Senator Prof Sujata
Gadkar-Wilcox.
The evening also marked the felicitation of CT (From left to right): Prakash Shah, Umesh Chandra, Kewal Kanda, J. Nami Kaur, Ishwar Ramlutchman and Dhiraj Ahuja
Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox on her victory at the
state elections in November 2024. She is the first
Connecticut state senator as well as first woman
senator of Asian origin.
The 2024 team has the following as the offi-
cials; President – Mahesh Jhanginai, Exe.VP – Su-
shanth Krishnamurthy, VP - Nandu Kuppuswamy,
Secretary – Sonali Zulluwur, Treasurer – Srinivas
Akarapu, Associate Secretary – Ashvini Persaud. Connecticut State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox administering Oath of Office to GOPIO-CT team. From l. to r. Joe Somin, Jaya Dap-
Trustees – Joe Simon, Shailesh Naik, Thomas
Abraham, Totty Narang, Shelly Nichani and Prasad tardar, Srinivas Akarapu, Sushanth Krishnamurthy, Mahesh Jhangiani, Anita Mathur, Prasad Chintalapudi, and Gopinath Nadella
Chintalapudi. Board Members: Meera Banta, Ravi
Dhingra, Amit Lakhotia, Manish Maheshwari,
Anita Mathur, Sunita Menon, Gopinath Nadella,
Ravi Nichani.
Every year, the chapter raises funds for a se-
lected local charity at its holiday party which is
usually held in December but was postponed from
December 2024 to February 2025.
Last year, the chapter had raised funds for
Wheel It Forward. Thanks to the contributors, the
chapter made a donation of $5,000 to this charity.
A check for the amount was presented by Chapter
President Mahesh Jhangiani to Mr. Jim Hoffman
of Wheel it Forward.
In 2024, GOPIO-CT and its members con-
tributed $25,000 to Norwalk Community College
Foundation to give away scholarships to needy stu-
dents, $25,000 to Future 5 (https://futurefive.org/)
which provides educational and career coaching to
low income and immigrant High School students
in the Stamford area and $10,000 to Society for GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani presenting a check to Jim Hoffman of Wheel It Forward, From l. to r: Sonali Zullurwar, Srini-
Human and Environmental Development (SHED, vas Akarapu, Mahesh Jhangiani, Jim Hoffman, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Prasad Chintalapudi, Joe Simon and Sushanth Krishnamurthy
https://shedindia.org/) which runs schools, health
clinics and community centers in several locations
in Mumbai and tribal areas of Maharashtra. Rep- serve lunch for about 100 needy people. with policy makers and academicians, community
resentatives of other service providers present at To add cheer to the festive spirit and wind up events, youth mentoring and networking work-
the event included Women’s Mentoring Network the program, local band Taal Sutra provided live shops, and working with other area organizations
and Building One Community, both based in entertainment. to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT – Global
Stamford, CT. GOPIO-CT endeavors to continue with its ac- Organization of People of Indian Origin – serves as
Among the numerous activities conducted by tivities to foster good relation between the Indian a non-partisan, secular, civic and community ser-
GOPIO-CT is sponsorship of local soup kitchens. diaspora in Connecticut with local communities vice organization – promoting awareness of Indian
At this event GOPIO received pledges of $2000 to- and contribute to the well-being of the state’s res- culture, customs and contributions of people of In-
wards hosting eight soup kitchens at the New Cov- idents. dian origin through community programs, forums,
enant House in Stamford. The sponsorship mon- Over the last 19 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen
ey goes toward buying food ingredients which the of GOPIO International, has become an active and partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with
sponsor and/or volunteers cook at the facility and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions local communities.

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