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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                               AUGUST 07, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 27

              AMEC’s 15th Congressional Global

               Champions Gala Ignites Naperville

            OUR BUREAU
            Chicago, IL

                  ellow Box in Naperville, Illi-
                  nois, pulsed with the heart-
            Ybeat of 33 ethnic communi-
            ties on the evening of July 25, 2026.
            More  than  1700  guests  filled  the
            hall in person while thousands more
            joined via livestream as the American
            Multi-Ethnic Commission (AMEC)
            staged its 15th Annual Congressional
            Global Champions Gala under the
            theme “Igniting Passion: Equipping
            Change.” From 5:30 p.m. until near-
            ly 11 p.m., the stage became a living
            atlas of culture, leadership, and hope
            anchored throughout by the steady
            presence of living legend U.S. Con-
            gressman Danny K. Davis.
                The evening opened with the
            grand entry of co-anchors Gauri Ya-
            dav and Hannah Leong, followed by
            interfaith invocations that set a tone
            of shared reverence. Pastor Jebas-
            ingh Jebamony offered a Christian
            prayer for unity and blessing. Dr.
            Vasavi Chakka and Anwar Sada-
            tullah recited Hindu and Muslim
            prayers, including Surah Al-Fatiha.
            National  Chair  Dr.  Hong  Liu,  the
            first  Chinese  American  to  hold  the
            post, welcomed the gathering with
            quiet pride, noting that differences
            remain America’s greatest strength.
            Governor Martino Tankar, National
            Faith Chair Dr. Twin Green, Senior   Change,  accepted  by  CEO  Dr.  Jas-  forward to thunderous applause.  turing amputees Gerardo, Carlos,
            Vice President Dr. Ronnie Yusefzai,   dip Singh and COO Sajid Tarar for   Segment two honored Attor-  Angela, Carla,  Pablo,  Sed Ali,  Ele-
            Executive Vice President Kathy    26 years of autism care and interfaith   ney of the Year Beau Brindley Esq.,   na, John Reynolds, Louis Santiago,
            Thorat, and 12-year-old Student   leadership in Elkridge, Maryland.   Champion of Ethnic Arts Jigar Shah   Cherish, and technician Cliff who
            Secretary Samira Bangali each add-  Global Icon Pin Ni was celebrated for   (founder of Chicago Indian Arts and   redefined  possibility  Segment  three
            ed warm greetings that underscored   transforming Wanxiang America into   Literature Festival), Senior Citizen   continued the celebration. Commu-
            AMEC’s multi-generational reach.  a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that   of the Year Susan Au, Youth of the   nity Leadership Award Ye Liu, Or-
                Then the magic began. Created   bridges the United States and China.   Year Kriti Aryal, Dr. Pratap C. Ku-  ganization of the Year Indian Com-
            and patented by the Founder, Chair-  Visionary of the Year Sam Pitroda,   mar Outstanding Physician of the   munity Outreach (ICO) Naperville
            man  Dr. Vijay G. Prabhakar, the sig-  architect of India’s telecom revolu-  Year Dr. Omar B. Lateef of Rush   led by Krishna Badal, Social Entre-
            nature “Around the World in 60 Min-  tion with 100 patents and 20 honorary   University, Rising Artiste of the Year   preneur of the Year Sandra Ford of
            utes” segment swept the audience   doctorates, reminded the room that   actor John David Castilla, Golden   Beautiful Angels, Agri Vision Award
            across continents without ever leav-  young people with an average age of   Palm Award for Sustainable Real Es-  Professor  Dr.  Senay  Simsek,  Com-
            ing their seats. Korean percussionist   23 once turned a dream into 1.5 bil-  tate Excellence to Papachsorn Mee-  munity Activist of the Year Fai Fong,
            Chansoo Lee opened the journey.   lion  telephones  and  $250  billion  in   pa and Dr. Sunil V. Manjarekar, John   Mir Ali Ethnic Singer of the Year
                ABC Channel 7 which broad-    software  exports. Child of the  Year   Saldanha Healthcare Entrepreneur   Chandra Lekha Gangavarapu, Glob-
            casted the gala referred to AMEC’s   Aiden Saldanha, Student of the Year   Award  to  Ashley  Lucas,  and  Com-  al Resilience Award Zina Harvey,
            15th Annual Gala as America’s larg-  Katana Murphy-Green, Lily Prabha-  munity Service Award to Faye Yu.  Humanitarian Leadership Award
            est multi ethnic festival.        kar Change Maker Rosie Ni, Lifetime   After a moving Whitney Hous-  Dr. Qing Chen, Young Woman of
                Awards  flowed  in  four  elegant   Achievement Louis James, Journalist   ton Experience by Sherie Yuette   the Year Shruthie Ramaswamy, and
            segments, each introduced with rev-  of the Year Judy Hsu (ABC7 anchor   Withers and the powerful “Beyond   Bridge Builder Award Xiaojing Li all
            erence. Healthcare Organization of   celebrating 25 years), and Volunteer of   Limits” fashion showcase by Pros-  received their honors.
            the Year went to Center for Social   the Year Shiva Adhikari each stepped   thetic Foundation of Americafea-  -- Asian Media USA

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