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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                           NOVEMBER 07, 2025        |  The Indian Eye 28

            ATA Kicks Off 19th Conference with Record

                     $1.4 Million Fundraising in Baltimore

            OUR BUREAU
            Baltimore, MD
                  he American Telugu Associa-
                  tion (ATA), one of the leading
            Tnational organizations rep-
            resenting Telugu-speaking people
            across the United States, launched
            preparations for its 19th Conference
            and Youth Convention with a spec-
            tacular kick-off event in Baltimore,
            marking a record-breaking start with
            $1.4 million raised in a single evening.
                The ATA Board meeting was
            held at the Renaissance Harbor Place
            Hotel in Baltimore on October 25,
            drawing  record participation from   makrishna Ala (Tennessee), Raghu-
            30 trustees and nearly 300 delegates   veer Marripeddi (Texas), Vijay Kun-
            from across the country. The meeting   dur (New Jersey), JP Muddhireddy
            formally  announced  the  19th  ATA   (Texas), Raju Kakerla (Pennsylva-
            Conference and Youth Convention,   nia), and Maheedhar Muskula (Il-
            to be held from July 31 to August 2,   linois). Together, they will provide
            2026, at the Baltimore Convention   strategic guidance and operational
            Center, a sprawling 425,000-square-  support  to  the  core  committee  as
            foot facility with extensive meeting   preparations accelerate.
            spaces and exhibit halls.             The highlight of the weekend
                The Board discussions reflected   was the ATA Conference Kick-Off
            the association’s broad mission of   Event, which drew over 450 com-
            promoting Telugu culture, language,   munity leaders and supporters from
            and education while also emphasiz-  the local Telugu diaspora. The event
            ing youth empowerment, business   featured vibrant cultural perfor-
            networking, and community service.   mances, leadership speeches, and an
            The  meeting  reaffirmed  ATA’s  con-  atmosphere of unity and enthusiasm
            tinued commitment to humanitarian   that captured the spirit of the Telugu
            causes and cultural advancement in   community in America.
            both the United States and the Telu-  ATA President Jayanth Challa
            gu-speaking states of India.      hailed the overwhelming response
                In a key decision, ATA appoint-  and the historic fundraising achieve-
            ed a Core Team of experienced     ment. “Baltimore and the local orga-
            members to lead the upcoming      nizing  teams have  shown  extraordi-
            conference. The leadership team   nary commitment and passion. With
            includes Convenor Sridhar Banala   this level of teamwork and commu-
            (Maryland), Coordinator Ravi Chal-  nity support, the 19th ATA Confer-
            la (Virginia), National Coordinator   ence will undoubtedly set a new glob-
            Sharath Vemula (New Jersey), and   al benchmark in celebrating Telugu
            Director Sudhir Damidi (Virginia).   identity and empowering youth lead-
            They will be supported by Co-Con-  ership,” he said.
            venor Arvind Muppidi (Texas),         The record-breaking $1.4 mil-  for making the Board Meeting and   community initiatives.
            Co-Coordinator Zeenath Kundur     lion raised at the event is seen as a   Kick-Off Event a resounding success.   With its rich legacy of service,
            (Virginia), Co-National Coordinator   strong indicator of the community’s   Organizers credited the teamwork of   cultural preservation, and global en-
            Koushik Sama (Virginia), Regional   engagement and the growing impact   Baltimore’s Telugu community for   gagement, the American Telugu As-
            Coordinator Thirumal Munukuntla   of ATA’s programs. The funds will   the impressive turnout and early mo-  sociation is poised to make its 19th
            (Virginia), and Co-Director Kiran   support the planning, logistics, and   mentum.                    Conference in Baltimore one of the
            Ala (Delaware).                   execution of the 2026 convention,     As the planning process moves   most significant gatherings in its his-
                To ensure effective planning   which is expected to attract thou-  forward, ATA is set to form several   tory. The record fundraising achieve-
            and oversight, ATA also announced   sands of  delegates  from  across the   national committees and mobilize   ment  not  only  highlights  the  com-
            an Ad Hoc Monitoring and Support   United States and abroad.        volunteers from multiple cities to co-  munity’s strength and unity but also
            Team consisting of senior members     ATA leadership expressed its   ordinate various aspects of the con-  sets a promising tone for what ATA
            and past organizers with diverse   deep appreciation to sponsors, vol-  vention, including cultural programs,   leaders describe as a “celebration of
            expertise. The team includes Ra-  unteers, and community supporters   youth sessions, business forums, and   Telugu pride on a global scale.”

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