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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 07, 2025 | The Indian Eye 30

GOPIO-CT Celebrates Diwali Supporting a Local

Charity as Stamford Mayor Proclaims Diwali Day

OUR BUREAU
Stamford, CT
he Connecticut Chapter of
Global Organization of Peo-
Tple of Indian Origin (GO-
PIO-CT) and Hindi USA Stamford
Chapter joined together to celebrate
Diwali on October 17th at Westover
Magnet School in Stamford, CT. The
program started with the lighting of
the lamp by Stamford Mayor’s rep-
resentatives and officials both orga-
nizations. Over fifteen group dance
items were presented at the show
which was followed by a dinner. The
program was put together by GO- Presenting Stamford City Mayor’s proclamation of Diwali Day at the celebration. From l. to r.: Babita Gupta, Sonali Gannu, Jayashri Chintalapudi,
PIO-CT Board Member Manish Ma-
heshwari, who also serves as Coordi- Stamford Mayor’s Multicultural Council (MMC) Vice President Malinda Polite, GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani, Stamford-HindiUSA Coor-
nator of Stamford-Hindi USA. dinator Manish Maheshwari, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, Kavita Rathi, Rekha Heda and MMC Board member Shobhna Bhatnagar
As a Diwali giving, GOPIO-CT
Chapter presented a check of
$25,000, contributed by its members,
to 100-year-old Children’s Learning
Center (CLC) in Fairfield County in
Connecticut at the Diwali Celebra-
tion organized by Hindi USA Stam-
ford and GOPIO-CT. The chapter
has been supporting many local char-
ities in Connecticut. This year GO-
PIO-CT supported Future 5, an or-
ganization which provides coaching
of high school students from low-in-
come and immigrant families as well
as Society for Human and Environ-
ment Development (SHED) which
runs schools in Mumbai slums and in
the rural areas of Maharashtra.
At the houseful Diwali show, the
check was presented by GOPIO-CT GOPIO-CT Presenting a Check of $25,000 to Children’s Learning Center, from l. to r. Prasad Chintalapudi, Viresh Sharma, Sonali Gannu, CLC’s
President Mahesh Jhangiani along Director of Partnerships Jennifer Hallissey, CLC CEO Monica Maccera Filppu, GOPIO-CT Treasurer Srinivas Akarapu, GOPIO-CT President
with GOPIO International Chairman
Dr. Thomas Abraham to CLC CEO Mahesh Jhangiani, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thoams Abraham and Stamford-Hindi USA Coordinator Manish Maheshwari
Monica Maccera Filppu. GOPIO-CT
had supported CLC earlier too. largest religion Hinduism with one
Stamford City Mayor Caroline billion followers and India in its 77th
Simmons issued a proclamation year of independence.
to honor Diwali. It was presented Over the last 20 years, GO-
by Stamford Mayors’ Multicultur- PIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO In-
al Council Vice President Malinda ternational has become an active
Polite along with Board Member and dynamic organization hosting
Shobhna Bhatnagar. In her procla- interactive sessions with policy mak-
mation, Mayor Simmons noted the ers and academicians, community
presence of 66,000 people of Indian events, youth mentoring and net-
origin living in Connecticut and 4.8 working workshops, and working
million in the USA enriching com- with other area organizations to help Dancers at Diwali Celebration by GOPIO-CT and Stamford Hindi-USA
munities across the nation with deep create a better future.
tradition, professional excellence GOPIO-CT – Global Organi- and community service organization people of Indian origin through com-
and cultural vitality. The proclama- zation of People of Indian Origin – – promoting awareness of Indian cul- munity programs, forums, events and
tion also recognized Diwali, India’s serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic ture, customs and contributions of youth activities.

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