SPREAD INDIA held their 2nd Deepavali Celebrations and Fund Raising Event on Nov in the magnificent St. Toma Church and Banquet Hall in the heart of Farmington Hills City, Michigan, USA, raising funds for education in Rural India. About 350 participants showed up for the event, and about $ 40,000 was raised on the day of the event, via incoming pledges and donations. Over 300 prominent community leaders, students and young professionals attended, including special guests, India Abroad Person of the Year 2003, Sonal Shah and Dr. Chandra Reddy Gavva, CEO of Hope Center, Indianapolis, IN.

SPREAD INDIA is an acronym that stands for Society for the Promotion of Rural Environment And Development of India (www.SpreadIndia.org). SPREAD INDIA is a tax exempt Non-Profit Organization under section 501(c)(3) in USA. The Tax-ID is 80-0084590. SPREAD INDIA's mission is to provide under-privileged children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one's own life.

The fund raising event started with inviting guests Sonal Shah, Dr.Chandra Reddy Gavva, Dr. Haranath Policherla, and Dr. Hanumaiah Bandla to light the lamp marking the traditional Deepavali. Following the lighting ceremony little Anchita Sanam sang a prayer and Madhumeeta Sanam performed a dance.

Sonal Shah rendered a very inspiring speech, emphasizing the importance of service. Sonal is the co-founder of Indicorps org, a service organization that has earned special mention by India’s President Dr. A.J. Kalam.

Sonal Shah started her speech with a quote from Ramdas " Namaste is the light within me recognizes the light within you. When both of us are at the same place, at the same time we are one." She said that it’s an interesting quote because we say that every single time when we meet somebody whether we are in India or we are in here we say Namaste. When you think about it, It looks beyond color, it looks beyond cast and it looks beyond everything you are recognizing the light within someone, and you recognizes that. When each of us looks with each other with that light we are one person and we are the same person. And there is no difference at that point. It doesn’t matter how much money I have or it doesn’t matter how much more I have the fact is that we are one individual person. We are all living in the same life and we all live in the same world, all facing exact same challenges.

Commending the efforts of Spread India team, Sonal Shah said that every NRI should emulate the spirit of Spread India and rededicate them to serve the underprivileged back home in India. She was very much fascinated by the projects executed by Spread India. While commenting on the literacy drive taken up by Spread India team, Sonal shah said that investment on education will pave a long way in building a better India and act as a catalyst for the all round economic development. Analyzing the life style and pattern of the underprivileged children, she said that the poor parents tend to send their kids as child laborers because it feeds their families. If we can provide enough food and other necessities for the poor families, then they can think of sending their children to school. With this gift of education they can break the cycle of poverty and its concomitant effects on their life. She appreciated the foresight of Spread India team in understanding the real problem and providing very practical solutions.

While commenting on the Indian life, she said, "the essence of India isn’t the dirty streets, it is not the bathrooms that are not working, the essence of the India is the people that are living in India. In order to understand that you need to live it and breathe it"

Finally, Sonal pointed out that every single person is here because we have been educated by India. You benefited from India, give something back to India. Don’t worry about every single dollar perfectly spent; we have wasted 50 dollars on dinner. You give a dollar a day, a dollar a day you give makes 365 dollars a year can put a child in school for one year and allows a mother to buy food, clothes to this kid that brings the light in that kid's future.

Concluding the speach, Sonali said "I leave you with namaste again, think about what India has given to you, the value that India has given, understand the essence of India."

Participating in this event as a chief guest, Dr. Gavva Chandra Reddy, a well-known oncologist, made an inspiring speech on the subject of Illiteracy and its impact on health system. He said that the efforts of Spread India will lead to root out these two problems, illiteracy and ill-health. He said that illiteracy is of two types, basic and functional and most of the time, due to illiteracy, the patients are not able to get the full benefits of medical help, even though the doctors provide good service. He appreciated the educational activities taken up by Spread India team and commended its efforts in conducting the health camps in rural India. He mentioned about the innovative project taken up by him called "Adopt a village and pay back to your mother land" and said that under that program, he would take the help of Spread India in implementing the school education part. 

Concluding the speech Dr Reddy pointed out to Share 1% of your income to payback to your motherland.

Vanitha Reddy read a message from Mayor of Farmington Hills City, MI, Vickie Barnett praised SPREAD INDIA for helping the young people of India.

Mallesham Karnati gave presentation of SPREAD INDIA activities, process, and achievements. SPREAD INDIA presented awards to K. Katragadda and Hemalata Bhamidipati for their community services. Also mementos were presented to invited special guests, Sonal Shah and Dr. Chandra Reddy Gavva.

Speaking on the occasion, President and founder of SPREAD INDIA, Sridhar Patel welcomed everyone to the Deepavali fundraising event and introduced his core team members Ganesh Alla, Naveen Aileni, Grace Victoria, Sreeni Basbithinani, Sonali Karandikar, Grace Victoria, and Thiru Ranganathan. He said that his team has been working very hard almost every day to achieve the SPREAD INDIA's mission. He also praised the advisory members of SPREAD INDIA and local community leader Dr. Sudhakar Reddy for his valuable suggestions and planning this event. He also introduced the other advisory members Mallesham Karnati and Shailedra Sanam.

These speaches were followed by the fund-raising activity conducted by Vanitha Reddy and Shailendra Sanam. There was an overwhelming response for this and Spread could raise $ 40,000 dollars. Spread India started a small fund raising event two Diwali's ago on a modest scale and got a warm response by receiving $ 500 US dollars from the audience.

Later on, Padma Sanam, on behalf of Lasya Priya School of Dance, organized dance and cultural programs. More than 10 girls participated in this and performed various types of dances. Delicious food was supplied by Ashoka restaurant at reasonable cost. Towards the end, Surasangam of Lansing provided a good entertainment by singing many popular songs. Program ended with fireworks. Audiences were thrilled with cultural programs and fireworks. Many people from far off places also attended this program and made it a grand success.

Some of the major sponsors included local businesses like Voice 2 MT, Inc. a medical transcription company, Sneha TV, first Telugu Channel in US, MINRI Links, a web-based search engine serving Michigan community.