NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New York, May 11, 2025: Legendary actress and social activist Shabana Azmi called on the Indian American community to stand up for children’s rights at CRY America’s 2025 Gala series, which were held across six U.S. cities this spring. Emphasizing the moral responsibility to support grassroots organizations, Azmi said, “It is our duty as a society to support organizations like CRY that work at the grassroots with projects that make transformative changes in the lives of children.”
The glamorous fundraising events combined purpose with festivity—complete with cocktail hours, live entertainment, donor appreciation, Bollywood music, and dancing. The galas raised an impressive $1.4 million, funds that will go towards supporting CRY’s mission of ensuring every child’s right to a happy, healthy, and educated life.
In addition to Azmi’s impassioned appeal, each city’s gala featured notable guest speakers from the Indian American community. Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna spoke in New York, while Subrat Tripathy of L&T Technology graced the Houston event. Qualcomm’s Nakul Duggal addressed the San Diego audience, MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, spoke in the Bay Area, and Sanjeev Sehgal of Caliber Collision participated in Austin.
The speakers echoed a shared sentiment: that the Indian diaspora has both the means and the responsibility to give back. “Supporting CRY is an investment in a better future—for children, families, and entire communities,” said Shefali Sunderlal, President and CEO of CRY America.
One of the most powerful moments came from CRY’s project partner, Lalithamma, who shared moving stories from the villages of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh. She spoke about Kalpana, a girl who was pulled from school to work as a vegetable seller. Thanks to Project PORD, supported by CRY, Kalpana completed her education and is now an engineer. Another child, Mahesh, once worked as a farm laborer. With intervention from the same project, he now works at a national bank and mentors other children from similar backgrounds.
Adding to the excitement was an online auction that featured Indian artwork, designer outfits, and jewelry—further drawing interest and support from attendees.
CRY America extended gratitude to its many sponsors, including Laxmi, SBI, GDB International, Parikh Worldwide Media, TV Asia, and dozens of others who helped make the gala series a success.
With the support of over 35,000 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of more than 825,000 children across 5,000 villages and slums through 111 projects in India and the U.S.
For more information, visit www.cryamerica.org.
Cover photo: Shabana Azmi with Lalithamma.
