Vijay Amritraj Foundation (VAF) has come back to New York City for its annual gala to raise money for some charities in India, at The Pierre, on May 12. The founder and chairman of VAF, former tennis great Vijay Amritraj, and his equally famous brother, the Hollywood producer Anand Amritraj, were in attendance at the gala.
The duo, were rated as the best tennis doubles player, India has ever produced, only after Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.
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The attendees at the gala were Shyamala Amritraj, the wife of Vijay Amritraj; Martin Luther King III, the American human rights advocate and community activist; Katrina Adams, CEO and President of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and Stan Smith, former world No. 1 American tennis player and two-time Grand Slam singles champion. The gala was emceed by Alan Wilkins, the former English county cricketer, and commentator.
Martin Luther King III has received the Vijay Amritraj Foundation 2017 Lifetime Achiever award from Vijay Amritraj.
The VAF’s focus is on funding smaller charities of India who do not have the ability to raise money or awareness for their causes. Some of the charities they have supported includes those that serve children and adults who face extreme challenges in life such as family abandonment and individuals ostracized by society for their illness like HIV/AIDS.
Recipients in the past include Naz Foundation, the Sri Poorna Mahameru Trust, Chennai’s Samrakshan Orphanage, Rajan Eye Institute, Prajwala and Mitra Jyothi.
Vijay Amritraj has expressed his happiness at the turnout and said, “The New York crowd was spectacular. We are grateful for their support and we look forward to continue to make a difference in the lives of the most needy in India.”
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Kapil Mahendra, volunteer and Board member of VAF since 2008, said, “It is a pleasure to be associated with Mr. Amritraj and the great things he does.”
Gautam Patwa, said that he has attended several VAF gala over the years, and has been impressed by his “sincerity” towards the cause of the underprivileged in India. “For me, his (Vijay Amritraj’s) personality is what matters,” said Patwa. “He is warm, sincere, caring, emotional person. Very straightforward.”
By Premji
