Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central welcomed esteemed guests to its Annual Indian Diaspora Fundraising Dinner on Sunday, May 4th, 2024, at Mahatma Gandhi Centre. The event was a testament to the spirit of community service and philanthropy, uniting leaders from various sectors to support charitable causes, making an impact in communities both locally and internationally.
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who envision a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and within ourselves. 46,000+ clubs collaborate to promote peace, fight disease, support education, and address societal challenges. Paul Harris, founder of the Rotary Club famously said, “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”
The event was graced by the presence of distinguished guests, including Members of Parliament Hon Jenny Salesa, along with Honorary Consul of India Bhav Dhillon and Nepal Dinesh Khadka. Past District Governor Allan Smith and his wife Sue Smith, along with other notable figures like Michael Wood. Rotarians Jennie Hearing, Raj Chand, and District Governor Elect Vidhya Nand joined fellow Rotarians and guests in solidarity for a noble cause.
Ashima Singh, Chair of the event, expressed gratitude to more than 200 attendees for their support and emphasized the importance of the occasion in raising funds for charities. Special thanks were extended to those who generously contributed and dedicated their time to the event, highlighting their commitment to community welfare.
The evening commenced with a comprehensive overview presented by Raj Pradeep Singh,
President of Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central, highlighting the club’s initiatives and achievements during his tenure. Raj emphasized the multitude of successful projects executed by the club throughout the year both locally and internationally. Particularly noteworthy, the club earned accolades and recognition at the conference held in Fiji for its exceptional.Furthermore, Raj shared upcoming projects in the pipeline, including Pink Ribbon, book donations, and support for SPCA initiatives, underscoring the club’s ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on communities locally and globally.
A significant portion of the funds raised during the event will be donated to the End Polio Now and the Mental Health Foundation, reflecting Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central’s commitment to addressing pressing issues.
The evening also featured the presentation of Community Awards to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to their communities, symbolizing Rotary’s ethos of service and goodwill. Venkat Raman, a distinguished journalist and community leader, and Vidya Nand, a dedicated Rotarian and community servant, were honoured for their outstanding service and commitment to uplifting others.
Following the community awards, the ceremony turned to the prestigious Paul Harris Awards, the highest honour in Rotary. Recipients Gurpreet Kaur, Rachna Dave, Nidhi Bhasin, and Karnail
Badhan were acknowledged for their significant contributions to humanitarian and educational objectives, symbolizing Rotary’s ethos of service and goodwill.
“The highest award in Rotary is the Paul Harris Award. It is given to a Rotarian or a member of the community that has made an outstanding contribution to the community,” explained Ashima Singh. “Rotarians designate a Paul Harris Fellow to recognize another person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation to
build world understanding and peace.”Following the prestigious award presentation, an exhilarating auction ensued, as many individuals participated with great joy and excitement. Through their unwavering support and generous contributions, the auction emerged as a resounding success, symbolizing a united effort towards realizing Rotary’s ambitious goals.
The event concluded with a delicious dinner and raffle draw, along with a heartfelt gratitude expressed to all participants and a renewed commitment to Rotary’s mission of making a positive impact on communities worldwide.
For more information about Rotary Club Papatoetoe Central and its initiatives, please visit https://www.rotary.org/en.