Share and Care, in partnering with the TV Asia series Shades of Shakti, confirmed that media attention is an essential strategy to arouse awareness of an important cause whose success relies on emotional impact and visibility. The award-winning show features the extraordinary achievements of South Asian women living in the United States who have taken control of their personal and professional destinies—often in the face of daunting obstacles. Share and Care has a dream, in which every woman feels safe, secure, self-reliant, empowered, and assured a life of dignity. According to Share and Care Foundation President Arun Bhansali, “A pragmatic and powerful approach is necessary to create sustainable opportunities and fight injustices . . . to empower women.”

The celebratory evening featured Dr. Ketki Shah, Chairperson of the Foundation’s WE initiative, who shared the campaign’s vision, goals, and strategy for 2014. She emphasized two key areas: abuse prevention, and livelihood projects, both prioritized to promote self-sufficiency.

Dr. Shah was followed in the program by Hon. Consul General of India Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay who discussed the suffering of women in India, and endorsed the Foundation’s timely initiative. The non-profit’s goal is to enroll 350 women with a pledge of $100 a month over the next 10 months toward a goal of $300,000 to support three programs in India and one in the United States.

Mr. H.R. Shah, Chairman & CEO of TV Asia, and well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, spoke about the role the media can play in emphasizing the importance of the work by the Share and Care Foundation.

Legendary poet, lyricist, and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar, a prominent figure in Bollywood and one of the industry’s most popular and sought-after lyricists, recited some of his work to the pleasure of those in attendance. Celebrity couple Javed and Shabana Azmi are supporters and guides of the Foundation’s mission and have partnered in many projects uplifting women’s causes.

Shabana, in referring to the brutalization of a 5-year-old girl in Delhi, said, “We are numbed by the horror of the act. The culprit has been booked, but can justice ever be done? We can’t just be bystanders.” Shabana read a poem penned by Javedji’s son Farhan Akhtar, the well-regarded Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, and television host. The poem was offered as a tribute to the WE campaign.

Later, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar joined in “conversation” with media anchors and producers. They provided their honest views on the importance and difficulties of gender issues, which was followed by a lively question and answer period with the audience.

View TV Asia’s An Evening with Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi—Part 1 & 2

About the Share and Care Foundation
The Share and Care Foundation, founded in 1982, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for deserving, economically challenged women and children of India by partnering with communities, philanthropists, and local charitable organizations. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

For more information: Email Tejal Parekh or phone (201) 262-7599

You May Also be Interested in:

» Watch Shades of Shakti, Saturdays on TV Asia

The post Bollywood Supports Women’s Empowerment appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

READ and see highlights from our Inspiring Change/Women Empowerment launch celebration: Bollywood Supports Women’s Empowerment

READ more about our Inspiring Change-Women Empowerment – WE Signature Program.

Dear Friends,

Welcome to 2015.

Working for 33 years, the Share and Care Foundation believes that though women’s equality has made positive gains, it is still UNEQUAL. The wake of the Delhi rape incident has heightened our concern about gender issues, and the uphill battle of social and economic opportunities.

It demands our focused attention and sustained action that empowers women who are facing many forms of violence, including dowry deaths, domestic violence, forced labor, rape, and abuse. As we know, these problems are not due to lack of resources, but are due to lack of their voices being heard. This needs to be addressed by developing a voice and leadership.

We want your active participation in making 2015 the year of Inspiring Change

In order to accomplish our GOAL we appeal to all WOMEN—to come together, take responsibility, lead, and manage the project going nationwide. For this we are seeking 7–11 members to serve on the Inspiring Change Steering Committee: to plan, implement, and monitor the various campaigns and projects. We also will have an additional 11–15 members who will take on specific responsibilities toward awareness and marketing campaigns.

Kindly send your interest by email to Tejal Parekh.

Brace yourselves, because these are real people, real challenges, and real social issues. We want to enlighten our stakeholders and compassionate audience. If we can save even ONE woman from domestic violence, ONE woman from the claws of leukemia by finding a bone marrow donor, send ONE brilliant but needy student to IIT school, motivate even ONE brilliant girl of a prostitute mother to follow her dreams to pursue graduate studies . . . we will consider our mission accomplished and our partnership campaign a good investment.

We need a call for action to end domestic abuse as well as physical and emotional violence against women and young girls. Share and Care has worked very hard since its inception to combat violence against women, and to empower them to live with dignity. We have a number of programs, including skill training for livelihood. Now our goal is to help strengthen NGOs that are working to combat violence against women that will continue to make a strong tenet of our Signature Programs. We support building a secure future for women, with our limited resources.

The post Celebrate Our New Inspiring Change/Women Empowerment Program appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

The concert titled Do Kishore was a musical extravaganza with performances by his sons, Amit and Sumeet Kumar. The gala was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, on Saturday, September 28. The funds from the evening go toward Share and Care’s women’s empowerment initiatives. Share and Care’s mission is to create opportunities for deserving, economically challenged women and children of rural India by partnering with communities, philanthropists, and local charitable organizations.

Mr. Arun Bhansali, president of Share and Care, addressed the audience with highlights of the vision and programs offered by the organization over the past year. “Share and Care is all about touching lives, bridging distances, healing and building bonds. Our events will provide the opportunity to communicate to young hearts and minds and American colleagues and friends about our vision and strategies—that is incredibly powerful.”

Kanika Chadda hosted the evening and invited Shweta on stage as a special guest. Shweta shared her story of being born in the red light district of Mumbai, and now just recently receiving a scholarship to study psychology at Bard College.

Additionally, Deputy Consul General Dr. Devyani Khorbrada addressed the audience on current challenges of women in India and awarded 10 honorees for their generosity, support, and media partnerships.

Special Thanks

We’d like to give special thanks to all of our supporters, patrons, benefactors, and Grand, Visionary, Platinum, Gold, and Silver level sponsors, for all of their generous donations and for serving as examples of compassion in action. Read our full list of donors here.

With social responsibility at heart, the following media sponsors have consistently helped us further our mission and message of empowering women. Thank you for your continuing generosity and support of our mission:

-H. R. and Rosemarie Shah, TV Asia
–BIG MAGIC International
–The IndianEYE.net
-Sudhir and Sudha Parikh, Parikh Worldwide Media LLC
–International Broadcasting Network (ITV)

–Masala Junction

Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.

—Gandhi

Up Next on Our Fall Fundraising Calendar

The Do Kishore concert is part of the Foundation’s fall fundraising series of events. On October 6, Share and Care hosted an exclusive Art and Photography Exhibition and Auction in Manhattan.On October 12, Casino Night was held in Long Island. The last and final 2013 fall fundraising event is a glamorous Fashion Bazaar to be held on November 16 in New York. Models will sashay down the runway in bold garments, displaying an array of colors and silhouettes by local designers. Guests will have an opportunity to purchase fashion pieces straight off the runway alongside other jewelry and accessories available at the trunk show. Share and Care will use funds from this evening to enhance their women’s empowerment initiatives.

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