More than 550 supporters and guests filled the hall at the Share & Care annual gala on November 2, 2025. The event was held at the Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center (JMPAC) in East Brunswick, NJ. This year’s gala featured the theme, “United in Purpose: Boundless in Impact.”
Sharad Shah, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Share and Care, shared with Desi Talk, “What was great was that many of those who came are long-time supporters.” The gala successfully raised $600,000 to support the organization’s efforts.
Dr. Manoj Desai, Chairman of the Fund Raising & Gala Committee, warmly welcomed the gathering. Saumil Parikh, president of Share and Care, provided an overview of the nonprofit’s recent activities and impact.
Dr. Amar Shah, who led the event organizing effort alongside Dr. Manoj Desai, announced the honorees of the evening. They included Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, and Dr. Sudha Parikh; Dr. Bharat Mody and Dr. Bharati Mody; as well as Jaydev and Purnima Patel.
In his speech, Dr. Sudhir Parikh reflected on his long-standing relationship with Share and Care, saying, “It has been a privilege and honor to join the Share and Care Foundation and work with the Foundation since its inception 42 years ago. It is a privilege to be a Grand Sponsor of this organization for the last 43 years.”
He emphasized the importance of philanthropy, stating, “People successful in their fields must remember those who helped them get where they are today, and must help others the same way. Philanthropy is the most important way to do this. And education is the most important philanthropy, because when you lift a student, you lift a family and a country.” Dr. Parikh urged donors to open their hearts and wallets to give to Share and Care.
The honorees, Dr. Sudhir and Dr. Sudha Parikh, were presented with flowers and a plaque. Similarly, Dr. Bharat Mody and Dr. Bharati Mody—both doctors by profession—were recognized for their contributions. “Dr. Mody’s goal has always been to help organizations in India and the US,” said Dr. Desai. As part of Share and Care, Dr. Mody has helped build seven digital centers.
Among the Platinum Sponsors, Sharad Shah acknowledged the generosity of Tanvi and Chintan Parikh, founders of the digital consultancy company PRI (now called Proven). This young couple donated $25,000 toward Share and Care projects.
Share and Care’s mission is to “create a world that gives women and youth in India the opportunity to rise out of poverty and improve their quality of life in an ever-changing world of new and improved technologies and innovation,” according to its publicity materials.
One of the evening’s highlights was a Kathak dance performance led by actress, dancer, choreographer, and acclaimed guru Archana Joglekar, accompanied by a troupe of about 20 dancers. Titled “Rainbow Colors of Women,” the performance was a tribute to ‘Nari Shakti’ or Women’s Power. It portrayed the diverse roles women play as mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, wives, and friends, with music ranging from classical to folk to Bollywood styles.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Sindhu Mittadoddi, a specialist in geriatric and internal medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Einstein in Bronx, NY. At Share and Care, Dr. Mittadoddi serves as co-chair of the Women’s Empowerment program, working alongside Dr. Ketki Shah and Dr. Sudha Parikh, who built the initiative.
Sharad Shah noted to Desi Talk that “Dr. Sudha Parikh has been the ‘quiet’ force working with Ketki to create the Women’s Empowerment program.”
During the gala, Dr. Mittadoddi presented a video showcasing four examples of Share and Care’s impactful work.
In his speech, Sharad Shah drew a parallel between Share and Care’s beneficiaries and India’s women’s cricket star Deepti Sharma, whose brother supported her journey to becoming a leader in the sport. Recently, Sharma and her team won the Women’s World Cup by defeating South Africa.
The evening also included a special ceremony honoring the artists who performed at the event.
Jayu Parikh, trustee of Share and Care, delivered the vote of thanks, concluding a successful night dedicated to empowering women and youth through education and support.
https://newsindiatimes.com/share-and-care-raises-600000-at-gala-honors-grand-sponsors/
