LiveOnNY (LONY) recently honored donors and community heroes from the South Asian community in a special event attended by over 250 invited guests, city officials, and LONY representatives. Organ donor families received special recognition for their generosity and courage.
“The highlight of the evening was hearing the stories of donor families — how tragedy was transformed into something so beautiful, giving, and powerful,” said Dunesh Kaur, LONY’s Community and Government Affairs Liaison, in an exclusive interview with Desi Talk.
### Honoring Community Leaders
The event celebrated several prominent South Asian community leaders, including:
– Inderjit Singh, Publisher and Chief Editor of *The Indian Panorama*
– Koshy Thomas, Democratic Candidate for District 23 of NYC Council
– Indu Jaiswal, Chair of nonprofit American Forum Inc.
– Dr. Vipul Patel, External Affairs Administrator of Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir
– Dr. Shyla Roshin, Director of Nursing for Behavioral Health at NYC Health & Hospital and President of the Indian Nurses Association of New York
– Dr. Harshad Patel, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Westchester Medical Center Health Network
This meaningful gathering was jointly organized by Dunesh Kaur and Dr. Mariam Singh of the New York City Department of Correction (NYCD) Desi Society and hosted by the Gujarati Samaj of New York at their Fresh Meadows, NY facility.
### About LiveOnNY
LiveOnNY, formerly known as the New York Organ Donor Network, is a federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving the greater New York area. The nonprofit facilitates organ and tissue donation decision-making and offers emotional support and counseling to donor families.
### Memorable Moments and Community Impact
Reflecting on a special moment during the event, Kaur shared, “A Gujarati couple registered together to become organ donors. It was beautiful to witness — both confident in their decision, understanding that anyone can be in need of a life-saving transplant at any time.”
Kaur emphasized that their commitment demonstrated deep compassion and awareness. “Moments like these remind us that small steps create meaningful impact.”
Earlier, LONY collaborated with the Gujarati Samaj on their Health and Wellness Fair to engage the community, address questions, and dispel misconceptions about organ and tissue donation.
“Through these events, I am able to connect directly with community members, provide accurate information, and clear up myths surrounding donation,” Kaur stated.
### Growing Support in the South Asian Community
Kaur noted the tremendous support LONY has received from the Gujarati communities in Long Island and Queens. “Our partnership with mandirs such as BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Flushing has been especially meaningful. We are grateful for their attentiveness and dedication to raising awareness about organ and tissue donation.”
She highlighted positive progress within the South Asian community toward understanding the life-changing impact of organ donation. “We are seeing a meaningful increase in authorized organ donation cases.”
Kaur shared moving examples of two families in Queens and Westchester who made the incredibly difficult decision to donate the organs of loved ones declared brain dead. “As a Family Support Advocate, I understand how challenging acceptance can be during such times,” she said.
Gently guiding families through the process and helping them honor their loved ones’ legacies through organ and tissue donation is crucial, Kaur added.
“I have witnessed firsthand how this one decision can bring a sense of purpose, healing, and strength to grieving families. Their loved ones become heroes, giving the gift of life and hope to others,” she emphasized.
### Event Attendees
The event was attended by LiveOnNY’s Vice President of Community and Public Affairs Scott Wohl; Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Dorie Klissas; managers and liaisons from LiveOnNY’s Community and Public Affairs Department; Dr. Mariam Singh; President Officer Manish Chopra; and board members of the NYCD Desi Society.
Also present were notable dignitaries and guests, including Senator John Liu; Councilmember Sandra Ung; Assemblymen Ed Braunstein and Jenifer Rajkumar; Civil Court Judge Frances Wang; Anurag Bhargava and Tsewang Gyaltso from the Consulate General of India; South Asian Liaison at NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs Sookranie Dhanpat; Detective Neil Narayan of the NYPD Desi Society; representatives from the Nepalese American Law Enforcement Association; Professor Indrajit Saluja; and Dr. Hari Shukla.
### Acknowledgment and Appreciation
In recognition of her efforts, Dunesh Kaur was presented with a proclamation by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar.
This event marked an important step in fostering awareness and support for organ donation within the South Asian community, highlighting the power of compassion and the gift of life.
https://newsindiatimes.com/liveonny-celebrates-organ-donors-and-community-leaders/
