East meets West at Indian-themed Bollywood fundraiser.
Harmony Health Clinic fundraiser nets $105,000
Women dressed in red, green and gold glided on to the dance floor carrying a lighted candle nestled in pink and red flowers and performed the first of four dazzling dances for Bollywood Nights, held May 13 at the Statehouse Convention Center. The dances ranged from traditional to modern Bollywood style and were part of an Indian-theme fundraiser for the Harmony Health Clinic.
The evening began with drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the lobby outside of the Wally Allen
Ballroom, where more than 500 guests, many dressed in formal Indian attire, could bid on silent auction items or take selfies in front of a peacock-decorated backdrop.
A program before dinner included remarks from event co-chairmen Indu Soora and Dr. Sara Tariq. Tariq noted that the health care clinic offers free eye services, has a fully dedicated diabetes clinic, mental health services and is working to create a network of doctors to provide one or two slots a month for services not offered at the clinic. She explained the clinic operates on a slim margin, and money raised that evening “go directly to the bottom line.”
After the dances, a range of Indian-style clothing from casual to formal was modeled during an “East meets West” fashion show. Guests enjoyed a buffet of Indian food donated by Taj Mahal restaurant for dinner. The event raised more than $105,000 for the clinic.