Project Ahimsa Celebrates Nine Years of Empowering Youth Through Music and Raises a Record $25k at the Bollywood Disco Ball

SAN FRANCISCO - (October 5, 2010) - Project Ahimsa, a global effort to empower youth through music is celebrating a major milestone. The non-profit organization turned nine this month and celebrated by hosting its biggest fundraiser to date -The 2010 Bollywood Disco Ball. Project Ahimsa-sponsored music programs from India to Nicaragua, Uganda to the U.S. will directly benefit from the organization’s raised funds.

San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery was transformed into a Mumbai version of Studio 54 as guests arrived sporting bell-bottoms, polyester leisure suits, afros and other retro attire. Funky philanthropists were greeted to video mixes of 1970s Bollywood films mixed by VJ Amar Bansuri. San Francisco DJs Timoteo Gigante and J-Boogie rocked the crowd with classic Bollywood hits mashed up with hip-hop tracks. But the night belonged to Goonj, a recently formed Bollywood Disco Band that provided backup beats for a dance off competition among crowd members, and commanded two encores.

Attendees were treated to the tastiest new culinary trend: the gourmet food truck. Guests walked out into the balmy late summer evening to enjoy ‘desi-tacos’ prepared by the CurryUp Now. Ravie Kattaura made a mark with henna artistry, while Marcus Murray of Pacific Art Collective created a Bollywood Disco-inspired painting throughout the evening that was auctioned off to benefit the Project Ahimsa cause.

“The ability to break our nine-year single-event record on fundraising during an economic downturn is testament to our donor community’s passion and commitment to empowering the next generation through music education. We now have the funds to move forward with our next youth project, Global Lingo 2,” said Project Ahimsa’s Director of Programs, Jessica Walker.

Corporate sponsors, included 111 Minna Street Gallery, Arbitrage Clothing, Collabo Arts, Curry Up Now, Electronic Arts, Fab India, Flavor Group, Google Inc., International Orange Spa, Kid Bombay. Mingle Jewelry, New Delhi Restaurant, Om Records, Ravie Kattaura, Saavn, Six Degrees Records, TQ Style, Vinetta Gajwan and VSC PR. This event would not have been possible without the support and dedication of many individuals who hold the Project Ahimsa cause near to their hearts, including Supreet Chahal, Jessica Walker, Stacy Taaffe, Ketan Anjaria, Ali Ansari, Anne-Sophie Breuning, Kacy and Greg Brod, Vijay and Archana Chattha, Eldan Eichbaum and Geetinder Chattha, Ankush and Nimisha Gera, Paul and Gowri Grewal, Prem and Penny Kumta, Darian Heyman, Neel and Minal Kashkari, Shabnum Mehra, Nihal Mehta and Sandeep and Deepa Sood.

About Project Ahimsa
Since 2001, Project Ahimsa has created over 75 grants in 14 countries serving 10,000 kids with the mission to empower youth through music. Project Ahimsa (which means non-violence in Hindi) is dedicated to fostering unity and peace through arts exchange and education. The organization’s programming is inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, creating and supporting projects which assist disadvantaged youth with music teachers and instruments. Project Ahimsa is based in San Francisco, Calif., and operates as the cultural initiative of the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding (www.global-understanding.org) based in Tampa, Fla.

Contact Information

Vijay Chattha

Co-Founder

Project Ahimsa

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