2017 Annual Fundraiser Magazine

FY16/17

GIVE. CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

MAFS 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

GIVE. OUR MISSION

To provide comprehensive & integrated Social Services to the Immigrant population of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Middle East & European countries. These services include but are not limited to educate, counsel, assist & empower individuals & families to become productive members in their new home. mafsinc.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

06

PRESIDENT & EXEC. DIR. LETTER

05

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

08

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

16

25 YEARS OF MEMORIES

20

FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES

22

2017 MINI FUNDRAISER

24

2016 ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

26

MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND MAFS

28

OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

30

BOARD MEMBERS

31

ADVISORY & SENIOR BOARD

34

MAFS STAFF

35

OUR DONORS

36

STAFF & PHILANTHROPY AWARDS

38





22,506 Meals Served at our Chicago, Niles and Roselle Locations

2,472 Families helped with their light & heat bills





291 Individual enrolled in Affordable Care Act

3,193 People helped through SHIP

 274 Individuals helped with immigration services

 55 Families helped with housing referrals

LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Guests, On behalf of our Board of Directors, our fundraiser committee, and our entire staff at MAFS, I would like to thank you for joining us as we commemorate 25 years of helping our community in making a difference in the lives of seniors “Kal Bhi, Aaj Bhi� (yesterday, today and tomorrow).

This fundraiser is a time of celebration of our past, present and future. It is an opportunity to honor those who helped establish the organization in 1992. It is a chance to acknowledge those who built and now operate (and continue to grow) our services, which consist of many life enrichment programs to serve individuals and families. It is a time to recognize those who work day in and day out to provide so many need based services for our community.

We are proud of the accomplishments of MAFS over the past 25 years, and recognize that we could not continue to deliver on our mission without the support of our donors, supporters, individuals, governmental allies, staff and our Board Members. We look forward to your continued support/partnership which helps make a difference in the lives of community members.

memorable event for years to come. We extent our special thanks to our fundraiser sponsors, your contributions are invaluable to the organization and will be used to fill the gaps in funding and expand our senior services.

I request you all to come forward and contribute for the cause of our people.

Thank you all for joining us today at this momentous occasion. Let us all work towards the upliftment of society at large.

Sincerely,

Dr. Firdaus Jafri President - MAFS

Santosh Kumar Executive Director - MAFS

In the spirit of celebration, we would like to acknowledge each of you for making this

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

5

IN 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE’VE HELPED

25K PEOPLE

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

08

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

16

25 YEARS OF MEMORIES

20

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 

It’s my immense pleasure to welcome you all to Metropolitan Asian Family Services’ 25th Anniversary year. Celebrating this milestone, we feel pride helping immigrant families & extensively working in senior care to make a difference in the lives of our community at large.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

7

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW Celebrating our 25th landmark this year, we feel even more responsible and energized for the task ahead of us.

Meeting Needs of Chicagoland for 25 years We have come a long way since 1992 when we first started the operations of Metropolitan Asian Family Services. Over these 25 years, we have grown our dedicated staff, increased centers around Chicagoland area, and positively impacted the lives of more than 25,000+ people.

We continuously strive to reach out to the State, counties, business partners to collaborate with us and help us build more resources for helping the elderly population of Illinois.

The benefits of this are many fold as the programs like ours help the low-income population to get access to insurance, light & heat, immigration assistance, education, food stamps, bus passes etc., which otherwise would be out of reach for them. Our programs for the elderly help avoid the feeling of isolation and depression, giving them a place to socialize and mingle with other seniors.

8

Celebrating the 25th landmark this year, we feel even more responsible and energized for the task ahead of us. Our commitment to help the lower-income persons and seniors will stay steady and we hope to help many more in the coming years.

We sincerely thank our donors, sponsors, and well-wishers for their continued support.

NUTRITION PROGRAM

Eating healthy Indian food?

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. Our staff and members strongly believe in this adage. We serve hot, fresh, home cooked meals that take into account the dietary requirements and traditions of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. We also help educate participants on choosing the right kind of foods that help prevent & manage diseases like diabetes and hypertension which are common in our culture. The smell of masala in the kitchen does not only entice one’s appetite, it also brings people together. Sharing a meal with a group can be the cure seniors need against feelings of social isolation. So come join us for a meal and tell that joke you know!

MAFS is in its 17th year of serving hot lunches to the senior citizen population. These lunches are nutritionally balanced but more importantly they provide an opportunity for seniors to make friends and socialize to break free from isolation. These meals are freshly prepared by

trained cooks under strict hygienic conditions.

We provided 22,506 hot meals to the community this year from our Chicago, Niles and Roselle facilities.

GOLDEN DINERS PROGRAM

2017 MEALS SERVED Many older adults do not want to eat alone. MAFS provides healthy meals each day to seniors while enjoying the company of friends. In 2017 we provided 22,506 meals through our Golden Diners Program in Chicago, Congregate Meal Program in Niles, and our unfunded Senior

Funded by the City of Chicago  12,351 Meals Served



CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAM

Hot Lunch Program in Roselle.

Funded by AgeOptions  9,396 Meals Served

SENIOR HOT LUNCH Not Funded  759 Meals Served

Last year this program was funded by the DuPage Senior Citizens Counsel but has since halted funding but MAFS continues to serve hot lunches because of the continued need in the DuPage community.

NILES

Congregate Meals

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

CHICAGO

Golden Diners

9

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM

Have you ever wondered what benefits you qualify for? Many people do not know what is available to them. MAFS can help you understand and apply for benefits like: + Medicare + Medicaid + Social Security + Access to Care + Citizenship/Immigration + Transportation + Kids Care + SSI Prescription Drug Assistance + Food Stamps (SNAP) + LIHEAP + SHIP and many others. Come in and talk to our friendly staff about your needs and we will try our utmost to help!

Title lll B - AgeOptions MAFS is a pioneer in providing social services to low-income and underserved populations.

The demand for these kinds of services is increasing due to the slow recovery of our economy. MAFS staff assists clients in accessing public benefits available to fit their individual needs. Our staff helps fill-out applications for these services and escorts them to the appropriate public benefits offices such as Department of Human Services or Social Security Administration, Immigration, and Naturalization to submit the application and serve as their interpreter. We also translate official forms in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Spanish and Bosnian languages to facilitate the process of applying for benefits. Our staff acts as liaisons between the client and public officials to help our community members get the help and support they require. This year we had the privilege of helping complete 3,173 cases in Cook, Suburban Cook County, DuPage and Lake County.

10

Energy Assistance Program - CEDA The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help lowincome families pay their heat and light bills. This program is offered multiple times throughout the year and brings hundreds of people from all nationalities to our Chicago and Niles offices. Many of them arrive before the office opens and wait in line for hours to benefit from this program. This service is funded by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA). MAFS’ staff help clients in processing their application in order to receive funds. This year we have helped 2,472 eligible families through this program.

Affordable Care Act - Asian Health Coalition Metropolitan Asian Family Services has collaborated with the Asian Health Coalition for assisting our community with the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare.

It was the state-run outreach and education program offered to all legal residents of Illinois to enroll into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance. We have enrolled over 291 individuals into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance and reach out to over 1,500 people through outreaching at temples, mosques, churches, and Gurudwaras.

SHIP - AgeOptions & CLESE MAFS is Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) certified. Take advantage of our free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Our staff members, Connie Dogaru, Meenu Jethi and Charlotte Singh, have recently attended a state-facilitated 4-day training and are now SHIP certified counselors. Seniors with any Medicare or Medicaid queries can contact them for appointments. This year we served 3,193 individuals.

The work we do sometime changes a life.

In a small way, I helped. Nina is now a client and a friend and a believer that with the right help everything is possible.

Ms. Nina Poliyska is a young woman from Bulgaria who first came to us for help with Health Insurance enrollment and whom we have since assisted with applying for Medicaid and SNAP. Ms. Poliyska had one persistent wish; To have a baby. She tried conventional methods without success and even lost a relationship in the process.

She then turned to in vitro fertilization treatments for 5 years at considerable personal financial expense but was determined. We searched and found an insurance plan that was covering part of her treatment. After some complications, she gave birth to healthy baby boy that she named Christopher. She was so grateful to the MAFS team that assisted her through a very difficult time. Nina is now a client, a friend and a believer that with the right help everything is possible.

Nina Poliyska, told by Connie Doguru, SOS Coordinator SNAP, Medicaid

Senior Medicare Patrol - CLESE SMP empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. SMPs are grantfunded projects of the federal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL).

MAFS helps with this program by focusing on three key areas: • Protecting beneficiaries from Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.

• Helping to detect Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.

• Reporting Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse so further actions can be taken Immigration/Citizenship - Not Funded Since its establishment, MAFS has, and continues to provide help with the immigration and naturalization process for community members. MAFS also helps applicable members of the community in acquiring their Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. This year we have helped 273 seniors to fill N.400 for citizenship and I-130 for family petition. This service is provided without outside funding, however, we continue this service to benefit immigrant families.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

11

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW HEALTH RESEARCH

We partner with the leading health and educational institutions to explore and study problems that concern our culture the most. We have collaborated with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine to teach the South Asian community how to make important dietary changes, engage in an active lifestyle, reduce stress, and lose weight to reduce or prevent their chances of stroke and/or heart attacks.

We also partnered with the Asian Health Coalition on two projects. The first is the Pink Pashmina project which offers free breast cancer screenings and mammograms to South Asian women. The second is to provide our community with a free screening and testing for Hepatitis B.

activity, healthful diet, weight, and stress management. They also received follow-up telephone support calls. The control group received translated print education materials about develop heart disease and diabetes and healthy behaviors. The results were significant, the intervention group showed significant weight loss compared to the control group as well as improvement in cardiovascular risk factors.

SAHELI - Northwestern University Since 2006, MAFS and Northwestern University have been working to improve health in the South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali and Sri Lankan) community in Chicagoland. South Asians are four times more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes compared to any other racial ethnic group.

MAFS and Northwestern University established the South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI), which is a partnership to improve South Asian health through culturally tailored, research proven interventions.

The pilot study and the relationship with MAFS and Northwestern was so successful that the grant has been extended for 5 more years.

This new study will be from years 2017 to 2021. MAFS staff will be working full time for 4 years and recruiting 550 participants for this new study. The goal of the study is to test the hypothesis that the culturally-tailored SAHELI will significantly improve cardiovascular risk factors and patient-centered outcomes compared to a control group receiving print health education materials only. During years 1-4, MAFS will continue conducting outreach and referring South Asian individuals to the health fairs/screenings conducted and refer people with abnormal screenings to the SAHELI intervention. Data on implementation process and efficacy will be collected. Years 4 and 5 activities will include data analysis, manuscript preparation and planning for implementation.

MAFS in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine performed a pilot study during the years 2013 to 2015. This pilot study was a 2-year project with a total of 63 participants.

This pilot study focused on 2 groups; one control group and one intervention group.

The intervention group attended 6 interactive group classes focused on increasing physical

Health Promotion & Seminars

12

South Asians are 4 times more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes compared to any other racial ethnic group.

The SAHELI program taught me to reduce the amount of oil, salt and sugar I used in our family’s diet. I started to walk from my residence to work as a routine exercise. I learned to reduce my weight as well as my husband’s blood pressure and I keep smiling throughout the day to reduce stress and make people around me smile. I want to thank Dr. Swapna Dave who was the health educator to guide me on the path to a healthy start for a healthy heart.

The purpose of these programs is to educate and encourage seniors and their families to adopt a healthy lifestyle to improve their physical health and wellbeing. MAFS conducts health screenings and health education seminars for minority seniors at various temples, churches, mosques, senior clubs and religious centers. The main goal for organizing these seminars is to increase their awareness about healthier lifestyles among our community members. The object of these preventive health care strategies is to help reduce age-related diseases and manage chronic health conditions. Healthcare seminars are made possible through Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the Community Memorial Foundation.

MAFS collaborates with other healthcare organizations including, White Crane Wellness Center, National Kidney Foundation, Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, Coalition CLESE, Midwest Asian Health Association and Asian Health Coalition, to promote health awareness in the south Asian community of metropolitan Chicago.

Free educational seminar topics include Breast Cancer, Kidney Disorders, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Depression, Heart Health and Medication Management.

CPR Grant - Not Funded Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies especially in sudden heart attack or near drowning in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. To increase the awareness about this lifesaving technique Metropolitan Asian Family Services has been trying to reacquire funding for this vital program. Through this program, we have reached out to the vulnerable South Asian community members and have successfully educated and encouraged them to learn about techniques to save lives in sudden cardiac arrest at any place. The program has helped us in conveying our mission to over 1,500 individuals last year in our community.

Manjula Patel South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Initiative 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

13

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

OUR YEAR IN REVIEW EDUCATION

At MAFS we believe in education.

Education and knowledge help you better understand yourself and the world around you. It also helps you obtain a higher paying job. To help educate and train our community we offer educational and technical programs including English as a Second Language, Bright Ideas and Computer training.

Adult Volunteer Literacy - Funding Halted This grant has been halted for the 2016 -2017 year due to the situation with the Illinois State budget but in the previous 3 years MAFS has been awarded the Adult Volunteer Literacy Grant program, funded by the Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White. Our program entails learning English as a second language which includes speaking, reading and writing English, Math, Life Skills and practical English speaking which helps them lead a life with confidence in the US. Our tutors have taught vocabulary, comprehension and assisted learners to summarize readings. This program has brought a positive impact on the lives of recipients in the area of citizenship, community participation, family and work life. It has also helped our elderly in boosting their self-esteem and confidence. English as a Second Language is for the immigrant population who face cultural and linguistic barriers. Our goal is to assist such persons to improve basic literacy skills and help them read, speak and assist them in everyday math skills.

Computer Literacy - Not Funded Computers are an integral part of modern life and nothing works without them. MAFS started computer training for South Asian immigrants in 1997 although there has been no funding for this program from since its inception. This year MAFS taught 50 community members the basics of computer skills from typing to Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. These skills will allow them to feel confident and be assets in America’s workforce. MAFS has also adopted 14

its training for newer technology such as social media. Many immigrant families use Facebook and WhatsApp to communicate with family back home. Our training focuses on how to use these applications as well as signing up for e-mail for the first time and demonstrate sending and receiving messages and photos. We also teach them Google and YouTube to find different facts and figures and listen to classic Hindi music. Old is Gold.

Such knowledge empowers our seniors to live in fulfilment and satisfaction in their golden years.

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD Today I am thinking more about MAFS’s future than the past. I believe that MAFS will grow more in the coming years. To lead the way, we already have our future leaders – energetic, technically savvy and competent in management skills. Under this new leadership, MAFS is now better positioned to find solutions to real human problems. Involved in every facet of immigrant family situations, MAFS will find new resources to resolve them. We also plan to improve our reach to needy and distressed families so more families can take advantage of our program.

Our commitment to serving the people shows in the fact that we work hard every day to reach the community and solve their ever growing problems.

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

TOTAL REVENUE

WHY DONATE? MAFS can only sustain itself and serve the community by grants, fundraising, volunteering and in-kind contributions. The majority of MAFS’s funding comes from grants but one factor that is often overlooked is that funding from State, Federal and Local Government make up ONLY 65% to 75% of the cost to run these programs. The

remaining 25% to 35% deficit must be raised by MAFS through fundraising and donations. That is why we need our community and people like you to contribute through fundraising activities, donations, and contributions in person, through mail, or online. These donations/contributions can be done in several ways, including money, in-kind donations of space or supplies, and/or volunteering time and talent to serve & support MAFS’s programs.

31%

42%

FUNDRAISING DONATIONS IN-KIND

AGEOPTIONS

T-CLIP CONGREGATE MEAL

~1%

TOTAL REVENUE

DUPAGE HUMAN SERVICES

4% CLESE

16

$356.0 THOUSAND

9% CEDA

8%

CITY OF CHICAGO

GOLDEN DINERS

TOTAL EXPENSES

FUNDRAISING & DONATIONS

$66,792 2017 DEFICIT

WHY FUNDRAISE? Without fundraising & donations MAFS would have a deficit of over $156,000. It was with the help of donors such as yourselves that we were able to raise $110,000 ($90,000 net) to offset our losses to only $66,792 and continue our programs.

$356.0K REVENUE $422.8K EXPENSES

5%

70%

FUNDRAISING DONATIONS IN-KIND

1%

CLESE

T-CLIP CONGREGATE MEAL

TOTAL EXPENSES

$422.8 THOUSAND

DUPAGE HUMAN SERVICES

3%

AGEOPTIONS

16%

5%

CITY OF CHICAGO

CEDA

GOLDEN DINERS

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

17

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM BREAKDOWN The pie charts shown below are visual representations of our 6 major program expenses. To the left of the chart is breakdown of total revenue vs. total expense by program.

CONGREGATE MEAL

T-CLIP

Revenue: $83,001

Revenue: $67,938

Expenses: $180,037

Expenses: $117,700

Deficit: $97,036

Deficit: $49,762

GOLDEN DINERS

LIHEAP

Revenue: $47,025

Revenue: $30,880

Expenses: $67,831

Expenses: $22,415

Deficit: $20,806

Surplus: $8,465

SHIP

ASIAN HUMAN SVCS

Revenue: $15,297

Revenue: $1,334

Expenses: $11,620

Expenses: $2,341

Surplus: $3,677

Deficit: $997

AGEOPTIONS

CITY OF CHICAGO

CLESE

18

AGEOPTIONS

CEDA

DUPAGE HUMAN SERVICES

WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES

25 YEARS OF MEMORIES

1992

1995

Metropolitan Asian Family Services is founded by Ms. Santosh Kumar

MAFS first receives contract from CEDA to assist low-income families

Mrs. Kumar, who while working as a lawyer saw a need among the growing population of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis for immigration assistance and supportive services including the need to educate, counsel, assist and empower individuals and families to become productive members in their new home. It was in 1993 that the new organization received its first contract under the Universal Industries banner from the Illinois Department on Aging to provide the Community Care Program Homecare Services. We started with five clients and three Home Care Aides.

The LIHEAP program is still one of the biggest programs MAFS administers today. Through LIHEAP, MAFS has helped thousands of families pay their light & heat bills.

20

1999 MAFS is one of 3 organizations chosen for a pilot program to serve food to seniors This pilot program was started by the City of Chicago to see if seniors would use local restaurants to dine at reduced costs. This demonstration would be a success and transform into the Golden Diners Program in Chicago.

2001 MAFS conducts its first Health Research study MAFS partners in studies sponsored by the White Crane Wellness Center, Asian Health Coalition, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University. These collaborations would lead to many others and strong partnerships between each of these organizations & MAFS.

2002 MAFS begins SOS Social Services Our Public Benefits program starts under Title lll-B & lll-E and health promotion seminars begin under Title lll-D, all funded by AgeOptions.

2005

2011

2014

Congregate Meal Program Expands

MAFS expands services to Lake & McHenry Counties

MAFS conducts Healthy Lifestyle Study

The Congregate Meal program that began in Niles in 2002 expands to our Roselle/Schaumburg facility.

With the opening of the first satellite offices in Vernon Hills & Algonquin MAFS expands services beyond Cook, Suburban Cook & DuPage county.

We collaborated with the Community Memorial Foundation to positively change the diet and health of 66 South Asian participants. We exceeded all 3 goals of the project and effectively lowered BMI and blood pressure in 18 participants.

2017

2013

2007 Governor of Illinois declares “MAFS Day�

Now whenever the calendar hits October 17 we can all celebrate and honor MAFS and its many years of service to the community.

MAFS partners with Northwestern on SAHELI MAFS begins a 2 year pilot program that studies the effect of culturally tailored health sessions on common South Asian health risk factors like hypertension and diabetes 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

SAHELI grant extended for 5 years With a successful demonstration of the pilot program Northwestern approves of a more comprehensive study from 2017 to 2021. It will begin with the recruitment of 550 participants on November 1st.

21

$68K RAISED FROM FUNDRAISING ALONE

2017 MINI FUNDRAISER

24

2016 ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

26

FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES 

Fundraising is a tool we utilize to sustain programs & services for those less fortunate. In addition to this, fundraising can increase awareness of our organization and promote our cause within the local community therefore attracting new members and supporters.

Bringing so many people together in one place allows us to showcase our agency and our culture. 104.9K

111.9K 54.5K

46.5K

34.1K

2014

2015

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

Expenses

33.1K

Funds Raised

2016 23

FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES

MINI FUNDRAISER

2017

Over 300 seniors and prominent community members attended Metropolitan Asian Family Service’s Mini Fundraising dinner on May 20, 2017 at 1421 S. Roselle Road Schaumburg, IL 60193.

The celebration started with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Schaumburg Adult Day Care location by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi & State Rep. Ms. Mussman . This was followed by Lighting of the auspicious Deep by prominent leaders of the community like Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Vipan Wadhera President of Hari Om Mandir, Krishna Bansal Outreach Coordinator Naperville Village, James D’Mello, MB Financial, Syed Mohammed, Manager, US Bank, Cameel Mohammed, Private Banker, Chase Bank, Dr. Firdaus Jafri, President, MAFS, Neil Patel, Owner, MedStar and Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director, MAFS.

Date

May 20, 2017 Location

MAFS Schaumburg Funds Raised

$14,000

24

Ms. Verghese and her Kalapadma Academy students begin the Mini Fundraiser with the traditional Indian Ganesh Stuti

CHIEF GUEST & OPENING REMARKS

In his opening remarks, Chief Guest, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, spoke about the importance of such community services provided to seniors which also help their children to continue to work without stress and worry. He commended the MAFS team for serving the community on all fronts for over 3 decades. Keynote Speaker State Rep. Michelle Mussman, recognized the efforts of Executive Director, Mrs. Santosh Kumar, has made to help the community and provide services to as many people as possible in Chicagoland area.

Mr. Krishna Bansal in his opening statement said that he counts himself as part of the MAFS family and urged the community to come forward and join in the MAFS mission of serving and caring. Mr. O.P. Meena, Indian Consul, Chicago, appreciated the services provided by MAFS and spoke very highly about MAFS’s efforts to make Yoga Day a big success and invited the whole community to join in the upcoming Yoga day being held in Naperville, IL on June 24, 2017. Guest speaker, Executive Director of CLESE, Marta Pereyra, spoke about the years she has been associated with MAFS and congratulated MAFS for its extra ordinary efforts to serve the community in spite of budget cut for social services.

Mrs. Kumar, Executive Director, stated that due to the recent budget impasse MAFS is at the threshold of its limits and community members should understand these facts and come forward to support these programs if we are to continue to serve our seniors now and in the future. She then thanked all the seniors for pumping and shouting their hearts out and appreciated MB Financial Bank for donating $1000 for the cause.

ENTERTAINMENT

The entertainment program began with Ganesh Pushpanjali by Kalapadma Dance Academy choreographed by Ruth Varghese and performed

by Anjali Varghese, Jenish Bulsara, Eshana Patel, Shreya Rawal, Maya Patel and Krishna Shah. The Seniors’ performances began with a rocking show

by Niles ADS seniors performing on “Woh Ladki Hai Kaha”. Schaumburg ADS seniors followed by showcasing “Zindagi Zinda Dili Ka Naam Hai” ably introduced with a speech from ADS senior Jayesh Desai. Not to be left behind Naperville ADS senior Tabassum Rabbini received a standing ovation after performing on “Inhi Logo Nein” from the movie “Pakeezah”. Naperville ADS seniors gave another Dhamakedar dance performance with “Bollywood Ka Safar”, a medley of songs from the black and white era of 1960 to the colored times of today.

The performances were ably ended by Chicago ADS seniors showing their various talents (Hoonar) and demonstrating “Unity in Diversity” by their costumes from different states of India.

DINNER & PRESENTERS

The audience enjoyed a delicious vegetarian dinner catered from Shree Restaurant, Westmont IL. Dinner was followed by a melodious performance of Bollywood songs by local singers Chetan Trivedi and Dr. Sonal Patel ably supported by professional DJ Abhi Trivedi.Our emcees Neelam Desai, Naperville Manager and Jahnavi Bavisi, Niles Manager successfully managed the entire program and the event was concluded with the vote of thanks presented by Mrs. Santosh Kumar.

FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

2016

The 24th Annual Fundraiser of Metropolitan Asian Family Services was a grand success with around 1000 people in attendance.

The evening showcased multi-cultural Colombian & Polish dances by Tierra Colombiana, Polish Ensembles and an Indian semi-classical by Madhura Sane of Nritya Natya Kala Academy. The live orchestra set the evening with old Mukesh Melodies by the Sanket Patel Group. The event was well-attended by dignitaries from the state and community leaders and headed by Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director, MAFS. This year’s fundraiser was alsio organized as a tribute to Late Mr. Pramod Kumar, Treasurer, and supporter of MAFS. Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director, MAFS while remembering her late husband Mr. Pramod Kumar said, “He was a kind man who touched many lives, and his loss can never be filled.” Her sons Prashant & Sagar Kumar have joined the family business, and they will be a pillar of support for her.

Date

October 22, 2016 Location

Ashyana Banquets Funds Raised

$54,460

26

Dance Tribute to the Late Mr. Pramod Kumar by Dance Guru Madhura Sane of Nritya Kala Academy

FUNDRAISER OBJECTIVES

The objective of raising funds was to fill in the gaps from state funding to continue to provide services our seniors. The keynote speaker, Jean Bohnhoff, Director-Illinois Department on Aging shared the state’s vision and goals for senior care for the next fiscal year. She also paid tribute to Mr. Kumar appreciating his professionalism and hard work that contributed to the expansion of Universal Industries, Universal Metro Asian Services, and MAFS. A brief report was presented on MAFS programs by Connie Dogaru, Public Benefits Specialist, MAFS and Awilda Gonzalez, CCP Program Director, UMAS.

CHIEF GUESTS & OPENING REMARKS

The evening commenced with traditional deep lighting and prayers by Swami Mukudananda Ji of Bharat Sevashram, along with the board of directors and community leaders. Dr. Jafri, President MAFS, welcomed everyone and gave a heartfelt tribute to Mr. Kumar. Many other dignitaries and community leaders shared their sentiments and paid tribute to Mr. Kumar. The Master of Ceremonies were Jyotsna Vasudeva, Marketing Director-UMAS and Alka Sharma, Channel Head & RJ. They both hosted the event beautifully - introducing the speakers & dignitaries, creating excitement over donation checks, raffles, auction tickets, and kept the show moving smoothly at a steady pace while keeping the audience enthralled.

Among the attending dignitaries were Mayor of Oak Brook, Gopal Lalmalani; State representative from Aurora, Stephanie Kifowit; Candidate for Congressman from 8th District, Raja Krishnamoorthi; Cook County Commissioner, Edward Moody (represented by his brother Fred Moody); Director-Department on Aging, Jean Bohnhoff; CLESE Executive Director, Marta Pereyra; Trustee-Township of Schaumburg, Nimish Jani; Chairman for the Naperville Indian-American Outreach, Krishna Bansal; Candidate-Dupage Recorder of Deeds, Moon Khan; Chairman AMUAA, Ateeq Ahmed; Board Member AMUAA, Atia Ushman; Dr. Aasifa Kansari; Midwest Manager for Air India-Nakul Singh Chand; Owner-Patel Brothers, Mafatlal Patel, and the MAFS Board of Directors.

Air India sponsored two economy class tickets to be auctioned at the event in support of MAFS fundraiser. MAFS also received support from its other major sponsors - Wintrust Bank, Medstar Laboratory, Mode Architects, Steeplechase, Healthcare Solutions, Dupage Dental Clinic.

PHILATHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS

$110K CONTENTS OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

30

BOARD MEMBERS

31

ADVISORY & SENIOR BOARD

34

MAFS STAFF & LOCATIONS

35

OUR DONORS

36

STAFF & PHILANTHROPY AWARDS

38

MEET THE PEOPLE  BEHIND MAFS

Our donors, board members, staff and volunteers are critical to the success of MAFS. Their support ensures that in 2017 our programs will continue to be able to provide services for tens of thousands of people annually. In 2017, we were able to secure $355,974 in funding.

It’s going to be a great year.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

29

THE PEOPLE BEHIND METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

OUR FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Santosh Kumar B.Sc., LL.B(Hons), LL.M

MAFS, UNDER HER GUIDANCE, HAS TRAVELED A LONG WAY AND EARNED A REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE • • • • •

Mrs. Kumar is a counselor, attorney, professor, community leader, and businesswoman: is the founder and the Executive Director of Metropolitan Asian Family Services, a non-profit agency working for the wellbeing of the community. Years ago, she set out on a journey to make a difference in the world face by face and what she initiated with a small group of people and a few resources, is now one of the biggest Social Service organization (MAFS) which was recognized and proclaimed by the Governor of State of Illinois on October 17, 2006 as MAFS day under her leadership for her exemplary community services.

She is popularly known as “Mother Teresa” of Chicago.

She did her Bachelors of Science (1969) from Rajasthan University, Bachelors of Law (1972), Masters in Law (1974) from AMU. At the age of 22, Mrs. Kumar became an attorney and professor of law in the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and practiced law for 11 years before migrating to the US in 1985. She earned her Law Graduate degree from the US in 1989 and a Computer Desktop Publishing degree in the year 1992.

Mrs. Kumar’s versatility and her restless efforts to wipe out social injustice from the community were recognized by various national & international institutions. Niles Township honored her Leadership & Excellence in serving seniors, the needy and the disable. She was recognized as “Top Woman of Chicago”

by US Congressman Danny Davis, 7th Congressional District on International Women Day of 2016 for her Outstanding Leadership. The Pillar of Service Award (2009) was given at the Governor’s conference by Charles Johnson, Director of IDOA for Outstanding Leadership

1994 – AARP awarded MAFS for health screening and education services.

1997 – MAFS received the community award by the city of Chicago for its services to the elderly.

1999 – Community award presented by the State of Illinois for elder care services.

2000 – Certificate of recognition by US Department of Commerce.

2003 - Certificate of excellence was awarded to MAFS by Maria Pappas, Treasurer, Cook County for outstanding dedication and lasting contribution to Asian American community MAFS now has 11 centers across Chicagoland and reaches over 195 cities.

& Advocacy on behalf of Ethnic Older Adults by CLESE. She was honored with the “Jewel of Rajasthan” award for her pioneering work in serving, leading and enhancing lives of needy people in Chicago, US. Recently, she was given the “Exemplary Community Service” award for her outstanding and dedicated service to the general welfare of the Asian American community in the State of Illinois

by Asian American Coalition of Chicago.

Santosh defines Social Work as a passion and not just a profession. She derives satisfaction from helping people access resources, solving their problems and seeing them improve. Her philanthropic personality and extraordinary communicating skills enabled her to connect with people and deal with even the most difficult and deeply troubled client. She has extensive counseling experience with individuals, couples and families. She encountered many obstacles and sad situations in this field in all these years but despite everything, she remained optimistic. She thinks that there’s a great need to help with all that life throws at people and social workers like her can make a difference. She speaks for people who do not get heard and her advocacy efforts light a beacon in their distressed lives.

Santosh’s success story couldn’t be completed without the help of her late husband, Mr. Pramod Kumar. He was an Engineer from IIT Kharagpur, India and Master in engineering from IIT Chicago, an entrepreneur a businessman, a philanthropist, who was a backbone to her efforts in serving the community. She is also supported by her two sons, Prashant a Computer Scientist, and Sagar Kumar a Industrial Engineer both from Purdue University. Both have started taking responsibilities at MAFS.

OUR BOARD MEMBERS Our Board routinely gives their time, money and resources to organizations fighting to help strengthen the South Asian community here in Chicago. MAFS would be nothing if it were not for their talent, fundraising, goodwill and donations.

2017 BOARD MEMBERS

31

DR. FIRDAUS JAFRI, DDS PRESIDENT

MR. HARISH KOLASANI VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Jafri is an accomplished dentist with her own practice in Carol Stream, IL. She is currently the President of MAFS. She also serves as a member of the Research Committee of American Academy of Implant Dentistry, International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Dental Association. Her passion for humanitarian efforts, especially for Indian Americans, is manifested through her dedication to multiple organizations in order to help them achieve their goals. Dr. Jafri has brought many active members to MAFS since she joined, which has enriched MAFS with great advocacy, leadership, and insight into the problems that face immigrants.

Mr. Kolasani is an individual who serves the needy for his own satisfaction & that is the reason for the quality of his services. As an NRI, he has been serving many Indians & Americans in various forms through numerous organizations and as an individual for the past 6 years. He has been providing free physical therapy treatments, free blood tests & yoga every day in India by setting up 3-week mobile health camps in slums, schools, and senior homes.

These services are offered under the NRI SEVA Foundation with his personal financial backing. He’s been playing an important role in FIA Chicago and representing pride in India to all communities in Chicago. The Indian Consulate in Chicago recognized his dedication and took his help to Coordinate KALA UTSAV in 2014 & confirmed him as Coordinator for 2016. Currently, he is serving as President of the NRI SEVA Foundation & Indian American Business Council, Managing Director of the Desiworld TV Channel, Secretary of the Association of Indians in America (AIA), Advisory Board Member of the Indian Diaspora Club, and Indian Government Affairs Chair in TANA. He shares motivating messages from his social media pages followed by more than one million followers.

MS . SUMITRA PATEL BOARD MEMBER

MR. NIKUNJ BAXI BOARD MEMBER

Ms. Patel was born in Ahmedabad, India. Sumitra grew up in Sabarmati, where Mahatma Gandhi lived in the later part of his life. Sumitra now resides in Schaumburg, Illinois, with her sister Hansa. Sumitra graduated with a degree in psychology from Gujarat College in 1969. Her move to the US in January of 1970 marked the beginning of her family life in Chicago. Sumitra’s first professional position in the Little Fuse Company was as the Quality Control Supervisor. She retired after 35 years in May 2006, and now spending time with her 4 Grandchildren. She has received numerous awards. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push Organizations awarded her as the Best Mother in 2010 and New Millennium Women of Dorothy Brown’s Organization presented her “Woman of the New Millennium Award” in 2011. Sumitra is a staunch supporter of Metropolitan Asian Family Services and joined MAFS in January 2015. A devoted Hindu, Sumitra is a strong believer of his Holiness Pujya Pramukhswami Maharaj of BAPS.

Mr. Baxi has a bachelors degree in Chemistry and currently holds a managerial position at a pharmaceutical company in Chicago.

His passion is social work and helping the community. Nick is a young, energetic community activist. He served as the President of Gujarati Samaj of Chicago, one of the oldest and very reputable organizations to date. He has also served as the Director for FIA and the Ribbon Foundation. Nick remains connected with the Gujarati community and continues to serve the Indian American community in various ways.

MR. SAGAR KUMAR TREASURER

DR. RAKESH ASTHANA SECRETARY

Sagar Kumar is an Industrial Engineer by profession from Purdue University and received his MBA with emphasis on Entrepreneurship and Leadership from Arizona State University. He worked in Honeywell Aerospace as a New Product Development Program Manager for Honeywell’s top commercial jet engine.

He worked for Honeywell for 7 years before moving back to Illinois. Sagar become an active board member in late 2016. He brings a very strategic and project based mindset to MAFS as well a more technical approach on day to day operations.

Dr. Asthana is a veterinarian by education and is a retired Major of the Indian army. After having practiced for nearly eleven years as a veterinarian with the Indian Army, he was seconded to the Kuwaiti Army for two years. He migrated to the US in 1993, Dr. Asthana has worked as a Cardiovascular Specialist, with various pharmaceutical companies like Parke-Davis, Pfizer, Glaxo, Novartis, and Astra Zeneca. He currently works as a “Sleep Consultant Specialist” with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. He tirelessly volunteers in various not-forprofit organizations. He sits on the Board of Directors of Black Feet Volunteer Medical Corps (BVMC), which is a NGO looking after the medical needs of the Native American Blackfeet Tribe in Montana.

Rakesh also volunteers his time with “Young Hearts 4 Life”, an organization screening young high school children in the US to avoid “Sudden Cardiac Death” syndrome. Rakesh firmly believes that the elderly and senior citizens in the US need our help and that MAFS is doing commendable work, which should be whole-heartedly supported.

MR. JAMES D’MELLO BOARD MEMBER

DR. SONAL N PATEL, MD BOARD MEMBER

Mr. D’mello has a Master’s degree in education from Mumbai, India. He started my carrier as math teacher for 13 years in India as well as 4 years in Chicago at Nettle horst school. He worked for whole foods market as a customer service manager for 14 years. Currently, he is with MB Financial Bank. He was born and raised in Gujarat, India. He was the State and National champion in Soccer and field Hockey. James found that MAFS is one of the largest institutions that provide all kinds of service to all different religions in Good Faith and that is what made him come and join the board to give some extra time in helping fund programs and different events. He has worked in all different fields and lived everywhere east to west but found that MAFS is one of the best in the Chicagoland area.

He wants to help our community with all respects to all religions and stay united as an Indian.

Dr. Patel is a doctor of anesthesiology and has a fellowship in pain management. She graduated with honors in 1994. She has more than 23 years of experiences in the medical field. She works at St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates where she is also the clinical director of pain management. She strongly believes in giving back to society, and preserving our heritage and culture. Along with supporting MAFS, she also supports VGS and AIA organizations. She joined the board in 2017.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

FY 2017 ADVISORY & SENIOR BOARD

ADVISORY & SENIOR BOARD - Provides both strategic guidance as well as clear direction for

the organization. Specifically, it advises and supports the Board of Directors in acquiring new funding avenues, community specific research opportunities & making new inroads in outreach to the community.

ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Manohar Jethani, M.D. Dr. Harsh Kumar, M.D. Krishna Mahajan, M.A. Dr. Shahina Jafri, M.D.

SENIOR BOARD

Sudha Gandhi B.Sc. Chemistry Bank Manager (Ret.) Dilip Patel B.Sc. Technology CEO (Ret.)

Khodabhai Patel Swagat Foods

Raoji Patel Mechanical Engineer Induben Naik Registered Nurse

Dr. Arvind Patel, M.D. Anil Champaneri, LLM Judge

Purshottam Thakkar B.A. Ahmedabad

Shakuntala Mehta B.A. Ahmedabad Tour Guide (Ret.)

Jayesh Patel Movie & Theater Performer Daksha Shah Secretary, Film Industry

Bipin Dave Software Engineer, MBA, Chemical Engineer

Jivanlal Purohit Teacher (B.A., B.Ed)

Parag Patel B. Com. Ahmedabad

Kishore Mehta B. Com.

2017 BOARD MEMBERS

34

2017 MAFS STAFF & LOCATIONS

CHICAGO (MAIN)

7541 N WESTERN AVE CHICAGO, IL 60645 (773)-465-3105

NILES (847)-824-9414

SCHAUMBURG (847)-306-7623

Santosh Kumar Executive Director

Jahnavi Bavisi Manager

Promila Mehta Program Coordinator

Constanta Dogaru SOS Coordinator

Marilyn Cuicci Volunteer - Public Benefits

Himali Bharucha Research Coordinator

Charlotte Singh Public Benefits Coordinator

VERNON HILLS (224)-207-5075

Harish Mahajan CEDA

Chandrakant Soni Kitchen Manager

Dahyabhai Patel Kitchen Manager

Jaya Bhavsar Cook

Vijay Bhandari Senior Cook

Taiyyaba Bukhari Cook

Sumitraben Patel Kitchen

Maya Patel Cook

Elizabeth Flores Housekeeping

Bharatbhai Soni Senior Support Services

NAPERVILLE (630)-705-1208 Meenu Jethi Public Benefits Coordinator Ramila Gandhi Nutrition Coordinator

ORLAND PARK (708)-675-1980 Grishma Shah Outreach Coordinator

ROSELLE (630)-307-6277

Prem Jalota Program Director

Jasbir Mann Outreach Coordinator

ELGIN (224)-242-7002 Hema Shastri Outreach Consultant

2017 MAFS STAFF & LOCATIONS

35

THE PEOPLE BEHIND METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

OUR DONORS PLATINUM SPONSORS

$2,999– $1,000

$599– $400

Bhavini Patel

Krishna Bansal

Wintrust Bank

MB Financial, James D’Mello

Pashupati Nath

Enterprise

Andaz Jewelers

Mark McKinney

Exeutive Reality Group

NRI Seva, Harish Kolasani

Hiran Patel

AMU-Greater Chicago

Meghana Jewelers

Allstate, Sarbani Chowdhury

Moned Construction

NY Life, Sunil A. Shah

Northwest Medical Care

India House, Ravi Rawat

Present Enterprise Inc

Pure Laser & Med Spa

Willowlake Pharmacy

Sandata Technologies

Sunil C Patel & Rikita S Patel

$10,000

Joe Eichman Healthcare Solutions Team

GOLD SPONSORS $5,000

Dr. Firdaus Jafri, DDS J. James Mo Mode Architects Steve Koutsonicolis Steeplechase

BRONZE SPONSORS $3,000

Neal & Raj Patel MedStar Labs

36

Shantiben Patel $399– $200 $999– $600

Sanjay & Vidyullata Nahar

A to Z Medical Supply

Abha Bhandari Raheja

Bohemian Nat’l Cemetery

Deep Foods

Bonnie S. Cerveny

Dev Pharmacy

Inland Bank

Dr. Ashok Sawlani, MD

Northwestern University

Syed Ahmed

Raj Jewels

Guaranteed Rate, Rasik Patel

Rajasthan Association

Hiba Beaty Saloon

Suga Builders

NY Life, Kichan Patel

Insurerite2you, Ashok Shah

Property Refresh

Bharat & Sonalben Desai

Rochelle Pharmacy

FUNDING AGENCIES

Darlene Harris

Raj Rana

Swagat Foods

Rifaat Safdar

US Bank, Syed Nizami

Viney & Lalita Berry

Vitha Jewelers, Inc

Brincy Thomas

Manoj Adhikari

Girish & Rasila Machhar

Rashmika Shah

Shantill & Saroj Topiwala

Sasikala Paidi

Shital Patel

CLESE, Marta Pereyra

Jashvant K Patel

Jean Bohnhoff, Dir. of IDOA

Square 9 USA Inc

Kenneth A. Kudulis

Sunita & Dilipbhai Parikh

Legal Shield, Ginny Jolly

Nedjo & Milena Kuljanin

Mustansir & Muhammad Malik

Selena Seferovic

We want to thanks our Funding Agencies. Without them none of these programs would be possible.

Syed M Ashraf $199 & Below

Tapan & Dimple Nagori

Monali Desai

Vil and Kumud Damani

Sajmil Corporation

Premilaben & Surya Patel

Chandubhai Palat

Veena Asher

Parimal & Dharmishta Parekh

Harat Vibhakar

Rajashree & Prabir Sen

Vikas Date

Vipan & Sangeeta Wadhera

Antonio Rodriguez

Catherine A. Zaryczny

Mahmud Khan

Aunty Tabassbum Delia A. Pena Harivadan Patel Manju Checkar

2017 DONORS & SUPPORTERS

37

THE PEOPLE BEHIND METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

STAFF AWARDS Pillar of MAFS Award

WINNER Mrs. Promila Mehta at the Metropolitan Asian Family Service on Devon Ave., Chicago. Subsequently, she took a job in “Public Assistance” department at MAFS itself which ran various programs such as CEDA, Public Aid, ESL, Immigration Assistance, and computer classes. With her dedication and determination, she was soon raised to the position of Manager at MAFS’s Chicago location. She has been an asset to MAFS family for the past 10 years and she still performs her job duties and responsibilities with full clarity and confidence.

An epitome of compassion, care, and selfless devotion, Mrs. Promila Mehta embodies the soul of MAFS. She is the manager of social work at our Chicago Center. By profession she is a teacher and a counselor, but her passion is training others. With her skills, extensive knowledge and guidance she has tackled many questions, concerns and problems of our program participants and other immigrant families, offering them solutions and creating hope for people in distress to succeed.

Born and raised in India Ms. Mehta had a simple beginning. At an early age she attended a Gurukul School, DAV College of Dehradun, India, which shaped her life with Indian values.

There she received her Bachelors in Education and Masters in Sanskrit.

Mrs. Mehta came to the United States in 1998.

Her first year was full of struggle as she faced a language and culture barrier. In February 1999, she started taking computer lessons 40

Promila Mehta’s journey at MAFS has been remarkable. She started with home visits, accompanied by Mrs. Kumar. It was through MAFS that she had the opportunity to attend various Not-for-Profit forums where she met leaders of diverse cultures making an impact in immigrant lives. This gave her the confidence she was looking for to face the world, boosting her commitment towards Public Assistance program.

Compelled by the senior services, she contributed to the Adult Day Care Program as well. She has been actively involved in training many members of the staff at Chicago and other MAFS locations. She also enjoyed working with projects from Northwestern University, Alzheimer’s Association, White Crane Wellness Center and Asian Human Services as well.

Together with her husband they are blessed with two sons and three grandchildren.

Her spirit is ingrained in the very fabric of MAFS.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mr. Prem Kumar Jalota was born in Phagwara, Punjab on November 14th. He is the youngest of eight children, born to Shri Jagannath and Sewa Devi Jalota. He grew up along with his five brothers and two sisters. At a very young age, Prem moved with his family to Lucknow, UP, where he completed his high school education and Bachelor’s degree.

In 1969, Mr. Jalota found his better half and married Veena Bhandari in Jalandhar, Punjab.

They have three loving children, a daughter, and two sons. With his magnetic personality, Mr. Jalota connects with individuals he comes in contact with and builds everlasting relationships with them.

On October 28th, 2000, Prem, Veena and their younger son immigrated to Chicago to join their elder son. This was a big step for them as they had to restart their lives in a new country and culture. Nonetheless, as in the past, they accepted the challenge with open arms.

WINNER Mr. Prem Jalota During the summer of 2001, Prem started taking computer classes at Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS). He would attend the Chicago office three times a week to learn computer skills. After eight weeks, he started attending the English class and continued to visit the center to network with individuals at the office. This is where he met Mrs. and Mr. Kumar and the rest is history. They recognized his sincerity and diligence in his approach to life and offered him a part time position at MAFS which later turned into a full-time position at the Schaumburg office. During his sixteenyear career at MAFS he has managed several locations and has helped countless individuals and has received immense, immeasurable appreciation. He has truly lived up to the MAFS mission to “educate, counsel, assist and empower individuals and families”.

Mr. Jalota has led his life by example and has proven that regardless of age and background, as long as one works hard, is versatile, and willing to learn and help others, the sky is the limit. Mrs. and Mr. Kumar and MAFS have graciously given Mr. Jalota the platform and resources to succeed. However, it is his inherent diligence, perseverance, and compassion for which he is well recognized among his peers and the Indian community in Chicago. These qualities have led to his notable contributions toward the success of MAFS. His family in Chicago and in India is proud of his achievements and he serves as a role model for current and future generations. We wish Mr. Jalota a healthy and happy life!

2017 STAFF AWARDS

41

THE PEOPLE BEHIND METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

STAFF AWARDS

PHILANTHROPY AWARDS

Employee of the Year Award

Pramod Kumar Philanthropy

Connie Dogaru works tirelessly for MAFS. Her commitment knows no bounds. There is always a line waiting for her at our Niles location but she ensures that everyone is seen, heard and taken care of. Thank you for your dedication to MAFS.

Mr. Vyas has developed global businesses in over 24 countries, closely working with various governments overseas. Redberri Corp. is one of the largest minority owned companies in the St. Louis Region, and was named one of 2016’s top 100 companies started by an Indian in North America by Silicon India Magazine. Mr. Vyas isn’t focused solely on building his business. He has worked to build links between Indian and American businesses. In 2006, Mr. Vyas worked with the U.S. Department of Commerce to organize the largest official delegation of U.S. businesses to be hosted by the Indian government. He also helped orchestrate the largest delegation of Indian businesses to come to St. Louis.

CONNIE DOGARU, SOS COORDINATOR

DEEPAK KANT VYAS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, REDBERRI CORP

Volunteer of the Year Award

Partnership Award

Ms. Bhanumati Maheta is deeply committed to teach yoga to our seniors and community. She raises awareness about the benefits from Yoga. From over 15 years she is giving her time to Metropolitan Asian Family Service on every Tuesday at Niles center and over 300 people got benefited by her services.

Sean Dunn has been a partner of MAFS for 5 years. His team collaborates with us on our strategic outlook. Sean is actively engaged in MAFS’s mission to help seniors and led a workshop on financial exploitation for our Naperville and Schaumburg seniors this year.

MS. BHANUMATI MAHETA

42

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Soft Landing Labs is a high complexity toxicology laboratory dedicated to quality quantification of drugs and biological compounds.

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