Celebs with Founder Raj Shah and Nita Nehru(New York, NY – May 13^th, 2013)- Over 350 guests attended the Nanubhai Education Foundation’s Fifth Annual Gala on May 10^th, 2013 held at Midtown Loft and Terrance in New York City. Spokesman for Nanubhai Education Foundation, Actor Manish Dayal, along with special guests; Melanie Kannokada, Neelu Sodhi, Pooja Kumar, Nina Manuel, Ami Sheth, Indrani Pal Chaudhuri, and Fashion Designer Payal Singhal came out to support the charity.

The gala, which sold out in advance, raised a high of $55,000 from ticket sales and personal donations. Hosted annually, the gala raises funds to support the Foundation's programs which provide scholarships for meritorious women to attend college and provides direct support to improve the quality of education in rural public schools in India. 

“This year we exceeded our fundraising goals with the help of our long time supporters.  Every year our mission of reforming rural education is being put to work in a real way. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our organization's success.” says Manish Dayal spokesman for the organization.

Former Executive Director Nita Nehru announced her new role for NEF as the Co-Chair of the Board along with Kandarp Shah, while Claire Arthurs will take responsibility as the incoming Executive Director.

"After two years working on Nanubhai's mission in rural India, I am honored to assume the role of Executive Director. I plan to work with our team to expand our flagship programs to new regions of India. Additionally, I will focus on strengthening our already-expanding network of donors and volunteers. I am excited to lead this organization into the next phase of growth.” says Claire Arthurs

Guests enjoyed cocktails from Diageo, Kettle One Vodka and Guinness, appetizers from Michelin Star Indian restaurant, Tulsi and desserts by Sonam Sondhi of Choca8Kiss. DJ Gaurav kept the crowd entertainment while Fashion Designer Payal Singhal provided her new collection on mannequins as the décor for the venue. Official photography was done by 1000 Words Studios.  The event was designed and managed by Preeti Shah of Spotlight Style. Publicity was handled by Neerja Public Relations who secured AVS Television, TV Asia and Sahara One as media partners.

ABOUT NANUBHAI EDUCATION FOUNDATION: Nanubhai Education Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to providing equal access to India’s rapidly growing economic opportunities to the students of India’s rural public high schools by improving the level of instruction throughout rural india via Teacher Training and Professional Development. Since 2004, Nanubhai has been transforming access to quality education. They have integrated an innovative program of English training, teaching techniques and classroom management skills to underfunded public schools in the Indian state of Gujarat. The organization was founded on the premise that all Indian students deserve equal access to quality education.

For additional information, please contact Neerja Patel press@neerjapr.com

All images courtesy of 1000 Words Studio. 

Dessert Sponsor Choca8Kiss Former Executive Director Nita Nehru with Founder Raj ShahIncoming Executive Director Claire Arthurs 

(New York, NY – April 29th, 2013)-  Fashion Designer Betsey Johnson joins hands with Molecule Communications to present Fashion Fiesta For A Cause (FFFAC). The designer will go “Bollywood Style" as she revisits her closet bringing never before seen vintage pieces to sashay down the runway. FFFAC will take place on Thursday, May 23^rd, at the exquisite Angel Orensanz Foundation of Contemporary Art in New York City.  This cross cultural event will bring Hollywood celebrities and fashion together to raise funds for students of Women’s Education Project (WEP), a non-profit organization helping young women living on less than $1 a day in India, to succeed in college and careers.

“So excited to support WEP and the wonderful work they are doing in India helping women get an education and giving them the opportunity to better their lives.  I'd do anything for Ajay at Molecule as he's always supported my work over the years.  Really excited for the event...ON WITH THE SHOW!” says Fashion Designer, Betsey Johnson

Along with fashion by Betsey, the fun filled evening will include LAUGHS with super star comedians Sandra Bernhard and Taylor Negron. Sandra is known to be a comedic diva with edgy comedy. She’s been on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 greatest standups of all time.  FFFAC will also have DANCE by Rioult Dance NY, SPICE with Indian Cuisine, MOVE & GROOVE to Dhol, and Bollywood Beats and Bhangra.  All proceeds will benefit the Women’s Education Project (WEP)

The WEP believes that educated, employed women change their families’ standard of living and gain a voice in their communities, creating the first steps out of poverty. WEP partners with NGOs in India to develop resource centers which offer young women scholarships, academic support courses, a library, computer lab, nutritious supplements and most importantly, a community.  Through FFFAC, the goal is to fund 100 students’ college education for 2 years. A $250 single ticket price allows you to adopt one WEP student. A ticket will support her schooling and career training for an entire year. 2 tickets discounted to $450, will allow you to adopt 2 girls for nearly 22 months!

“Women's education is approaching a tipping point internationally. Protests are waking up governments. Newspapers are covering the issues. Films like Girl Rising are telling their stories. We are so fortunate that Betsey Johnson - a leading woman in fashion - is adding her voice to the cause!” says Zoe Timms, Executive Director for Women’s Education Project

For more information on FFAC, WEP and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://fffac.eventbrite.com/

(New York, NY – April 8th, 2013)-  MyPref introduces a brand new smartphone app allowing foodies to search and locate specific food items from restaurants.Craving the best Biryani, or the spiciest Chicken Tikka Masala? MyPref, takes the guesswork out of specific menu items by providing reviews for each dish on a restaurant’s menu.  The app available on Android and iOS smartphones is free to download and makes finding your favorite food more simple, effortless and efficient. In less than 60 days of commercial launch, MyPref cracked the Top100 free Food & Drink apps for iPhone, ranking at #58.

‘The idea behind MyPref came to us when Manan and I (MyPref cofounders) were sitting in a restaurant trying to figure out what to eat there. A friend of ours had suggested something to try and we just couldn’t remember it. That’s when we thought, what if there was an app that could track our preferences and based on location, tell us where to find them. We felt our frustration and concerns were not unique. There should be an app to take care of these things for us.” says MyPref Co-Founder Abhishek Chhajlani

Aside from searching for dishes on the app, MyPref also tells you exactly where to locate it. Once you arrive and check-in at the restaurant via the app, it also reminds you of your previous food preferences and their reviews. This emphasis on menu items and not just restaurants is what differentiates MyPref from other competitive food and drink apps.  MyPref hosts an extensive database of restaurants in various cuisines; however keeping its forte is Indian food. MyPref founders, Abhishek Chhajlani and Manan Bhandari believe the Indian food industry is a highly untapped and unexploited market from the application industry’s point of view.  They believe there are only a few applications that are primarily addressing this market and the number of restaurants using such applications as mediums to reach out to their target market is also extremely sparse. Abhishek and Manan also highlight that Indian cuisine is not just popular among Indians but also amongst numerous other food lovers, therefore, ensuring to provide one of the largest and most exhaustive databases of Indian restaurants across US available for search on MyPref.

MyPref is currently a proud platinum sponsor of the Varli Kids Food Festival to be held on April 14^th, 2013 at Hyatt Morristown NJ.  The festival conducted by Varli Magazine is a great avenue that brings food lovers, restaurateurs and chefs together for an extremely palatable experience. MyPref will play a pivotal role at the Food festival allowing guests to sample and review the food instantly!

More information on MyPref is available on http://www.mypref.com/. 

Check out the TV spot for MyPref! 

Unlike other dating events, this event has ice breakers, facilitated group games and one on one interaction so you're able to see how people act alone and in a group, and the facilitated group games help lead the conversation so you're not trying to figure out what to say next! Plus when it comes time to check names off on the list at the end of the night you'll actually be able to make an informed decision since you were able to interact with everyone for more than 3 minutes.

Tickets are on sale now www.desiclub.com/bmsparkevents

(New York, NY – April 1st, 2013)- The Nanubhai Education Foundation will celebrate 9 successful years by hosting a Fundraising Gala in New York City on May 10^th. This much anticipated annual event will take place at Midtown Loft and Terrace, an upscale venue in the heart of New York City in Midtown Manhattan. Spokesman for Nanubhai Education Foundation, Actor Manish Dayal, along with Fashion Designer Payal Singhal, Actor Pooja Kumar, Actor Ami Sheth, Actor Neelu Sodhi, Actor Samrat Chakrabarti, Celebrity Photographer and star of Bravo TV’s Double Exposure Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, and Indian Supermodel Nina Manuel, will come forth to honor and raise funds for the progress of education in rural India.  Previous gala supporters have included Actors Kal Penn and Sendhil Ramamurthy.  

Spokesman for the foundation, Manish Dayal says “I’m fortunate to have been a part of the Nanubhai team for the past 2 years, and see the substantial growth in our schools.  More specifically, our goals would have been impossible to achieve without the hard work of our Executive Team, our onsite team members, and most importantly you; our supporters.  Without your contributions we are unable to further our mission.  So, lend a hand and join us at our Fifth Annual Gala and help us achieve the partnerships we are cultivating to improve the quality of English language instruction in India’s rapidly globalizing economy."

The annual gala will be an exciting evening of cocktails, Hors D’oeuvres, entertainment, music, dancing and much more.  Designer Payal Singhal’s “Taj” Summer 2013 collection will add an array of glamour to the venue by draping mannequins in her collection which is inspired by filigree, jaali work and floral inlays seen in Islamic architecture. The gala is the primary source to raise funds for the Nanubhai Education Foundation’s Teacher Training and Professional Development Program, which focuses on enhancing the teaching skills, classroom management techniques and English language capabilities of local teachers.

“Working with local teachers to build upon their skills is critical to create sustainable and scalable change in rural India” says Ms. Nita Nehru, Executive Director of the Nanubhai Education Foundation. “We are committed to building a cadre of exceptional local teachers in rural India so that every student that passes through their doors is better educated, eloquent in English and can leverage these skills to access India’s economic opportunities.”

Tickets are available online at http://www.nanubhai.org/annual-gala and a portion of the ticket price will be tax-deductible. Additional information and celebrities announcements can also be found on our website. Nanubhai welcomes sponsorship opportunities to ensure the success of the annual gala. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please contact Nita at nita@nanubhai.org.

ABOUT NANUBHAI EDUCATION FOUNDATION: Nanubhai Education Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to providing equal access to India’s rapidly growing economic opportunities to the students of India’s rural public high schools by improving the level of instruction throughout rural india via Teacher Training and Professional Development. Since 2004, Nanubhai has been transforming access to quality education. They have integrated an innovative program of English training, teaching techniques and classroom management skills to underfunded public schools in the Indian state of Gujarat. The organization was founded on the premise that all Indian students deserve equal access to quality education. 

Click HERE to Listen: https://soundcloud.com/joya-dass/ladydrinks-podcast-with-neerja

(New York, NY: March 25^th, 2013) Portfolio Marketing & Events (PME) and ARIZ Inc. present the Grand Finale Mega Concert of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s 2013 World Tour at Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY on Saturday, June 15th.

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the King of Qawali and Sufi music and the glorious voice behind hit songs such as ‘Tere Mast Mast Do Nain’, ‘Sajda’, ‘Dil To Baccha Hai’, ‘Teri Ore’ and many others.  Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the nephew of the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and mentored under him since birth.  Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed on stage for the first time in 1998 at a benefit concert in Los Angeles, and like they say, the rest is history. He has now captured the hearts of millions worldwide and continues to mesmerize audiences with his melodious voice and Sufi music.  

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s 2013 North America tour commences in Dallas on April 19 and will have a Grand Finale Mega Concert on Saturday, June 15 in New York after performing throughout North America and the Caribbean. Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will commemorate 100 years of Bollywood for this one night “Mega Event” and also celebrate his contribution to Bollywood for the past10 years.  Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was introduced to Bollywood in Mahesh Bhatt’s movie ‘Paap’ and has continued to give award winning hits for films such as Dabaang, My Name is Khan, Bodyguard, Dabaang 2, Son of Sardar, and many others.  Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be performing many of his famous hits at the Grand Finale concert in New York. The production along with the performance of the maestro will be something which the audiences have never experienced before globally.

“This is going to be one of the largest concerts of a solo artist with an Indian/Pakistani background that has been ever held in New York. We are extremely excited to have Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan perform at the Nassau Coliseum in front of over 12,000 fans” says Mr. Jimmy Rizvi, Founder and CEO of ARIZ Inc. 

“Last year Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed at the Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom to a capacity audience of 12,000 & it is expected that the audience of New York and Tri-State to set a new record and re-create history. It will be a truly MEGA CONCERT, one not to be missed.” adds Mr. Salman Ahmed of Portfolio Marketing & Events.

Tickets for the grand finale show are now on sale on Desiclub.com, Sulekha.com, Meraticket.com and Ticketmaster. Prices begin at $39 and go up to $1000. For more information, please visit: www.rahatlive.us.

We will be hosting a Press Conference with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in New York. Details coming soon.

More additional information, please contact Neerja Public Relations at press@neerjapr.com

We also signed on with Bharat Matrimony.com, one of the largest Matrimony companies,  to launch a series of singles dating events.  

Lots of exciting things are happening and it's a great start to Spring! More details coming soon! 

xoxo
Neerja

Supermodel Azura Vandenberg goes “Bridezilla” for Shehnaai Couture 

(New York, NY: March 12^th, 2013) NYC’s leading Indian Couture House, Shehnaai Couture, launched their spring summer bridal couture line with 2 sold out shows on March 7th 2013. The fashion show, themed Bridezilla and her Minions was held at Devi in Union Square and was an absolute ‘see and be seen’ event.  Indian supermodels Nina Manuel and Bollywood actor Shayan Munshi were seated front row alongside actors Samrat Chakrabarti and Obaid Kadwani. Actress Neelu Sodhi, recently seen in Sridevi’s English Vinglish, was also present. Television personality and CNN and AVS host, Joya Dass was also seen taking note of the latest in Indian Couture. Over 250 guests gathered to watch Shehnaai Couture's season preview of spectacular Lehngas, Kalidaars and Sarees from some of India’s established and up-and-coming designers. Fabrics inspired from Middle Eastern and Indian silk, cotton brocade, Korean net, micro velvet were structured into “A-line” and "trumpet" shapes, large tulling, and long bodice garments.

 "The Indian bride is no longer the quintessential demure damsel. She's bold, passionate, and wonderfully sure of herself. The beauty in her madness before her wedding has inspired us to theme the show as such. The collections this year definitely recognize this phenomenal woman, as we move to a bolder style, not in silhouettes but in color. Pop's the word, redefined by even more traditional embellishments, displaying the wonderful contrasts this bride achieves." Shehnaai Couture founder and entrepreneur, Shirin Arenja Vinayak.  

Bridezilla and her Minions featured the looks of the modern bride, in her gorgeous madness contrasting starkly with the traditional and delicate Indian attire. Her friends and following, succumbing to her duress in their Indian preppy style. Featured designers' - Bhanuni by Jyoti Sharma, Rabbani & Rakha, Private Collections by Zeenat Sayani, Saanshé by Sabah Arenja Vig, Sabyasachi and Vikram Phadnis - collections included vibrant colors, delicate beading in vintage motifs, bold beaded tassels with colored crystals, double fabric sarees, neon hues, heavy tulles, shimmer tops, and flat gold embellishments. Supermodel and showstopper Azura Vandeberg, walked the runway in a neon coral lehnga with heavy tulling and European motifs in gray crystals, with neon pink corset with floral motifs in low contrast thread and stones by Saanshé as the shows grand finale. 

Designer, Sabah Arenja Vig of Saanshé "The season's gone neon for us. It's all about pop colors, with very delicate flat gold work. I've used a great pallets of shades of gold this time, that contrast beautifully with the bright colors. We're still doing the shimmer, but it's different now. Gone are the chunky white crystals, it's more about making the gold shine. Even for fabrics, we're giving wonderful structure and volume to shinier, softer fabrics, giving the form a more delicate silhouette. It's very Andy Warhol goes Indie-pop." 

Sushmita Patel from Studio Sush, transformed the models into true Bridezilla form with over the top hair and eccentric makeup. Music was provided by DJ Gaurav, Photography was captured by Raj Belani, desserts provided by AMR Catering, and Mirza Galib wines were donated by Sufi Wines. Television coverage was provided by Sahara One, AVS, ITV, TV Asia and B4U Music. Publicity for Shehnaai Couture, Shirin Vinayak and Bridezilla and her Minions was handled by Neerja Public Relations. 

Following the success of Bridezilla and her Minions, Indian based fashion designer Sabah Arenja Vig, will extend her visit in New York City to host a trunk show featuring her Saanshe line on Friday, March 22^nd and Saturday, March 23^rd.  For more information on timings, location and on Shehnaai Couture, please visit: www.shehnaaiusa.com/ or call 917-519-5456.

Photo by Bennet CoblinerPhoto by Bennet CoblinerPhoto by Raj BelaniPhoto by Bennet CoblinerPhoto by Bennet Cobliner  

Photo by Bennet Cobliner