American India Foundation Makes Debut at 42nd Annual India Day Parade in New York City
New York, NY– August 7, 2024– The American India Foundation (AIF), is thrilled to announce its inaugural participation in the India Day Parade, taking place on August 18, 2024, in the heart of New York City. AIF is grateful and excited to join one of the largest celebrations of Indian culture and heritage in the United States on the precipice of its own milestone 25th Anniversary.
As the largest US-based nonprofit focused on poverty alleviation India, AIF is committed to improving the lives of India’s underprivileged, with special focus on women, children, and youth–through its high impact interventions in education, livelihoods, and public health. True to its binational nature, AIF strengthens the bridge of civil engagement between the world’s two largest democracies–India and the US. It, too, uniquely cultivates a robust platform for leadership development through its longstanding program, the Banyan Impact Fellowship (formerly the William J. Clinton Fellowship)–nurturing the next generation of globally minded changemakers, from both countries.
NewYork’s India Day Parade, organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), is a cherished annual event that celebrates India’s independence and the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora. Recognized for its vibrant expression of Indian traditions and achievements, the parade provides a family-friendly platform for AIF to share its mission, vision, and multipronged programs. It equally offers a summer occasion for AIF’s diverse community to gather and connect in a public square of Indian diaspora and global citizenry. This year’s parade will feature an array of distinguished guests, community leaders, and cultural performers–a festive occasion for all involved.
AIF’s debut float will showcase the lives of those empowered by the organization’s transformative programs, including LAMP–Learning and Migration Program–which delivers quality education to children of migrant laborers, and one of its livelihoods initiatives, MAST–Market Aligned Skills Training Program which enhances economic opportunities for marginalized women and youth, especially in rural areas, through skill development and job creation. The float will also share inspiring glimpses of AIF’s flagship public health program, MANSI–Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative–which supports young mothers through pregnancy, helps combat infant mortality, and empowers adolescent girls through nutritional and menstruation education.
Aboard its float and on the ground, AIF will be represented by members of its Global and Tri-State Boards, National Leadership Council, Council of Advisors, Young Professionals, Banyan Impact Fellowship, Youth Ambassadors and, of course, its dedicated staff–all of whom are thrilled to provide information with parade-goers on AIF’s initiatives and the many avenues for community involvement.
“We are honored to participate in the India Day Parade,” said Nishant Pandey, CEO of AIF. “This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community and share our vision. Our participation not only honors a tapestry of Indian heritage in the US, but also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and philanthropy in advancing social change.” For more information about AIF’s participation in the India Day Parade or to learn about its programs, please visit www.aif.org or contact: Kalpana Kanthan, Chief Development Officer, at Kalpana.Kanthan@aif.org.
