BOSTON & LOS ANGELES – Vax.India.Now, the virtual fundraiser to support India in its fight against Covid-19, has raised more than 5 million dollars. The event, which had attracted many celebrities from around the world, was livestreamed globally last month. UNICEF and American India Foundation (AIF) are beneficiaries of the fundraiser.
“We are grateful for the generosity of large and small donors from around the globe who came together to support this lifesaving campaign – Vax.India.Now,” said Anuradha Juju Palakurthi, one of the key organizers of the event, and who took the initiative to launch this fundraising campaign.
Ms. Palakurthi said that the dedicated, multi-national 160-person organization team is proud to have raised meaningful resources in India’s battle against this awful pandemic.
Hasan Minhaj hosted the July 7th event. Liam Neeson, Annie Lennox, A.R. Rahman, Pia Toscano, Zubin Mehta, Gloria Estefan, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, David Foster, Norwegian DJ Alan Walker, Asif Mandvi, Nishat Khan, Ranjani Gayatri Sisters and Matteo Bocelli all took part in the momentous event.
“I am grateful to the celebrities for lending their time and talent – in particular, the immediacy of their response and commitment to the cause,” said Ms. Palakurthi, an Indian-American singer and founder of Juju Productions. “Special thank you to the Indian team that had to work through a national lockdown. The campaign is still open at VaxIndiaNow.com Give today! We are all together in this and must continue to vaccinate individuals, to prevent more variants, and stop Covid 19. It is not over until it’s over.”
Along with the musical performances, Vax.India.Now spotlighted what’s really happening on the ground in India and educated viewers on how they can help save lives and make a real impact. The viewers responded. Proceeds will support UNICEF’s efforts to ensure millions of crisis-affected and vulnerable children and families in India have access to life-saving assistance and services and help COVID-19 vaccines make their way from airport tarmacs to arms.
Covid-19’s impact on India has been nothing short of catastrophic. A second wave of Covid-19 has consumed India breaking the Global record with more than 400,000 cases in one day and leaving over 377,000 dead. Vax.India.Now represents a global effort to bring attention and resources to India on a massive scale. Vaccines are the answer and we need to get them to the people of India now.
Vax.India.Now is the brainchild of Ms. Palakurthi, who runs her own foundation out of New England that supports the promotion of Indian culture. She was moved by the carnage inflicted in India by a different mutation of the virus. Many of her friends and family members became sick – some died. She knew that the only long term solution was mass vaccinations, like in the US. Driven by this purpose, she turned to The Giving Back Fund and together the idea for Vax.India.Now was born.
Vax.India.Now was Globally livestreamed by CNN and Dreamstage.live on July 7. The event is still available for viewing on both vaxindianow.com and CNN’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/CNN. To view a trailer of Vax.India.Now click here: https://youtu.be/f5M6hrpXC60
Vax.India.Now is sponsored by Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation, a project of The Giving Back Fund, an IRS approved 501©3 public charity (EIN 04=3367888).
The Giving Back Fund is the main benefactor of Vax.India.Now. Says President and Founder Marc Pollick, “When our longtime Board member Prashanth Palakurthi proposed doing something truly significant on a worldwide scale to help his native India at this critical time, we jumped at the chance to help. This is what we are built for –to mobilize quickly and provide assistance and philanthropic administration to help those in need. At this moment in time, the need in India must become the center of the universe.”
Vax.India.Now is being produced by JuJu Productions, Charles Goldstuck, Marc Johnston and Erich Bergen and Wizcraft International Entertainment and Neelesh Misra of Gaon Connection.
Wizcraft International Entertainment is India’s leading communication and entertainment companies, integrating strategy, creativity and technology to craft memorable experiences. Since, its inception in 1988 Wizcraft has emerged as pioneers in Events, Exhibitions, Brand Activation, Television production, PR, Digital Marketing and Virtual Events. Headquartered in Mumbai and with offices across India the company has grown tremendously and also has several liaison offices across the world. Wizcraft is globally renowned for its flagship media & entertainment IP – IIFA (International Indian Film Aacdemy), an event that has travelled the world building bridges across cultures, communities, businesses and geographies using the platform of Cinema to create a global alliance.
Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation supports the promotion of Indian culture primarily in New England by providing financial support to programs, artists and organizers of events where Indian culture is performed/exhibited. Funds raised from events and performances will go to support carefully vetted public charities with an emphasis on charities aiding returning veterans. The Anuradha Palakurthi Foundation is a donor-advised fund at The Giving Back Fund.
The Giving Back Fund is a National nonprofit organization that encourages and facilitates charitable giving by professional athletes, celebrities, high net worth individuals, existing nonprofit organizations, corporations and others who truly desire to give back. We Provide philanthropic consulting, management and administrative services while operating as a flexible convenient vehicle for establishing individual foundations and fiscally sponsored projects under a governance structure like that of a community foundation. By offering a straightforward and cost-effective approach to philanthropy, high-level expertise and professional services, and carefully targeted giving opportunities, The Giving Back Fund helps those who want to give back to society and to the communities that have nurtured them.
