The Loomba Foundation Hosts 'Widows Voice Charity Dinner' in Mumbai

Top Quote The Loomba Foundation, a global charity that supports widows and their children around the world, hosted a 'Widows Voice Charity Dinner' in Mumbai. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) December 14, 2010 - The dinner was attended by several well known celebrities including the Foundation's president, Cherie Blair, wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

    Presiding over the dinner, Cherie Blair said, "Over 245 million widows and over 500 million children suffer in silence worldwide. In India, little is known about the actual living conditions of widows and they are rarely given importance or mentioned in public debates on social policy. Also, children of widows face horrors such as child marriage, illiteracy, loss of schooling, forced labour, human trafficking, homelessness and rape. The Loomba Foundation has actively taken up the cause for the widows with an aim to emancipate them by providing opportunities for education and I am proud to be associated with them."

    The Loomba Foundation, which is currently educating 100 children of poor widows in Mumbai, unveiled its new initiative to increase the number of the beneficiaries to 1000. The Foundation is providing education to over 2000 widows' children throughout India. As part of its global work, the Loomba Foundation is empowering widows in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Syria, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa.

    Speaking on the work undertaken by the foundation and its plans in India, Founder and Chairman Trustee Mr. Raj Loomba said, "Millions of widows in India face poverty and abuse; to this end there is a need for the government to take definite steps towards the emancipation of Widows and their children. The Loomba Foundation is partnering with various organizations in India to not only help widows in India but also educate the government and the public about their plight."

    Extending support to the Foundation's initiatives and attending the dinner included Mr. Aditya Puri, CEO HDFC Bank; Dr. Vijaypat Singhania, Chairman, Raymond Group; Poonam Dhillon, Actress; Ms. Devika Bhojwani, Socialite, amongst other eminent guests at the dinner.

    "HDFC Ltd., HDFC Bank, Mr Vijaypat Singhania and an anonymous donator generously contributed to the Loomba Foundation at the Charity Dinner for the education of 580 widows' children education. We were able to raise close to Rs 50 lacs with the auction of a charcoal and acrylic painting by Jagannath Paul and a special edition Porche Ipod ", said Sanjay Bhutiani, Partner Punya Karma, a consultant, strategist and fund raising company recently launched to help non-profit organisations.

    About The Loomba Trust and Foundation

    The Loomba Trust seeks to educate the children of poor widows throughout India. Established by Raj and Veena Loomba, The Trust was founded in memory of Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, Raj Loomba's late mother, who became a widow at age 37 and successfully educated seven children. The Loomba Trust and its sister charity, The Loomba Foundation, currently educate over 2,000 children in India and support 1,500 HIV orphans in South Africa in partnership with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Unite. Other initiatives include entrepreneurship programs for widows in Kenya, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka coordinated with Youth Business International, the charity of The Prince of Wales. The Trust was officially launched in presence of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie Blair in 1998, who is now President of The Trust.

    For more information, please contact:
    Kumkum Jagadish
    Gutenberg Communications
    Phone: +91 9930967451
    E-mail: kumkum ( @ ) gutenbergpr dot com
    http://www.theloombafoundation.org/

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