Best Community Leader
Vandana Walia
  • Bringing Indian Art, culture and community to mainstream chicago land through fundraisers like Bollywood Blowout which had ALL the Chicago media broadcasters / personnel / celebrity chefs participating and attending
  • Over a decade of involvement in the community being on the committee of FIA, PAO, Akshaypatra , Kranti , Save A Mother and more recently President of Share A Smile Chicago and Chicago Dramatist- providing a platform to Indian community to get involved in the Chicago mainstream communities and visa versa.........
  • Promoting and enhancing Indian culture and raising funds in mainstream Chicago institutions like Art Institute , Field Museum , South Asian cardiovascular centre 
Bhailal M Patel
  • Founder president of Federation of Indian Association. Bringing all the Indian organisation under one unbrella of FIA. Which as established in 1980.
  • Brought and devloped and marketed three indian weekly newspapers to chicago India Abroad, India Post and Desitalk & NewsIndia Times.
  • Created and devloped National Indian publice policy institue (NIAPPI) and helped to develpoed it.
  • https://www.facebook.com/bhailalmpatel, 

Dr Manish Pandya

  • President of Gujarati Samaj; Serving the samaj for over 8 years now
  • Promoter, participated in fogana, and overall community leader
  • Received several awards for helping the community. Helped out in home shelters and also fed hungry kids around the world.
  • Seva at the BAPs mandir for medical camp. Provided meals at thanksgiving for 100's of people at a shelter
 
Gordhan Patel
  • Served as a Secretary, Treasurer and President of Saurastra Patel Cultural Samaj: www.spcs.org : continuous service for 28 years. Also serve as a Trustee of SPCS- National Chapter for 8 years.
  • Started multiple manufacturing businesses and employed close to 500 employees in the greater Chicago area.
  • Has been helping Bhartiya Senior Citizen of Chicago - a chicago base non profit association since this organisation has been founded.
Shailesh Rajput
 
Love and blessings from community All local Seniors organisation open invitation Community recognition for organising Navratri Raas Garba for over 8 years in Chicago area https://youtu.be/KXXnhgi89Js 
Moon Khan
  • First Asian American to win a township level election and got elected as York Township Trustee
  • First Asian American to run for a Countywide position and collected about 170,000 votes
  • Founding President of Bihar Cultural Association and Executive Vice President of FIA, I served on the executive boards of about three dozen community organizations for over two decades.
  • For more information on me, please visit my website.     www.moonkhan.com

Laddi K Singh

  • National Cadet Corp Directorate Punjab, 1990.National Cadet Corp Directorate of Punjab, 1991.
  • Punjab Girls BN National Cadet Corp of 1991. All India Trekking Expedition of 1991.
  • National Social services State Liaison Cell, Jaipur of 1995.National Social services Punjab University in 1993.
  • Punjab University Women's Sports Tournament for Soccer in 1991-1992. Represented Punjab Girls Soccer Team in 1992.  I was the first women of indian origin to be elected for the 2014 election of state Representative from 54th Legislative  District.
  • Successful Healthcare  Business Owner, CEO since 2009.  Spa owner, Partner of 2015. Infusion Institute partner since 2014.
  • United Airline Employee of the year 2002. Advocate Medical Group MVP of the year 2005. Board member of GOPIO of Chicago 2017.
  • https://ballotpedia.org/Laddi_K_Singh;  
    Face Book: /laddi.singh.39566905
  • Active member of Northwest suburban organization for action, which fights for Women equal rights, Immigration,Gun control, ACA, and climate change.
  • Active member of Greater Palatine Democratic Organization.
  • I have supported, volunteerred, and sponsored various Indian festivities and annual gatherings.

Nimish Jani

  • Elected Official Schaumburg Township
  • Chairman Indian American Republican Organization
  • Chair Asian American Employment Advisory Plan appointed by Governor

Gladson Varghese   

  • As the General Convener for Justice for Pravin (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/southern-illinois-university-sophomore-found-dead-woods-article-1.1618768), after several meetings with Governor, FBI, Congressmen, Attorney General of IL, Finally Governor appointed a Special Prosecutor to find truth in this case.
  • Lot of hardwork, several protests, raised funds for legal expenses, several meetings, finally it is going in the right direction and hopefully, we find the light at the end of the tunnel. It is big accomplishment as a community Leader.  
  • As the GOPIO Chicago President, we raised funds in Nov. 2015 to help the poor (homeless) and needy people in Chicago and raised funds for Nepal Earthquake. Donated the Money and I personally volunteered to serve food and clothing through Mother Therasa's organisation in Chicago.
  • As the General secretary of FOMAA, Raised funds and donated 4 lakhs Ruppes to a poor family in Kerala to pay medical bills for their kids with Autism. then distributed 10 wheel chairs for the poor disabled people, Raised funds for Kidney transplantation for a poor man in Kerala and several other charity work in India.

Sunil Shah

  • Has been blessed with the opportunity to serve the community and has been doing his best from the last 20 years.
  • Sunil has been a part of each and every platform and organization in and around chicago area, regardless of color and religion to promote culture, social justice and financial aid to the needy.
  • A leader who firmly believes in giving without the anticipation of receiving anything in return.
All these collective qualities have helped Sunil to be the founder President of FIA Chicago, where a team of selfless volunteers works in tandem with other organizations for the betterment of the community.

Dinkar Karumuri

  • Serving as the Board Member of Indian Community Outreach, Founder and Board Member of Chicago Andhra Association, Board Member (Past) at AAAFGC ( Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago) a Action Pack to support Asian Americans, Serves on the National Committee of IT Organizations are some of the work that I have been doing.
  • My Passion is to grow the assimilation of Indian Community into the mainstream.
  • My works extends to other communities such as Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, African American Business Association, and American Jewish Coalition.  
  • In my support of Fair and Compassionate Immigration policy I work closely with the leaders in Congress on immigration.  
  • I am continuously working at the local and national levels to address immigration work issues while at the same time keeping the Jobs in America by reducing the skills gap.  
  • My main objective as an immigrant is to build upon the foundation that many of the Indian Leaders have built for our youth. I have been part of political delegations to Israel representing the Indian-American Community along with great-accomplished Indian Leaders like Dr. Barai..
  • I have also been part of business and friendship delegation to Mexico.  
  • I serve on the advisory committee for the Government Technology Forum, and in the past served as an advisory member of Mayor’s Technology Council under Mayor. Daley.
  • I work with National and Local leaders, along with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner being as a chief guest at a large South Indian Convention, as a result of this there is a renewed appreciation of the Indian Community from many of the leaders.
  • I am an active support of the Indian Governmental and Political Leaders, I do this as I realize that their success and the Indian values they represent is a reflection of our community.  
  • I am humbled to be nominated, in the same line as many of the great leaders in Chicago.