The American India Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2^nd annual gala in Boston will be held on November 8^th, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency.

Secretary William S. Cohen will be the chief guest and speaker. Secretary Cohen has a vested connection with the New England area as a former senator of Maine and the founder of the William. S. Cohen Center for International Policy and Commerce at the University of Maine"

Secretary Cohen's international expertise in East Asia and the Middle East was recognized by his selection as the lead of the Department of Defense under President Clinton, the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations, and numerous other study groups and committees in the United States. He is also a published author and one of “America’s 200 future leaders” according to Time Magazine in 1974. After 31 years of public service, Secretary Cohen leaves behind a record of unparalleled accomplishment, integrity, and respect, and takes with him unrivaled knowledge, reputation, and relationships, across America and around the globe.

Shivan Subramaniam, Chairman and CEO of FM Global will be the Honoree at this event. During the past nine years as Chairman and CEO, he has helped grow F.M Global from approximately a $1-billion a year company to nearly $5-billion in revenue. The company has been profiled on every major U.S. television and cable news network, featured on the History Channel and profiled in prominent publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal and the Economist to FORTUNE magazine and U.S. News and World Report. FM Global has been named “Best Property Insurer in the World’ by Euromoney magazine, ‘Best Global Property Insurer’ by Global Finance magazine, twice named ‘European Business Insurer of the Year’ by Strategic Risk magazine, and received the ‘Queen’s Award for Enterprise’ from the Queen of England.  

Jonathan Bush, CEO of Athena Health serves as the gala co-chair this year. Mr. Bush served as an EMT for the City of New Orleans prior to founding Athenahealth, trained as a medic in the U.S. Army, and worked as a management consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton. Mr. Bush obtained a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Social Studies from Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Last year’s gala in Boston was a success thanks to all its local supporters and well wishers and AIF hopes to continue the same momentum into this year’s event. The goal of the Boston Gala is to gather individuals who feel a commitment and dedication to social and economic development in India. They will have the opportunity to put philanthropy in motion and bridge the road between India and the United States. This year, AIF is expecting participants from academic institutions, local companies and organizations, and the greater Boston community.

Founded in 2001, AIF has rapidly grown into the largest diaspora-led philanthropy focused exclusively on India. It has raised $45 million and invested and partnered with over 100 high-quality Indian NGOs, working on primary education, women’s economic empowerment and HIV/AIDS.  In addition, AIF's Digital Equalizer program introduced technology to enhance the education of over 300,000 students; through the Service Corps Fellowship, 169 young American professionals have served for ten months with Indian NGOs. President Bill Clinton serves as AIF’s Honorary Chair. Rajat Gupta and Victor Menezes serve as our Co-chairs.

For more info go to www.aif.org

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