Support-A-Child Fundraiser KalAsangamam Held in Billerica, MA

It was standing room only at the annual Support-A-Child fundraiser KalAsangamam, held on a sunny afternoon on Nov 1, 2025, at Om Hindu Community Center in Billerica, MA.

This year’s theme was “By the Youth, For the Youth.” All performers were younger but extremely accomplished students of the various vocal and instrumental music and dance schools.

Before the program, all attendees got to sample some delicious Samosas and mouth-watering Pani Puri along with garam garam chai. That got everyone in a good mood to enjoy the wonderful program.

The program started at 3 PM with Lamp Lighting by the chief guests Smt.Mona and Sri.Vishwanath Khaitan, while young Atharv recited the deep prajwalan mantra. This was followed by a Ganesh invocation by young students of Smt. Aparna Balaji, 27 students sang in one voice and set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Smt. Aparna Balaji was the emcee for the cultural part of the program, while Sri. Pranay Tiwari handled the fundraising appeals and other parts of the program. Smt. Aparna’s melodious voice and expert hosting led us through the cultural part of the program. The audience was treated to the beautiful strains of numerous violins as students of Smt. Smita Krishnan performed a classical piece. Then Sri. Pranay took over with the first appeal of the day by a 12-year-old boy, who talked about how his own comfortable upbringing made him think about children in other less fortunate circumstances and how they lived, and motivated him to make an impassioned appeal for people to support at least one child. Moved by his fervor, several people came forward and pledged to support one or more children.

Next was a saxophone and tabla recital, which was appreciated by all. In quick succession there were dances by students of Smt. Jeyanti Ghatraju, Smt. Sapna Krishnan and Smt. Sailaja Tummala, all appreciated and well received by the audience. Interspersed between these performances were appeals for support of underprivileged but deserving children in India, and details of the kind of support they received, and what people living in the USA could do for them. Appeals were made by young adults and a past big supporter of several children, who spoke of his own experiences in his journey with the SAC program.

In all, the program was a big success. 154 children were supported, which exceeded the goal of 130 set by the organizers.

After the program, everyone was treated to a finger-licking dinner cooked by the volunteers of OmHCC. All agreed it was a very entertaining program, along with being very informative.

Support a Child was established in 1985 as an initiative of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), to help eradicate illiteracy and improve living conditions of children from poor and disadvantaged families in India. A non-profit organization registered in the USA, SAC is run totally by volunteers’ efforts, with minimal overhead costs. Through these fund-raisers, Support-A-Child hopes to be the conduit between the well-meaning, generous donors and the truly needy sections of the populace back in India. The donations are used to run schools and hostels, and to provide nutritious food and medical assistance for needy children in several Indian cities.