PATELS DONATE $12 MILLION TO USF IN TAMPA
Drs. Pallavi and Kiran Patel with USF President Judy Genshaft.
The Patels have done it again!
On Oct. 2, the University of South Florida announced that Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel had donated $12 million. This latest gift to USF brings the donation from this philanthropist couple to total nearly $26 million.
When asked why USF, Kiran Patel said, “We believe that by giving to an educational institution, our contribution will multiply through the efforts of each student.” The school expects to have nearly 120 masters, 60 doctorate and 30 post-doctorate students.
The endowment will transform the Patel School of Global Sustainability into the Kiran C. and Pallavi K. Patel College of Global Sustainability pending board approval.
The applied research at the college will help to advance sustainability around the world and improve the lives of its most vulnerable people. The focus of the projects will be to improve urban systems, water and transportation.
“The Patels’ commitment to a brighter, healthier future for all has inspired and enabled our university to fulfill its critical mission of preparing students to be a force for change and in leveraging intellectual power to serve those most in need,” said USF President Judy Genshaft.
For more information, visit psgs.usf.edu/index
Lavanya Dinesh
Pandit Radharaman Kirtane
DIWALI Special: Morning Melodies Concert on Nov 10 in TAMPA
On Nov. 10, Swaradhana will present a special Diwali concert of morning melodies by Pandit Radharaman Kirtane and Lavanya Dinesh – two accomplished vocalists and teachers of Indian classical music in the Tampa Bay area. Swaradhana was established by Avinash Deshpande and fellow music-enthusiasts to promote Indian classical music in Florida.
The vocal concert ‘Swara Prabhat’ is a rare showcase of morning raagas (melodies) of the Hindustani (North Indian) classical music tradition based on the time-cycle theory. Kirtane is a senior disciple of legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj of the Mewati tradition and teaches numerous music enthusiasts at the Pandit Jasraj School of Music in Tampa. The artist’s music is pleasing to the ears and appeals with a versatile repertoire of not just classical music but also devotional and semi-classical genres, including Marathi theatre music.
Lavanya Dinesh, originally from Bangalore, is a younger generation vocalist trained in the ancient Gwalior Gharana tradition. Her gurus include Pandit Seshadri Gavai, Dr. Rajabhau Sontakke and Shruti Sadolikar Katkar. Dinesh’s music is characterized by robust, full-throated yet melodious rendition of raagas and khayals. She also performs semi-classical compositions such as Hindi, Kannada and Marathi bhajans regularly. She is a writer and has contributed as music columnist to Khaas Baat since 2006.
The able accompaniment will be provided by seasoned musicians Dr. Manohar Apte (harmonium) and Thiru Panth (tabla), also from Tampa.
The concert will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 10, at College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For tickets, visit www.swaradhana.org or e-mail [email protected]
OVER $200,000 RAISED AT SHREYA GHOSHAL FLORIDA SHOW
More than $200,000 was raised during the Shreya Ghoshal musical gala Sept. 28 in Orlando. The event was sponsored by the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI) and Federation of Florida chapters. “The occasion was a grand success,” said convener Dr. Aravind Pillai. “My gratitude goes to AAPI President Dr. Narendra Kumar for having confidence in me. Thanks for choosing Orlando for this mega show! This nine-city fundraising event is the best-organized program in the history of AAPI.” The money will be used to help with medical services for the poor in United States and India.
Dr. Pillai also thanked Shri Balaji Entertainment, Shreya Ghoshal and her team and, of course, the audience who came from far and near to support the charitable cause. “We could not have achieved our fundraising goal without the dedicated efforts of AAPI vice president Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar; and Dr. Vraj Panara as a chair of steering committee has been of incredible help with arranging meetings, finding sponsors, making video, etc.” Also, thanks go out to AAPI friends Dr. Chandra of West Palm Beach, Dr. Paul and Sunil of Fort Lauderdale and Vipul Dev of Lake Mary for helping raise funds.
Host chapter CAPI (Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian subcontinent) President Dr. Nikita Shah and Amish Parikh organized the medical seminars and Dr. Rajesh Patel worked on the Web site. “I must thank FAPI leaders Drs: Vibul Kabaria, Nandkishore Shah, Kiran Patel and Jay Chowdappa and Akshay Desai for sponsorships,” said Pillai. “So did BIMDA (Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association) leaders Drs. Ashok Shah and Abdul Karim. Aroma Indian restaurant (Lake Mary) owner Sreenivas Jarugula arranged transportation and food for artists. “I cannot complete this without thanking my wife Devi for her support and encouragement,” said Dr. Pillai.
HCI CHAIRMAN PARESH PATEL RINGS NYSE CLOSING BELL
Clearwater-based Homeowners Choice Inc. Chairman and CEO Paresh Patel, joined by members of the company’s management team, rings the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on Oct. 25. The company, whose stock listing has been transferred from NASDAQ Global Select Market to NYSE, began trading under the new ticker symbol “HCI.” Homeowners Choice provides property and casualty homeowners’ insurance, condominium owners’ insurance and tenants’ insurance. Founded in 2006, Homeowners Choice serves about 110,000 policyholders throughout Florida representing nearly $220 million in annualized premiums. For more information, visit www.hcpci.com
ORLANDO HINDU TEMPLE CELEBRATES DUSSEHRA
The Hindu Society of Central Florida temple in Casselberry celebrated Dussehra on Oct. 25. More than 250 people watched a bonfire of the Ravan effigy, cultural program and Banquet. The Ravan effigy was designed and made by Promod Dubey, Rajesh Dubey, Prashant Saoji, Sunil Dube, Sujit Bhatia, Sandesh Telang, Asha Mittal and Jason. Prachi Dube, Rakhi Sharma and others choreographed the cultural performance in which about 24 youth took part. For more photos, visit www.hindutempleorlando.org
Dr. Neeraja Jasthi of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry with her staff.
DENTIST CELEBRATES 11 YEARS SERVING TAMPA BAY AREA COMMUNITY
“I love what I do,” says Dr. Neeraja Jasthi of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in New Tampa. And it shows as a stream of patients enters the office. The doctor has been serving the Tampa Bay area community for 11 years, first at Highwoods Preserve for four years, and now at a prime location on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. “We have a very friendly staff of nine who make our patients comfortable and most of our patients are happy.”
A native of Hyderabad, Dr. Jasthi earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Tufts Dental School in Boston. She spent two years in Lakeland before moving to Tampa. “I always wanted to be in the medical field,” she said. “And the flexibility it gives me with my schedule.” The doctor and her husband, Ravi, have a son and daughter.
With six lab operatories (patient rooms), the 2,200-square-foot Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers crowns, veneers, implants, and oral surgery for more invasive procedures, among other dental services. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the office is at 20441 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (across from the street from Wharton High School). For information, call (813) 866-9913 or visit www.drjasthi.com
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