ZAGNY donations

The Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) has sponsored luncheon get-togethers in honor of Udvada Atash Behram (Pak Iranshah) for over 20 years. This started in 1984 when Erach Munshi and his late wife Perin, decided on this worthwhile community project to help deserving Parsis and support the maintenance of atash behrams in Udvada, Navsari and Surat. Since then every year ZAGNY has been remitting total contributions received from our members as well as from members of our sister Zoroastrian associations of North America to the above three anjumans. Each institution receives one-third of the total amount sent.

Since 1984, under the auspices of ZAGNY, the Zoroastrian community of North America has remitted a total sum of $ 283,500 (approximately Rs 1.3 crores) toward this noble cause. It is heartening to realize that the recipients in India do not know who we are, but they remember all of us in their prayers for our moral obligation to help them.

The 22nd annual ZAGNY sponsored Udvada luncheon get-together on October 15, 2006 was yet another major success. This year thanks to donations, an amount of $ 15,000 has already been received, but Eruch Munshi’s goal is to collect $ 30,000 by June 2007. Contributions for this worthwhile cause can be sent by cheques made out to "ZAGNY Critical Assistance” and forwarded to Erach Munshi, 200 Claremont Avenue, Apartment 63, New York, New York 10027.

All expenses for the day are borne by Erach Munshi, and Mehru and Lovji Cama. For the success of this annual event dedicated efforts of Kamal Davar (who volunteers to prepare the food), Meher and Dinyar Hodiwalla, Rashna and Kersi Harda, Sheroo and Vispi Kanga, Minoo Bengali (treasurer of ZAGNY) and the support of ZAGNY board are gratefully acknowledged.

Dr KHURSHEED P. NAVDER

New York, USA