ZAKOI

The April newsletter of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago features a message from the neighboring community — the Zoroastrians of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana (ZAKOI). Its management team comprises president Bakhtavar Desai, secretary Tenaz Sahiar and treasurer Gulnar Surveyor.

Registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Ohio since July 2005, ZAKOI earned a tax-exempt status in 2007 and for the last three years has been working to raise funds to build "a modest Zoroastrian Center for our growing community.” The target is about $ 500,000 and donations to the ZAKOI Center Fund are tax-deductible and may be mailed to Desai at 6383 Jamesfield Court, Fairfield, OH 45014, USA.

Right: (Top) Bakhtavar Desai and Gulnar Surveyor. Far left: Kids and adults at Jamshedi Navroze 2009

"Our community is active in keeping the Zoroastrians united and in building a brighter future for our religion here in the tri-state area, especially for the sake of our children and all the future Zoroastrians who will live here in this region,” notes the message from Desai. The missive states that they conduct monthly religion classes and annual religion camps and encourage their children to participate in cultural presentations in functions of the Zoroastrian as well as the host community in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The current fundraiser, as the message notes, is a raffle for a new gara donated to ZAKOI for this purpose by one of its members. Ticketed at $10, the inducement is a free ticket on every five purchased. The lucky draw is slated for August. Armin Daroona (adaroona@ gmail.com) is in charge of the raffle tickets. A picture of the gara is available on the association’s website www. ZAKOI.org