Above / With a message sent by Governor Bruce Rauner, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti presented the Indian Community Outreach Award to recognize the group’s significant community contributions.
CHICAGO (May 3, 2018) – On behalf of Gov. Bruce Rauner, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti presented the Indian Community Outreach (ICO) Award for significant community contributions and proclaimed the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month.
During the presentation, Sanquinetti read a statement by Gov. Rauner:
“Asian Pacific Americans have made invaluable contributions to our state and our nation. Their determination and perseverance have led to successes in so many areas: business, technology, education, medicine, government, and nonprofits. Yet they put family first and always work to create opportunities for future generations.”
Representatives from the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), the Illinois Bicentennial Commission and other guests joined Sanquinetti at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on May 3 to recognize ICO and five other Asian organizations for their ongoing economic and cultural contributions and leadership. Notably ICO is the first and only Indian American Organization to receive this honor by Gov. Rauner as part of the Bi-Centennial Celebration of Illinois.
The award was accepted by ICO Founder and Chairman Krishna Bansal along with ICO Board Members Chirag Jani, Dharmisth Patel, Dinkar Karumuri, Vasavi Chakka, Vinod Vasisth, Viral Shah and ICO Advisory Council members Nimish Jani, Vandana Jhingan with lead volunteer Meghna Bansal.
“It’s indeed an honor to receive this prestigious award and be part of Illinois Bi-Centennial Celebration” said
Bansal, a Naperville resident. “ICO with the help of its board members and volunteers has been working very diligently to achieve its mission and is very proud of its achievements in a short span of time.”
Nimish Jani, a prominent Indian American community leader and member of ICO Advisory Council
applauded ICO’s effort to educate, integrate & empower the India American and immigrant communities.
Jani works closely with Gov. Rauner’s office, is an elected Trustee of Schaumburg Township and is the
outreach coordinator for Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider.
Indian American Festival / Sun., August 12 at Knoch Park
The largest Indian American Festival of Midwest is set for Sun., August 12, 2018, at Knoch Park in Naperville. During the festivities, the community is invited to experience the food, vibrancy, culture and music. Save the date.
The award presentation also included performances by SoriBeat, Xiao Chen, and Mer and featured Chicago’s ABC 7 Anchor
Judy Hsu as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
Indian Community Outreach
ICO is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization initiated in 2013 by Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel with Krishna
Bansal to help foster connections with residents of varied and diverse cultural backgrounds.
ICO’s mission is to embrace, preserve and promote the cultural heritage and contributions of Indian Americans while educating them to get involved in America’s growth. ICO’s efforts in different Programs / Engagements
include ‘Conversations’ for enhancing Civic Participation and Social Awareness; ‘Lotus Scholarship & Awards’ to recognize students and leaders of Indian Origin in every field; Indian businesses networking and education forums; India Day – Showcasing and Celebrating Cultures; contributing in various charity initiatives and participation in local events to represent Indian American Community. In just over four years of its inception, ICO has numerous accomplishments and is geared up to serve the Midwestern United States.
For more information, visit www.indiancommunityoutreach.org.
Story and photo from the presentation submitted by Krishna Bansal.
