IAMACF gala and fund-raising dinner

BY A STAFF WRITER

CHICAGO — The Charitable Foundation chapter of Indian American Medical Association (IAMACF), held its annual meeting and fund-raising dinner on May 10 at Waterford Banquets, 933 S. Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL.

The entire colorful event was attended by more than 250 attendees The primary purpose to organize this event was to raise the financial support in running the free healthcare clinics in metro Chicago serving increasing numbers of underprivileged, undeserved and underinsured patients amounting to over 3000 patients in year 2013.

IAMA President Dr. Hemlata Bakane and IAMACF chair Dr. Rambha Radhakrishnan congratulated IAMACF officials and volunteers for running the free clinic in Chicago for past over 20 years.

While Dr. Bakane stated those blessed with wealth should help others, Dr. Rambha made an appeal to donate the time and money towards this noble cause.
Dr Bakane thanked Dr. Jay Joshi, IAMA young physician committee chair for helping with various skillful tasks ranging from monthly power point presentations to the tedious paper work of submitting the grant and CME credit application to the Chicago Medical Society.

Leslie Ramyk, executive director of the Illinois Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, a statewide network of Free & Charitable clinics and executive director of the Ravenswood Health Care Foundation, in her Keynote address pleaded each to help this noble organization dedicated to providing free and quality healthcare to the needy residents of the communities.

During the award ceremony, a volunteer physician of the year reorganization was given to Dr. Walten Baba for his dedicated service to the clinic. Dr. Baba is a family medicine doctor in Chicago, Illinois and is affiliated with Swedish Covenant Hospital. He received his medical degree from University of Baghdad College of Medicine and has been in practice for 55 years.

Chris Zala was also recipient of outstanding volunteer award. He served as the Director of the Council on Asian Affairs for the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations, and helped serve the interests of the Asian American community in Chicago.

Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Indian American Medical Association’s Charitable Foundation (IAMACF).

Over $80,000 was raised. The audience was urged to participate in a ‘planned giving program’. A planned gift is a donor’s commitment to the continuity of the traditions and values of the IAMA-CF through a gift that takes effect after the death of the donor.