Atlanta, Georgia: The NRI community in Atlanta raised $1.3 million for Sankara Nethralaya’s eye care mission through a classical dance program held on the 17th of this month. The funds will support 20,000 cataract surgeries, benefiting impoverished patients. The event featured performances from over 100 students from four top classical dance academies in Atlanta, including Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam.

Key donors included Prasada Reddy Katamreddy, who contributed $500,000 despite personal loss, and Dr. Kishore Chivukula, who donated $100,000. Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Jagdish Sheth also made a significant contribution of $12,500. The event was graced by the Consul General of India, Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, and featured speeches from key figures like Bala Indurthi and Murthy Rekapalli.

The donations will fund various eye care initiatives, including Mobile Eye Surgical Units (MESU) across India. This collaboration aims to provide free eye care to remote rural areas, with plans for new units in Puttaparthi (2025) and Vizag (2025).

SN USA’s ongoing efforts focus on eradicating blindness in India through partnerships and fundraising programs. The event highlighted the community’s dedication to philanthropy and social impact, with future MESU projects expected to cover a third of India's rural areas.