Heroes of Humanity November 2009

  "Today there is a great need for all of us to move from limited identifications of nationality, race, religion and culture to a broader understanding of the  unity of human life, which can help to bring about a more peaceful world."

                                          - His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
                                            Founder, Art of Living Foundation  

     The Art of Living Foundation honored local Heroes of Humanity on November 12th, 2009 at the Bridgewater Banquet Center in Powell, Ohio by presenting the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Award for Uplifting Human Values.  This Award recognizes members of our society who have demonstrated their commitments to improve human values in our communities and thereby creating a better world.

    The thirteen nominees (listed in alphabetical order) are:  Sree Murthy Aswath, Rich Brown, Bill Dawson, Anas Deifallah, Matt Habash, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, Dr. Milap Nahata, Rao Nunduri, Randel Rogers, Dr. Kamala Saxena, Rev. Dr. Lesley Stansbery, Jim Tressel, and Dr. Raj Tripathi.

     The theme of the Heroes of Humanity event was to create a Stress-Free, Violence-Free Society by uplifting human values and strengthening the individual.  Several organization presidents, business leaders and city officials joined a diverse group of representatives from various religious, cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds in the sharing of human values, and in entertaining and honoring our local heroes.

     In celebration of 25 years of service, the Art of Living Foundation invited all the individual speakers, nominees and performers to light a candle, symbolizing that it just takes one light to light another (Shown below is Asma Mobin-Uddin, one of the 13  nominees).  The evening was filled with words of inspiration from community leaders, heroes in their own right.

     The evening was led by our lovely and charming Mistresses of Ceremonies, Maureen Baker and Charlene Brown.

Majority Whip of the Ohio House of Representatives, Jay Goyal (pictured below on right with Rajesh Kanumury, Art of Living Coordinator), began the ceremonies with a warm welcome and a message of congratulations to all that exemplify human values.

Sree Murthy Aswath (shown below on right with a guest) blessed the evening with chanting from a variety of traditions.

In addition to bringing greetings, Janine Jones, Senior Advisor to Governor Ted Strickland, offered congratulations and thanks in upholding human values.

  
Guadelupe Valasquez (smiling below as she prepares to light her candle), New Americans Initiative Coordinator presented a certificate from Mayor Michael Coleman's office.  

After a delicious dinner in good company, representing the youth of our community, students, Sulimaan Priest, Simran Taneja (shown below on left lighting her candle) and Dhruv Kaura shared their touching experiences gained from taking Art of Living classes.  

The evening picked up some rhythm with great dance performances and entertainment from youth dance groups Jai Ho and Wait OHIO.  

The Heroes of Humanity nominees were introduced next, and as each lit his or her candle, their community contributions were highlighted, as well as their personal life principles shared.  Community services range from establishing facilities for basic medical care and supplies, providing broad-range family services to immigrant widows and orphans, collecting clothing and food for the needy, bringing communities together through gardening and wildlife observation and preservation, opening and maintaining dialogue for interfaith discussions to further understanding and peace between traditions, raising money and awareness for various causes-such as diseases like cancer, generating donations for hospitals, and through it all, teaching along the way.


     As well as a hearty call to action, an energetic oration on the importance of embracing stress in order to harness its power for the promotion of human values was given by Renee Brandon from Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's office.

     Nina Sanyal, Art of Living Instructor, gave a heart-warming call to action inviting attendees to seek the hero in themselves and to contribute to the humanitarian efforts of the Art of Living Foundation.

Soon, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived when the seven winners were announced and awarded their distinguished prizes.  The seven recipients of the Award were Matthew Habash, Bill Dawson, Dr. Kamala Saxena, Richard Brown, Dr. Raj Tripathi, Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin and Rao Nanduri.  The winners are shown below with one of the Judges for the event, Mr. Nirmal Sinha, a leader of the Asian Indian community of Central Ohio.  Mayor of Dublin, Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher was also a judge.  Both judges were recipients of the 2007 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Award, for their contribution toward fostering human values.

Dhwani Kanumury, Art of Living Instructor, brought the evening to a perfect close with a few moments of meditation with her soothe and calming voice.  Everyone left feeling relaxed, energized and ready to find the hero in themselves!

Congratulations to all the Heroes of Humanity 2009 for Central Ohio award winners and nominees!  Congratulations to the Hero in YOU!  A huge heartfelt Thank You to all the participants and contributors in this year's event.

A special note of gratitude goes out to all the tireless volunteers for their time, effort and contribution from Heroes of Humanity 2009, Columbus Chairman of Event, Soumitra Deshmukh and from Rajesh and Dhwani Kanumury, the Dynamic Duo of Art of Living, Central Ohio.

To view more pictures from the event, please click on the link below (or paste in browser).


http://www.ido.lifepics.com      Then click on the Recent Public Events - Heroes of Humanity  (Please note that you will asked to sign the guestbook to view the photos.)