
Event Information
Join us for Apna Ghar’s 35th Anniversary Gala: Together We Thrive at 6:00 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2026, Venue West in Chicago. The event will be a vibrant gathering with more than 300 of Chicago’s prominent civic, community and corporate leaders, activists, and organizational partners and supporters who will come together for a fun and inspiring evening.
Ticket and Sponsorship Information
TICKETS To purchase tickets or tables for our event, please click here.
SPONSORSHIPS To sponsor our event, please click here.
For more details please contact, Apna Ghar’s development manager Uneza Akhtar at (224) 636-2858 or by email uakhtar@apnaghar.org.
Honoree Information

We are proud to recognize The Honorable Justice Sanjay T. Tailor with Apna Ghar’s Trailblazer Award for his historic appointment as the first Asian American in the history of the state to be appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Tailor is a former Board President and longtime supporter of Apna Ghar’s, and we are truly inspired by his dedication to fairness and equity!

We are proud to recognize the Parvin and Ramzan Dhanji Family Foundation with Apna Ghar’s Champion Award for their steadfast and transformative support! We are deeply inspired by their generosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and visionary leadership. Both Parvin and Ramzan have been an integral part of Apna Ghar from the very start of our organization. Their investment has helped us reach new heights.

We are proud to recognize Dr. Sonia Oyola, Founder and President of the BeAlright Foundation with Apna Ghar’s Advocacy Award, for her generous support, and unwavering commitment to elevating gender justice. Dr. Oyola exemplifies care and compassion and we are also fortunate to have benefited from her professional expertise, which has helped us shape our programs.

We are proud to recognize Uzma Sharif, Founder of Uzma Chocolat withApna Ghar’s Advoacy Award for her generosity, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit. Uzma’s bold vision for the future has fueled meaningful change and creative collaborations.Uzma is a connector and cultural storyteller, and we are truly grateful for the care and commitment she has shown us.
Host Information

We are excited to announce that Ravi Baichwal, an Emmy Award–winning anchor and reporter with ABC 7 Chicago, and a friend of Apna Ghar’s, will co-host the gala with our very own Rahul Sharma, founder and bandleader of Funkadesi, Chicago’s award‑winning Afro‑Indo‑global music collective.
Musical Guests

Rahul Sharma and fellow musicians Lloyd Brodnax King on flute and Ajay Randhawa on tabla and dholki from Funkadesi will offer an intimate classical performance!
Event Sponsors
- Protiviti
- State Bank of India
- Patrick Scanlan
- Raymond James
- Kallolini and Sanjay Tailor
- Anonymous
Food and Beverage Sponsors
- Kama Bistro
- Bombay Eats
- Gaylord
- Chocolat Uzma
- Eli’s Cheesecakes
- Somrus
- Revolution Brewing
- PANG Organic Tea
- KK’s Chilli
Event Collaborators
Floral Friend
Table Hosts
- Sandip Shah
- Protiviti
- Miti Shah – Primary Care Physicians of Joliet
- Megha Trivedi
- Reetu Pepoff
- Aisha E Fashawe
- Jessica Teji
- Alpa Patel
- Veena Ramaiah
- Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
- Hawthorne Strategy Group
- The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
- Namita Sharma
- Prem Sharma
