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A Night of Light: LiveOnNY's Celebration of Diwali and Community Heroes

On November 26, 2025, LiveOnNY held a remarkable event called Community Heroes Illuminating Lives to celebrate Diwali and recognize influential figures within the South Asian community who have made impactful contributions to organ donation awareness across New York. The festival, known as the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and hope over despair, making it a fitting occasion for honoring those who illuminate the lives of others.

Celebrating Community Impact

The event took place at the Gujarati Samaj Hindu Community Center in Queens, bringing together over 250 attendees, including community leaders, politicians, and families affected by organ donation. Among the notable speakers was Manish Chopra, an officer from the NYCD Desi Society, who emphasized the importance of community engagement in advocating for lifesaving organ donation initiatives.

Personal testimonials from families profoundly impacted by organ donation highlighted LiveOnNY's mission to save and transform lives. Saumil Parikh, whose six-year-old daughter was a donor hero, shared his family's inspiring journey and how organ donation saved three lives. Similarly, Abhijay Lehraj recounted the legacy of his father, who became a donor hero in 2024, while kidney recipient Ken Brijlal expressed gratitude for the life-changing gift he received.

Honoring Dedicated Individuals

During the evening, various individuals and organizations were honored for their unwavering commitment to enhancing organ donation within the South Asian community. Recognized were:

• - Dr. Shyla Roshin from the Indian Nurses Association of New York
• - Mr. Inderjeet Singh from United Sikhs
• - Mr. Koshy Thomas from the Floral Park-Bellerose Indian Merchants Association
• - Mr. Vipul Patel from BAPS Mandir
• - Mrs. Indu Jaiswal from the Indian American Forum
• - Dr. Mariam Singh, Director of Compliance with the NYC Department of Correction.

These individuals embody the spirit of generosity and community service that Diwali represents, making a tangible difference in their communities.

A Vision of Hope

Leonard Achan, President and CEO of LiveOnNY, remarked, “Diwali is a time of light, hope, and community. The evening honored the extraordinary generosity of donor heroes and community leaders who illuminate lives every day through their selfless acts.” The celebration served to inspire and motivate attendees to consider the life-saving potential of organ donation.

Prominent figures in attendance included Senator John Liu, Councilmember Sandra Ung, Assemblymembers Ed Braunstein and Jenifer Rajkumar, and Civil Court Judge Frances Wang. Representatives from the Consulate General of India, Mr. Anurag Bhargava and Mr. Tsewang Gyaltso, along with NYPD President Detective Neil Narayan, also joined the festivities, showcasing the event's significance in building community connections.

About LiveOnNY

Established in 1978, LiveOnNY is the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to honoring lives through organ and tissue donation. Operating in a diverse population of over 13 million across New York City and surrounding counties, LiveOnNY collaborates with over 100 area hospitals to support both donor families and transplant recipients. Over the past five years, they have increased organ donations by 85%, solidifying their reputation as one of the nation's top-performing OPOs. For more information, visit LiveOnNY.org.