Not Your Average Fundraiser: 'Jewels of India Gala' at Sands Point Preserve

This year’s Preserver’s Celebration is just days away, as the “Jewels of India” gala committee puts the finishing touches for the May 23 event at Hempstead House at Sands Point Preserve.

This year’s gala honors two dedicated philanthropists and prominent business leaders, Ashima and Mike Narula of Sands Point. Proceeds from the gala will help protect the site’s historic buildings and grounds.

At this festive gala, presented by Syosset-based The Chez-zam Event Group, guests will be treated to a night of traditional Indian culture. The Hempstead House will be transformed for the occasion into a royal Maharaja Palace, complete with a marketplace filled with scarves, teas, spices, flowers and more. Every detail will be tended to, including a white horse decorated in a traditional Baraat costume.

“We are excited to share the beauty of Indian culture and heritage,” said Amrit Sethi, a gala committee chair and founder of the local Happy Montessori.

Entertainment will include a sitar player and tabla percussionist, traditional Indian and Bollywood dancing – and DJ Sharad spinning popular beats. At the Henna Painting station, two artists will be within the tented pavilion, along with other specialty artists.

“We are incorporating our history into this one special evening, a tremendous honor on behalf of Ashima and Mike Narula and Sands Point Preserve,” committee member Shaleen Makhijani-Shivasani noted.

As for food and drink, there will be cocktails in the gardens, and inside, guests can enjoy rye and gin tastings in the library and scotch tasting in the billiard room. That’s in addition to an open bar, as well as Indian and American cuisine, catered by the Narula’s chef and Philip Stone respectively. And there will be plenty of sushi.

“This is going to be one fun party – different than the average fundraiser, without being too extravagant,” said Friends of The Sands Point Preserve Chair Karli Hagedorn. “I can’t think of a more exciting theme, and to be guided by people for whom this is their heritage makes it even more meaningful.”

“The evening will help raise attention and funding for the Preserve’s buildings, grounds and growing number of programs for families and cultural arts events,” said Friends’ Executive Director Jean-Marie Posner.

Tickets for the Jewels of India gala are available at www.TheSandsPointPreserve, by phone at (516) 571-7901, and at the Gate House, which is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 127 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point.

Left to right, first row) Marla Freeman, Karishma Israni, Shaleen Makhijani-Shivdasani, Amrit Sethi, Ved Kawatra, Poonam Sachdev, (Second row) Martha Theodos, Jean-Marie Posner, Maya Rajani, Georgia DeYoung, Neera Chhabra,
(Third row)Nikols Garcia, Jackie Johnson, Chris Pierce, Debra Odell, Jana McDonough, Bonnie Zarabi.

Other committee members include: Michele Daniels, Janet Effman, Marcia Forman, Adina Genn, Karli Hagedorn

Carol Hanover, Lisa Lockom, Alicja Malecka, Jodi Manes, Toni Nahas, JoAnn Sica, Jane Stern and Mark Underwood for this year’s Preserver’s Celebration is just days away, as the “Jewels of India” gala committee puts the finishing touches for the May 23 event at Hempstead House at Sands Point Preserve.

This year’s gala honors two dedicated philanthropists and prominent business leaders, Ashima and Mike Narula of Sands Point. Proceeds from the gala will help protect the site’s historic buildings and grounds.

At this festive gala, presented by Syosset-based The Chez-zam Event Group, guests will be treated to a night of traditional Indian culture. The Hempstead House will be transformed for the occasion into a royal Maharaja Palace, complete with a marketplace filled with scarves, teas, spices, flowers and more. Every detail will be tended to, including a white horse decorated in a traditional Baraat costume.

“We are excited to share the beauty of Indian culture and heritage,” said Amrit Sethi, a gala committee chair and founder of the local Happy Montessori.

Entertainment will include a sitar player and tabla percussionist, traditional Indian and Bollywood dancing – and DJ Sharad spinning popular beats. At the Henna Painting station, two artists will be within the tented pavilion, along with other specialty artists.

“We are incorporating our history into this one special evening, a tremendous honor on behalf of Ashima and Mike Narula and Sands Point Preserve,” committee member Shaleen Makhijani-Shivasani noted.

As for food and drink, there will be cocktails in the gardens, and inside, guests can enjoy rye and gin tastings in the library and scotch tasting in the billiard room. That’s in addition to an open bar, as well as Indian and American cuisine, catered by the Narula’s chef and Philip Stone respectively. And there will be plenty of sushi.

“This is going to be one fun party – different than the average fundraiser, without being too extravagant,” said Friends of The Sands Point Preserve Chair Karli Hagedorn. “I can’t think of a more exciting theme, and to be guided by people for whom this is their heritage makes it even more meaningful.”

“The evening will help raise attention and funding for the Preserve’s buildings, grounds and growing number of programs for families and cultural arts events,” said Friends’ Executive Director Jean-Marie Posner.

Tickets for the Jewels of India gala are available at www.TheSandsPointPreserve, by phone at (516) 571-7901, and at the Gate House, which is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 127 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point.

Left to right, first row) Marla Freeman, Karishma Israni, Shaleen Makhijani-Shivdasani, Amrit Sethi, Ved Kawatra, Poonam Sachdev, (Second row) Martha Theodos, Jean-Marie Posner, Maya Rajani, Georgia DeYoung, Neera Chhabra,
(Third row)Nikols Garcia, Jackie Johnson, Chris Pierce, Debra Odell, Jana McDonough, Bonnie Zarabi.

Other committee members include: Michele Daniels, Janet Effman, Marcia Forman, Adina Genn, Karli Hagedorn
Carol Hanover, Lisa Lockom, Alicja Malecka, Jodi Manes, Toni Nahas, JoAnn Sica, Jane Stern and Mark Underwood