Holiday Luncheon Empowers Women Entrepreneurs

“Give Girls a Chance, Empower Women and Unleash Their Potential” was the theme of Pratham Houston’s annual holiday fashion show and luncheon on December 4, 2015. The event, held at the Junior League of Houston, brought together 300 of the city’s fashionable philanthropists and raised over $170,000 for Pratham’s Beauty Entrepreneurship Program.

Launched in 2011, the program provides training, mentorship and financial support to female entrepreneurs across India. Your generosity during last year’s holiday luncheon allowed Pratham to expand the Beauty Entrepreneurship Program with three new training centers. From January through June, we trained 375 students and supported 51 entrepreneurs in starting their own salons or providing door-to-door home services.

This year’s luncheon featured a fashion show of original evening wear by Sameera Faridi of Poshak Fashion & Style, as well as men’s fashions by Hector Villarreal of Lucho Men’s Clothier. Models were from Houston’s Neal Hamill Agency.

Keynote speaker Dr. Sandeep Shah shared his recent ultra-marathon experience, likening the grueling 101-mile run to the challenges faced by underprivileged kids in India hoping to acquire a quality education. “Pratham has all the tools, and now you need to make the effort to help it,” he concluded. Guests responded to both Sandeep’s and outgoing chapter president Dr. Marie Goradia’s appeals by filling in pledge cards and easily surpassing the pledge drive’s $20,000 goal.

Read the full article in Indo American News or learn more about Pratham’s vocational training program.