Activity Report 2011-12
Awareness and Fundraising events during 2011
The Loomba Foundation continued to raise awareness of the plight of widows around the world and the much needed funds for the Foundation’s educational and empowerment projects by organising fund-raising events:
June 22-23, 2011 – United Nations Headquarters, New York
The first UN recognised International Widows Day was observed by a Conference held at the United Nations in New York on 23rd June 2011, which was attended by 500 delegates from all over the world and chaired by Madame Ban Soon-Taek, wife of the UN Secretary General, HE Ban Ki Moon. Participants in the conference included: Dr. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women; Madame Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic; Mrs. Cherie Blair, President of the Loomba Foundation; Lord Raj Loomba, Founder of the Loomba Foundation; and Mrs. Ban Soon Taek, wife of the United Nations Secretary General.
On the eve of International Widows Day, an exhibition of a series of Oil and Acrylics paintings highlighting the plight of widows around the world by Reeta Sarkar, a Trustee of the Loomba Foundation, was inaugurated by the
renowned artist, Yoko Ono.
September 18, 2011 – Savoy Hotel, London
The Loomba Foundation held an annual charity dinner at the Savoy Hotel, which was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, as Chief Guest. The Foundation’s international ambassador, famous Bollywood Actors, Kajol and Ajay Devgn supported the charity event.
December 10, 2012 – New Delhi, India
Over 200 high-profile guests attended the charity dinner including Ministers, senior politicians, Members of Parliament, High Commissioners, bureaucrats and business leaders. Some of the guests at the dinner included delegates from Tata Consultancy, Max India Foundation, Central Bank of India, Taj Hotels, Micromax Mobile, Herbert Smith LLP, and Rotary Blood Bank. Harjiv Singh, Trustee of the Loomba Foundation and co-founder and co-CEO of Gutenberg Communications, gave away the vote of thanks.
Bollywood superstar and international goodwill ambassador for The Loomba Foundation, Kajol, along with Founder and Chairman Trustee, Lord Raj Loomba CBE, gave away mementos and certificates of appreciation to
leading industry stalwarts who had come forward to support the cause of educating children of poor widows in India.
Research and Publications
In 2010, the Loomba Foundation published a Comprehensive Research Study Book – ‘Invisible, Forgotten Sufferers: The Plight of Widows Around the World’. The first edition was presented to the UN Secretary General, H.E. Ban Ki Moon President by the President of the Foundation, Cherie Blair, and Founder and Chairman, Lord Loomba CBE. The book was subsequently presented to the Honourable President of India and the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.
The Loomba Foundation has also published a book of oil and acrylic paintings highlighting the plight widows around the world by London-based artist Reeta Sarkar. Entitled ‘A Hidden Calamity: The Plight of Widows’, the book includes all 17 of Reeta’s oils and acrylics paintings which are based on three key themes – South Asia, Africa and Conflict. These paintings were exhibited at the UN Headquarters from 23rd June to 15 July, 2011 to observe International Widows Day.