Nonprofit Medical Care Provider Hosts Celebratory Gala
Picture credit: @sanidesigns on Instagram
Thousands of people go without healthcare in America each year. This results in less preventative care as well as delayed care which could cause a wider spread of outbreaks and a higher chance of falling victim to other health complications. One organization that is working tirelessly to combat this is North Carolina’s People’s Medical Care. In 2018, NCIAP provided primary health care to over 30,000 residents of Wake County. To celebrate this amazing accomplishment, NCIAP is hosting its eighth annual gala tomorrow, February 2nd, at 6:30 PM. The event will be filled with entertainment, including Bollywood music, a DJ, dinner, and an open bar. This year, the organization is partnering with Sani, a local design company, to put on a fashion show at the 2019 gala.
Sani, a brand started about a year and a half ago, is managed by sisters Ritika and Niki Shamdasani. Niki is a UNC Chapel Hill grad who runs the finances of the business, including distribution strategy and commerce. Ritika attends a high school in Fayetteville and works as a part-time designer for the company. When asked about their inspiration for the brand, Niki said, “We really started because we couldn’t find clothes that represented more than one part of us, which was clothing that represented Indian culture and heritage but with a western sensibility.” They design their pieces around functionality and style. They believe that nobody can be boxed in anymore, especially their target demographic of young Indian women. Niki elaborates, “Sani is for the multicultural, multi-talented woman of today. We want people to be able to take our clothes from an Indian wedding to a fancy charity event.” So naturally, the two jumped at the chance to be involved in an event that would be assisting a great cause. NCIAP was founded by Vinod Jindal, and it is a nonprofit to provide underserved and uninsured communities with primary medical care, as well as referring citizens to medical specialists as needed, all without the need to worry about filing insurance claims and deductibles.
The Sani girls picked their models for this event through recommendations and connections from board members at NCIAP, as well as through women they had cultivated relationships with throughout the year. They wanted a really diverse group for this show, and it’s one of their first larger shows where they don’t know most of the models. While you might not know the majority of them either, there are two girls that will be walking the runway after walking Enloe’s hallways this very week.
Nina Burman (12) and her sister Ananya Burman (9) will be walking in the 2019 NCIAP x Sani Gala Fashion Show. Nina has been volunteering at the event for the past couple of years now, and says, “It’s cool to be seeing it from a different perspective this year. I’m really excited.” The prep starts on Friday, February 1st with rehearsals, and continues on Saturday from 9 am until the show around 7:30 pm. One may ask, what could you possible do for an entire day before the show? The answer to that: at least six hours of hair and makeup, last-minute fittings, and more rehearsals. This is the real deal!
The gala will be taking place at 4700 Emperor Blvd in Durham, and tickets are $150. If you would like to make a donation, please mail checks out to NCIAP People’s Medical Care, 5720 Creedmoor Rd, Suite 20), Raleigh, NC 27617, and make the check out to PMC Gala 2019.
