This year, FICA Diwali was celebrated at La Villa Banquet Hall. More than 350 people attended the event, and the highlight of the night was Hollywood/Bollywood star Mr. Omi Vaidya.  Mr. Omi Vaidya
Omi Vaidya is an Indian-American actor and filmmaker who gained widespread recognition for his role as Chatur Ramalingam, also known as "The Silencer," in the critically acclaimed Bollywood film "3 Idiots." An NYU Tisch Grad, he has also made appearances in American television shows such as "The Office" and "Arrested Development and other Bollywood films like Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, Desi Boyz, Jodi Breakers, Blackmail and the Indian webseries, Metropark. Omi has successfully bridged the gap between the Indian and American film industries and has gained a dedicated fan following. His charismatic and relatable persona, coupled with his comedic talent, has endeared him to audiences around the world. He continues to work in both India and the United States, showcasing his versatility as an actor and filmmaker. He is most proud of his new Marathi Movie "Aaicha Gavat Marathi Bol" that released in theaters in India and USA this year. 
Mr. Omi Vaidya
The chief guest for the evening was Maria Stutsman y Marquez. Shekhar Ganore president of FICA welcomed Maria. Maria Stutsman y Marquez serves as the Associate Dean of Recruitment and Enrollment at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. With a strong commitment to education, Maria has devoted her career to supporting individuals from all backgrounds in their academic and professional journeys. Throughout her time in higher education, Maria has worked on developing recruitment strategies aimed at enhancing diversity and inclusivity within student populations. She believes that successful enrollment goes beyond just meeting numbers; it involves creating a welcoming environment where students can feel supported and encouraged to thrive academically. Her collaborative approach has led to the introduction of initiatives designed to promote student success and retention, reflecting her belief in the potential of every student.
 Deepa Rao and Maria Stutsman y Marquez
In addition to her role at Weatherhead, Maria enjoys being actively involved in various professional organizations and mentoring aspiring higher education professionals. She values the opportunity to connect with students and colleagues and is passionate about helping others navigate their paths in education. Maria's contributions aim to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed and make positive contributions in their careers and communities.
Maria's journey in higher education reflects her dedication to fostering an inclusive environment and helping students achieve their goals, as she believes that every individual has the potential to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Honorary Guest for the evening was David E. Weiss who has served as the Mayor of the City of Shaker Heights since April 2018 and was re-elected to his second four-year term in November 2023. Sudarshan Sathe spoke and felicitated the Mayor. Sudarshan Sathe is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Federation of India's community associations, FICA. Sudarshan's philanthropic activities extend to Ekal, the One Teacher Schools, Akshaya Patra the inexhaustible food bowl- lunch program in schools to end world hunger and Medical Yatra, among others. He has been on the board of Project Love, Values-in-Action that aims to end bullying in schools. In 2024, he was inducted in the Cleveland International Hall of Fame that permanently recognizes those individuals who have made a valuable and lasting contribution to the multicultural city of Cleveland and to inspire a new generation of leaders.
A longtime Shaker resident, Weiss brings to the office more than three decades of legal and business experience - particularly in the area of real estate - as well as significant participation in Shaker Heights government. He previously served as an elected council member for the City and as a member of the Shaker Heights Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
"Serving the City for so many years has reinforced my belief that our community has the passion, creativity, and vision to grow and prosper in a rapidly changing world," says Weiss.
Weiss was an executive officer at DDR Corp., a real estate investment company, for more than 18 years, most recently serving as executive vice president, secretary, and general counsel. Mayor Weiss is a former partner of the Cleveland-based law firm McDonald, Hopkins. He holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and J.D. from The Ohio State University College of Law.
Weiss volunteers with many professional, civic, and charitable organizations. He is currently a board member of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, a board member of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, a member of District One Public Works Integrating Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the First Suburbs Consortium.
"I am honored and privileged to serve as Mayor of Shaker Heights, a community in which I have lived and raised a family for over 35 years. This is a unique opportunity given the City's long history of collaboration with its well-informed citizens who value thoughtful civic engagement, beautiful homes and parks, outstanding educational opportunities for our children, diversity, and high-quality services," says Weiss.
Other guest was senator State Senator Niraj Antani is serving his first term in the Ohio Senate. Having been first elected to the Ohio House at age 23, and elected to the Ohio Senate at age 29, he is the youngest currently serving member of the Senate. He is the first Indian American State Senator in Ohio history.
From 2014-2020, he served as the State Representative for the 42nd House District in the Ohio House of Representatives. He was the second Indian-American state elected official in Ohio history, and the first Indian-American Republican. While in the House, Antani served as Vice Chairman of the Rules and Reference Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Insurance, and as a member of the Committee on Health, Committee on Public Utilities, and Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee.
Antani was named to Forbes Magazine's list of the top "30 Under 30" people in the United States for Law & Politics in 2015. As well, the conservative media organization Newsmax named him the 2nd most influential Republican in the nation under age 30. In addition, in 2013 he was named to the "Top 30 Conservatives Under Age 30 in the United States" list by Red Alert Politics. Antani has received the Legislator of the Year Award by the AMVETS Department of Ohio for his work helping veterans, as well as the Friend of Community Colleges Award by the Ohio Association of Community College and the Distinguished Government Service Award by the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools for his work for the betterment of higher education for the middle class. Antani received the 2018 "Making a Difference" award from the Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association for his work helping people with disabilities. He also was most recently awarded NFIB Ohio's 2020 Guardian of Small Business Award, which is awarded annually to one member of the Ohio House and one member of the Ohio Senate.
He earned a Bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University. A strong conservative, Antani is a member of the NRA and volunteered for Dayton Right to Life. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Miamisburg, is the former President of the Miamisburg High School Alumni Association, and a former executive board member of the non-profit Dayton International Festival, Inc. He chaired the Ohio Republican Party Asian Pacific American Advisory Council and serves on the national board of the Republican State Leadership Committee's Future Majority Project.
Kids and adults presented various cultural programs. Ladies celebrated Karwa Chauth because Karwa Chauth happened to be on the same day of FICA Diwali Celebrations.
We also had raffle ticket and the proceeds went to Connecting for Kids. We collected $340 and gave that to Connecting for Kids. Sarah Rintamaki, was present at the event and she introduced connecting for kids.  Sarah Rintamaki
Mission - Connecting for kids
Our mission is to provide resources, support and community to families in Northeast Ohio. What sets Connecting for Kids apart from other local organizations is that we help families with any concern they might have about their child whether that is anxiety, attention, academics, mental health concerns, developmental delays or disabilities. We also help families facing major life changes such as divorce or kinship care. To do this, Connecting for Kids offers free one-on-one support to local families who can meet with our Family Resource Specialists to discuss their concerns about their child and receive help navigating resources. Last year, 2,000 individuals connected with one of our staff to find help for their child. The second way we live out our mission is by offering free programs. Adults can attend support groups, workshops and presentations by pediatric professionals. For children, we offer adapted playgroups and music therapy programs that integrate a caregiver learning component. Held primarily in local libraries, these programs attracted 2,500 individuals last year. The final way Connecting for Kids fulfills its mission is by offering three Resource Fairs each year in locations that families can easily access in eastern and western Cuyahoga County and Lorain County. Each of these fairs is filled with more than 70 disability and mental health providers offering therapy options, adapted camps, recreational programs and other services. More than 1,000 participants attend these fairs each year. All programs are offered free to caregivers. Background Connecting for Kids was formed in 2011 when Westlake mom, Sarah Rintamaki, wanted to provide other families with the same connection she herself found through an informal support group. Both of Sarah's sons struggled with speech and developmental delays, and between the doctor, specialist, and therapy appointments, she was feeling overwhelmed and lonely. By finding other families in similar situations, Sarah felt connected and less alone. Not only did these families share new therapies and program information, but they also had a safe place to express feelings of grief, frustration, pride, and joy. Out of these beginnings, Connecting for Kids was born and has helped more than 15,000 local families since 2011. The geographical footprint of the organization has expanded during this time as well. Connecting for Kids started in the western part of Cuyahoga County and later grew into Lorain County. CFK started to expand into Eastern Cuyahoga suburbs just prior to COVID but had to pause its growth plans due to the pandemic. In 2023, the organization offered its first Eastern Cuyahoga County Resource Fair, in addition to the already established Western Cuyahoga County and Lorain County Resource Fairs.
***
Want to learn about ethnic and cultural events in Cleveland such as this? Sign up for the free eNews and every Tuesday evening you will receive a free e-mail listing the next week's events. It's easy and free.
Fill out the form for the free weekly eNews.***
Back to Cleveland Asian Indians
| 
