Sunil Gavaskar spoke passionately about the importance of giving back and the parallels between his career and the SEF, USA’s mission. “Just as a cricketer’s vision is crucial on the field, sight is vital to living a full life. Sankara Eye Foundation, USA is giving people a chance to regain that fundamental gift”, he said.

On September 28, 2024, Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF), USA, hosted its biggest-ever fundraising event, the annual ‘Be The Vision 2024’ gala at the Santa Clara Marriott. It was a grand evening of inspiration and philanthropy attended by donors and patrons who united for SEF, USA’s cause.

The evening featured Vivek Ranadivé, founder of TIBCO software and the owner and chairman of the NBA team, Sacramento Kings, as keynote speaker. Ranadivé spoke about the life lessons learned while creating TIBCO, i.e. “to work hard, dream big, be unstoppable, and never give up.” Speaking about Sankara, he said, “It's about living a life bigger than yourself and committing to making the world a better place. Sankara is giving sight to the sightless.

Fireside Chat with Srikanth Bolla

At a fireside chat with K. Sridharan, President and Co-Founder of SEF, USA, Srikanth Bolla, Founder and CEO of Bollant Industries shared inspirational stories of perseverance and dedication that captured the essence of SEF, USA’s bold mission of Vision 2030: March to a Million.

“It is indeed an honor to associate with Sankara. All of us think vision and sight are the same thing but they are not, they are two different things. Whereas the eyes are limited to the body, the vision is about the mind, so it is limitless”, Bolla said. “Sarvendriyanam nayanam pradhanam”, or the eye is the prime sense organ among all the sense organs; it applies to everyone who is sightless and Sankara truly embodies the spirit of this by giving the gift of sight. This is where it makes a difference. Many of those who are sightless are self-earners and after Sankara restores their sight, with their vision they can work wonders,” he added. On November 20, 2024, SEF, USA hosted its final gala for the year in Cerritos (Southern California).