VT Seva Detroit – 9th Annual Event RAAS 2024 Celebration Highlights

"Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference."

— Kathy Calvin

This powerful quote resonates deeply with our mission. Through compassion and generous contributions, we can transform the lives of visually challenged and tribal children. In turn, the incredible students of Nethra Vidyalaya and Jeeyar Gurukulam continue to inspire us with their success stories.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the kind-hearted donors and volunteers who have supported this noble cause throughout the year.

RAAS-2024: A Celebration of Service and Community-

With the blessings of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, VT Seva Detroit successfully hosted its 9th Annual Cultural Event, RAAS-2024, on November 16, 2024, to honor the dedication of our volunteers and donors. It is an evening of celebration, music, dance, games, and gratitude. This annual celebration marks the culmination of a year filled with impactful fundraising efforts and dedicated community service. RAAS-2024 was a visual and sensory delight, featuring mesmerizing performances from local talent and a grand dinner. As always, it was a night to remember for the entire VT Seva Detroit family.

Event Highlights:

✅ Raised funds to support the education of 388 visually challenged and tribal students

✅ Feeding Hope Program provided 44 days of meals to Nethra school students in honor of their loved ones, celebrating birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and cherished memories.

✅ Attendance of 450+ guests

✅ A delicious dinner complemented by captivating entertainment

✅ Engaging Game Night and an Electrifying Open-Floor Dance

✅ Special Thanks to donors, volunteers, participants, sponsors, choreographers, and supporters for making this event a resounding success!

The event commenced at 5:00 PM, with a warm welcome by Mr. Srinath, Ms. Priya, and Ms. Vanitha, followed by the Deepa Prajwalana ceremony led by esteemed guests and board members Mr. Kishen, Ms. Sunitha Mr. Sudheer, Mr. Srinath, Ms. Vanitha, Ms. Priya, and Mr. Suresh.

The evening continued with:

🎵 Prayers by Prajna students

🇺🇸 The American National Anthem sung by Shivani

🇮🇳 The Indian National Anthem sung by JET Michigan Prajna students

The event showcased the incredible efforts of our young leaders. Mr. Arvind, our EMCEE coordinator, mentored the youth EMCEE team, including Sai Sri Ram, Shreya, Aditi, Kaustubh, and Shruthi, who enthusiastically led the program.

They presented inspiring sessions on the Pillars of VT Seva Detroit:

• Youth Empowerment (Sai Sri Ram)

• Nethra Pillar (Shreya)

• Healthcare Initiatives (Aditi)

• Disaster Recovery Efforts (Kaustubh)

• Tribal Community Support (Shruthi)

"Great things happen when great minds and kind hearts come together."

Special Moments of Generosity

• We are profoundly grateful to Mr. Kishen Kavikondala, Mrs. Sunitha Kavikondala, and their daughter, Ms. Maya Kavikondala, for their presence and generous sponsorship of RAAS 2024. Through their philanthropic support, we are able to advance the education of 20 visually challenged students. The Kavikondala family’s compassion and commitment to uplifting and empowering young minds is deeply inspiring.

• We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sunny Reddy for his generosity. He is a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Governor of the Wayne State University School Board. He made the event even more special with his presence. Inspired by our youth's dedication, in raising $3500 with the Annual Walkathon event, he generously matched their contributions with an additional $3,500, doubling the total impact to $7,000 for Angels of Hope.

• Special Thanks to Ms. Shadora Ford, Destined for Greatness - Ford Wellness Center, for their presence.

Collaborating with them to pursue our shared mission is an honor, and we look forward to continuing this impactful partnership.

Celebrating Excellence – Awards & Recognition

A total of 28 volunteers received the prestigious PVSA and JEEYAR Awards in recognition of their dedication:

🥇13 Gold PVSA Awards

🥈 4 Silver PVSA Awards

🥉 9 Bronze PVSA Awards

🏅 1 Jeeyar Gold Award

🏅 1 Jeeyar Bronze Award

Awards Summary

🥇 Gold Award Winners

• Tian Han (Pelon) Lin

• Akshith Ashwanth

• Amogh Mavatoor

• Jishnu Kandalam

• Kushal Durga

• Oviya Jaisankar

• Sai Sahasra Namuduri

• Shraya Ved

• Shruthi Chakrika Adduri

• Varshan Muhinthan

• Nikhil Aerabati

• Shreya Srivatsan

🥈 Silver Award Winners

• Varnika Jakka

• Rishi Chowdhury

• Sreenika Perumalla

• Saichakrika Yadali

🥉 Bronze Award Winners

• Anvika Perumalla

• Hajanthan Muhinthan

• Sathvik Tirumala Kanduri

• Shreya Shetty

• Saisha Srivatsan

• Rakshan D Samynathan

Adult Honorees

• Nandini Cheemalamarri (Gold)

• Asha Puranam (Silver)

• Durga Nalini Sangita (Bronze)

🏆 Jeeyar Award Recipients

• Sai Sri Ram Karnati (Gold)

• Kaustubh Dingari (Bronze)

  
  

Youth Empowerment & Leadership in Action

The VT Seva Detroit Youth Board (YB) Director, Ms. Durga Nalini Sangita, highlighted the 2024 contributions:

🌟 1000+ volunteer hours across 23 activities

🌟 20 youth-led events

Ms. Priya Jaisankar, VT Seva Jt. Secretary, Communications and VT Seva Detroit YB Outreach Coordinator, detailed the achievements of the Outreach Project and Walkathon. She highlighted the work of three VT Seva High School Clubs, and a new club established in 2024, and acknowledged the dedication of youth volunteers and high school club teams.

Expanding High School Engagement

This year, VT Seva Detroit proudly welcomed its newest school club at Washtenaw International High School (WIHI), joining our three existing clubs at Troy IAE, Troy High School, and North Farmington High School.

🚀 2024 Achievements of the High School Clubs

✔ 43+ community service events

✔ Enhancing leadership skills

✔ Fostering empathy and service-oriented mindsets

✔ Strengthening teamwork and collaboration

These clubs exemplify the power of youth leadership in driving meaningful change, embodying VT Seva’s mission.

Milestone Fundraising Events

📢 4th Annual Youth-Led Walkathon

• Raised $7000 to support families impacted by cancer

📢 5th Annual Youth-Led Outreach Project

• Successfully raised $26,500

• Empowered 72+ visually challenged students with quality education

A Year of Impact and Gratitude

Ms. Vanitha Gopalan, VT Seva Jt. Secretary, special programs and VT Seva Detroit Volunteer Coordinator highlighted the incredible community service projects completed in 2024 and extended heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers and donors for their unwavering support.

🚀 2024 Highlights of Our Community Impact 🌟

🥫 Food Drive Success

Hosted a food drive and fundraiser at Kroger for the Lighthouse Food Pantry — collected over 3,000 pounds of food and raised $600+ to fight food insecurity.

🍽️ Feeding Families in Need

Helped pack and distribute more than 45,000 pounds of food, reaching over 3,000 families with essential nourishment.

🧼 Global Aid Through Hygiene & Medical Kits

Assembled over 2,000 medical equipment and hygiene kits for distribution in developing countries, supporting health and wellness abroad.

🌪️ Disaster Relief Across the U.S.

Delivered crucial supplies and services to five U.S. states affected by natural disasters, offering hope in times of crisis.

🏙️ Local Community Service in Metro Detroit

Completed 22+ service projects, partnering with local organizations to make a real difference, with 18 youth stepping up as leaders in these initiatives.

👮 Honoring Our Local Heroes

Organized a heartfelt Police Appreciation Lunch for Novi city police officers, showing gratitude for their service.

❤️ Empowering Youth with Life Skills

Hosted CPR training and certification courses for young community members, equipping them with life-saving skills.

🌍 Environmental Awareness Campaigns

Led "Go Green: Say No to Plastic Bags" workshops to inspire sustainable habits and environmental responsibility.

🎓 Supporting Education for the Visually Challenged

Raised funds to support the education of 26 visually impaired children in India through public speaking events, sports tournaments, dance fitness sessions, and community fundraisers.

🍽️ 44 Days of Giving: Meals with Meaning through Feeding Hope Program.

In a beautiful gesture of love and remembrance, Detroit donors provided 44 days of meals to Nethra students. These contributions were made to celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and in memory of loved ones, turning personal milestones into acts of kindness that nourished young lives. ❤️

The Director of VT Seva Detroit, Mr. Srinath Babu Karnati, reflected on the impact created by volunteers and donors in 2024, emphasizing their contribution to both VT Seva and the local community. In 2024, VT Seva Detroit organized over 95 events in 52 weeks, making it a leading branch nationwide.

He introduced Suresh Rajan, Nandini Cheemalamarri, Anand Ranganathan, and Jaisankar Kannan for taking up new roles in 2025 after a 5-year tenure in their current roles.

Suresh Rajan(Present VtSeva Detroit Sports coordinator) as Director.

Nandini Cheemalamarri(Present VTSeva Detroit Communications Director) as Treasurer.

Anand Renganathan(Present VTSeva Detroit Treasure) as Secretary

Jaisankar Kannan as New Jt. Treasurer.

Adding to the evening’s recognition, VT Seva VP, Mr. Sudheer Koppu, addressed the audience with his appreciation.

The VT Seva Detroit Sports Coordinator, Mr. Suresh Rajan, shared insights on various sports activities throughout the year and expressed gratitude to all participants.

Cultural Extravaganza – A Night to Remember!

RAAS 2024 was an electrifying night with exceptional performances featuring a mix of classical, Bollywood fusion, and debut acts.

This year’s lineup included 13 cultural performances by professional teams and talented local artists. The event witnessed exciting first-time performances from:

🎶 Breathe Music Academy

🎭 N Studio

💃 Mission Dance Academy

👯‍♀️ The Nannur Sisters

For the first time in RAAS history, Mission Dance Center presented a ballet performance, adding a Western touch to the event.

Goosebump-Worthy Performances

👏 A special thanks to all the performers:

1. Veena Instrumental – (Choreographed by Bhargavi)

2. SwarAlaapana School of Dance – (Choreographed by Kalyani)

3. Usha's Kuchipudi Dance Academy – Semi-Classical Fusion (Choreographed by Usha)

4. Rhythm Arts Dance Academy – (Choreographed by Veena)

5. Breathe Music Academy – Flute/Vocal Medley (Choreographed by Sateesh)

6. Nrithyalaya School of Bharatanatyam – Bollywood Dance (Choreographed by Vandana)

7. Smruthi's Dancing Mist – Bollywood Fusion (Choreographed by Smruthi)

8. Mission Dance Center – “Piece of Me” (Choreographed by Abbeigh)

9. RVD Bhangra – (Choreographed by Tarun Kaur, Jagga Sohal, Sunny Aheer)

10. Manzat Special – Featuring Youth Volunteer Abhinav & Team (University of Michigan Students)

11. N Studio (Bollywood) – (Choreographed by Nandhini)

12. Vaishnavi – Singing

13. Arpitha – Dance

Ms. Keerthi Dingari conducted games to engage the audience.

A Feast and Dance to Conclude the Night

No event is complete without delicious food and energetic dancing!

After a fulfilling dinner, the night ended on a high note with an open-floor Dance—special thanks to our local restaurants for sponsoring the mouthwatering food.

Our dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day, picking up, transporting, unloading, and setting up the food service to ensure every guest enjoyed a hot and satisfying meal. Kudos to everyone of them!

A Symphony of Teamwork

"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it." – H.E. Luccock

👏 Congratulations to the entire VT Seva Detroit team for making RAAS 2024 a phenomenal success!

Area	Adults	Youth
Set up (Unloading, Hall Decor, Kitchen Setup)	Srinath K, Vanitha G, Suresh R, Sudheer K, Anand R, Pallavi P, Praveen K, Komathy M, Balamurugan, Lavanya K, Keerthysri D	Sathvik Surapaneni, Kushi Kanumuri, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Komathy Muhinthan, Advithi Kothapalli, Jishnu Kandalam, Anoop Jagana, Akshith Ashwanth, Rana Nagoji, Sankeerth Enganti, Anirvin Ramanan, Swara Rege, Sahasra, Aanya Das
DECOR Stage & Front	Kanchana P, Akshay P, Pavani N	Swara Rege, Sahasra Namuduri, Aanya Das
Projector Setup	Sudheer K, Santosh G
Sound Setup	Srinivas R
Photography, Facebook Live	Sreenivas C	Arya Cheemalamarri, Teja Cheemalamarri & Santhosh
Registration Desk	Latha N, Anand R, Nandini C, Jaisankar K	Avni Patel, Hajanthan
Wristband Check-ins	Praveen K	Varshan, Kalki
Volunteers Check-in Help	Vanitha G	Shraya Ved
Donation Form Collection		Kushi Kanumuri, Advithi Kothapalli
SNACK Serving		Shraya Ved, Sai Sahasra Namudiri, Amogh Mavatoor, Jishnu Kandalam
Stage Assist (Mics & Other Tasks)	Keerthi D, Architha P	Oviya Jaisankar, Ananya Sankar, Neha Bollavaram, Swara Rege
Media Presentation	Priya J	Harish Jaisankar, Kavya Karnati, Oviya Jaisankar
Cultural Programs and Event Co-ordination	Priya J
Games	Keerthi D
Food Supervisors	Sudhakar K, Srivardhan D, Chandrasekhar, Praveen K
Crowd Supervisors	Suresh R, Sreenivas C, Venkat P, Vanitha G
Food Pick-up Crew	Suresh R, Vanitha G, Sreenivas C, Nandini C, Priya J, Jaisankar K, Sudhakar K, Sarath K, Prasad Rao, Prashanth K, Srilatha K, Praveen K
Dinner Serving Crew	Nandini C, Veena C, Vidya A, Komathy M, Neha V, Chandra K, Shobana A, Jisha P, Jyothi K, Mythili K, Pranitha P,	Amogh Mavatoor, Advithi Kothapalli, Jishnu Kandalam, Tarun Senthilkumar, Swara Rege, Kushi Kanumuri, Shraya Ved, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Varshan Muhinthan, Sai Sahasra Namudiri
Dinner Area Backup Helpers	Bala, Pavani N	Mihir Inamdar, Siddharth Ram, Sahil Kunjur, Kalki Anand, Akshith Ashwanth, Rathneesh
Cleanup	All Core Volunteers, along with their families
Social Media Updates	Nandini Cheemalamarri

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our AMAZING, DEDICATED, and ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed!

Thanks to all event sponsors, donors, supporters, guests, and volunteers who made this event possible.

🙏 A special thanks to Mr. Srinath & Mr. Sudheer for their leadership and guidance.

Explore More Memories from RAAS 2024!

📸 Photo Albums:

🔗 Album 1

🎥 Watch the RAAS 2024 Video Recordings:

🔗 Video 1

🔗 Video 2

🔗 Video 3

🔗 Video 4

🔗 Video 5

🔗 Video 6

📸 Photos compiled by: Teja and Arya Cheemalamarri (VT Seva Detroit YB members)

Your support is our strength for continuing to serve the community.

VT Seva Detroit continues to lead with compassion, empower through service, and inspire through action. Thank you to all our supporters for making 2024 a remarkable year!

THANK YOU ALL!