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For Kelowna City Councillor Mohini Singh, there is a little orphanage in India that will always hold a special place in her heart. Singh was moved to start a foundation here in Kelowna that has supported that cause and others in the region for more than a decade now. And the big annual fundraiser is coming up tomorrow. A Diwali celebration that draws hundreds to the Parkinson Recreation Centre every year. Singh dropped-by KelownaNow to tell us all about it.
For Mohini Singh, it was already an emotionally charged situation when she went to meet the little girl who would become her daughter. But what happened to her while she was there would change her perspective forever. "One child with cerebral palsy crawled-up to my former husband and grabbed him and said 'Daddy take me home' in Hindi," recalled Singh. "I noticed all the kids were disabled."
When she returned home and told the story to her friends, they decided to do something to help those children. They decided to start a non-profit charity. It all became official 11 years ago, and it's supported that orphanage and other causes ever since.
The experience of another adoptive couple who came to that same orphanage is the subject of a touching film you can watch below.
The couple, from Mississippi, that are featured in the film will be guests of honour at the Diwali event along with their adopted daughter.
"Diwali is the Indian festival of light", said Singh. "We use light because we like to say we want to bring light into the lives of children."
As for the event? "It's a great night. The food's great, the music is great," she said. "We eat and we dance."
If you're interested in attending, there could be a few last minute tickets available, and you can check here.
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