2019 Mini Fundraiser Book

METROPOLITAN ASIAN FAMILY SERVICES

MINI

FUNDRAISER

2019 To provide comprehensive & integrated Social Services to the Immigrant population of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Middle East & European countries. These services include but are not limited to educate, counsel, assist & empower individuals & families to become productive members in their new home.

7541 N Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60645 866-330-8627 santosh@mafsinc.com www.mafsinc.com

Fredy D’Mello Vernon Hills

MAFSinc.com

President & Executive Director This is a gala time to celebrate our past achievements and an opportunity to honor those who helped us achieve success in running our programs in 2019.

MAFS follows a handful of core practices in making sure that safety and well-being of our elderly, is our top priority. To achieve this goal, we view each employee not as a commodity, but as a critical part of our operation. This is the right thing to do because each staff member and volunteer deserve respect. Our staff-members and volunteers provide very courteous service to the community members when they approach our multi offices for public benefit program, immigration problems, congregate meal program, literacy program and/or for any situation they are facing, that need a solution to solve.

We at MAFS are committed to make your experience a positive one. We promise a guarantee of satisfaction in finding a solution to your problems. We also act as a

“Resource Center” to connect you to the right place where you can get help.

We are making efforts to reach out at far-fetched places to serve your loved ones. We are very thankful to our Board members, Staff, volunteers to serve the community with sincerity and dedication.

Today, we are assembled to commemorate the achievement of Asian American in building America and to request your support to continue our serves to the community at large!

Best Wishes,

Santosh Kumar Executive Director

Dr. Firdaus Jafri President

Meet our Key Staff

We would like to thank our incredible staff! They are the ones that put in long hours and give up their weekends so they can find new and innovative ways to help our community.

It is not bricks or the building but their tireless dedication and commitment that are the real strength in our organization.

Harish Mahajan Senior SOS Coordinator Chicago

Urvashi Bhatt Public Benefit Specialist Niles

Harish Mahajan has been working with MAFS for more than 10 years as a volunteer. He is an engineer and has worked with the ONGC in India and in national oil companies in the Middle East before moving to the US with his family. He is a very hard working, reliable, efficient and sincere worker. We are proud to have him with us.

Harish Mahajan is a Senior SOS Coordinator. He helps seniors and new immigrants on various matters like Public Benefits, free telephones & free ride card, immigration services (such as petitions for immediate family members, Citizenship, Green card/passport renewals, etc.), OCI, renewal of Indian passports, visas, and advising seniors on various subjects. He works as an Intake EST with CEDA helping seniors, disabled and other low income households get help for their utility bills. On June, 18th, 2015, Mr. Mahajan won the Volunteer Award by AgeOptions for dedicated work at MAFS.

Mrs. Urvashi Bhatt is the Public Benefits Specialist for MAFS. She started with MAFS in 2018 and serves our seniors with patience. She is a native of India and migrated 33 years ago to Chicago, IL, USA. She has served the state of Illinois, Department of Human Services for nearly 32 years. She served many state and human services programs in her journey and holds a Master’s Degree in Economics.

Additionally, she holds Business Management degree where she studied Office Management

Tarinda McGee Public Benefit Coordinator Niles

Shane Solanki Public Benefit Coordinator Niles We are very pleased to announce and welcome Shane Solanki as our Public Benefit Coordinator.

Shane was born and brought up in Nadiyad, Gujarat. He migrated to the US in 2014. Shane aquired his MS degree in Textile Engineering from the University of Baroda, India in the year 1991. Shane brings along with him 22 years of management experience from Multinational Companies in Gujarat, Mumbai and Delhi, India.

He has three plus years’ experience as a Passport Officer at Cox & King (An authorized agency in US for Indian Embassy in the US). With his wellaccomplished background, we believe he will be a true asset to MAFS.

Tarinda McGee, currently is a Social Service Coordinator at Metropolitan Asian Family Services. Before joining MAFS in 2018 she had a background in Human Services and many social service programs. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Human Services at Kaplan University and an active member of the Human Services Club. After graduating, Tarinda applied what she learned and obtained a job with the State of Illinois Department of Human Services as a case worker assistant. Now at MAFS Ms. McGee is a SOS Coordinator providing our clients with assistance on Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, Medicaid, Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) programs and many more Public benefit services. Most times clients are qualified for many public benefits and social services that they are not aware of.

Since joining the MAFS team Tarinda has gone the extra mile for our clients. She has regularly scheduled meetings with different social service agencies, so they can work together to effectively service the community. She is looking forward to continuing working with MAFS and our seniors to help them make the most of their lives.

Mini Fundraiser 2019

Our Seniors

Rashmikaben Shah Chicago

I came to Chicago in 1975 and got my green card in 1978. Later, I volunteered my services at the Metropolitan Asian Family Services. When I received my legal status, I got a job as a machine operator making scarfs and then worked for the hospital’s laundry service department. I am proud to say that I am a U.S. citizen and self employed for many years such as cooking, baby sitting and worked as a sales girl to provide support to my family.

I lost my husband in 2015 and I miss him a lot. He was very sincere, loving, supportive and a shy person.

Due to my strong work ethics, I was hired

by MAFS. Mrs. Santosh Kumar and Promila Mehta were of great help and support to me. I help sponsor Indian festivals such as Diwali and Tulsi Vivah. I believe in

This is a true story about the usefulness and impact the Senior Program has on our elder participants. Seniors enjoy their time with new friends of the same age. It is a place for them to come and reminiscence. They sit together eat, have discussions and care about each other. The seniors miss being at this program when they are not present.

The Story of participant Mr. Fredy D’Mello, proved it.

Fredy D’Mello Vernon Hills

Pratibha Dixit Naperville

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Unfortunately, one day, Mr. D’Mello was affected by Epileptic fit and was admitted in the ICU. He went into a coma and remained in in the ICU for two and

MAFS has been a true blessing for me. It is here that I have formed and found my second family. I now look forward to my days here where we get to participate in different activities such as singing, Prayers/ Bhajans, Bollywood songs, yoga and bingo. We Celebrate various festivals and enjoy going to their picnics. I was retired teacher, hence I get the opportunity to share my knowledge with my seniors friends. This way MAFS keeps me happy and busy!

After retirement, life for me was boring especially since I didn’t drive. Fortunately, I joined MAFS. They provided free transportation and medical health. I get amazing and caring help from staff. MAFS

cleanliness and am a big fan of the Clean India (Swachh Bharat) Project. Therefore, I volunteer to clean the streets of Chicago.

I come to adult day care five days a week and it feels like family to me. They taught me “be well, live well and age well”. I am saddened and sorry for a great loss of Mr. Pramod Kumar. He was a great man with a heart of gold and I miss seeing him around. Mrs. Santosh Kumar considered me as her family member.

We are all fortunate to have Promila Mehta.

All seniors like her bhajans everyday and friendly loving nature. We are a proud MAFS family and enjoy fully. We are happy and healthy seniors because of MAFS! Thanks.

a half days. Surprisingly, when our Team visited him at the hospital, he was able to recognize each and everyone. The doctors in the ICU were surprised. He started recovering rapidly and was sent to the rehab center. Our staff visited him frequently, which he enjoyed. This uplifted his spirit and influenced him to get well fast. Finally, he did recover and to our surprise immediately joined his family at our senior program again! He and his family are so thankful MAFS for taking care of him.

is a delightful organization that makes a significant and positive impact in my life and lives of other seniors here. So, जिंदगी की सब इनिंगस ् अब तो हो गई है पूरी बाकी रही अब तो आखरी इनिंग बच्चो के प्रति पूरी हुई फरद हमारी तो MAFS मे जाकर अबतो मरदो खुसयो से अपने जीवन की सोली A big thanks, from Pratibha Dixit to MAFS.

mafsinc.com

Esmet and Muhammad Malik

Naperville

We have been coming to Naperville Adult Daycare Center since 2012 and are so very happy that we have a home away from home. We have made many friends here and enjoy the day with all the different activities like group discussions, chair exercises, card games and Bingo. We love the family atmosphere here and all the ADS staff and drivers

take such good care of us.

The Kitchen staff works so hard everyday to make us hot and fresh meals and we celebrate Asian as well as American holidays all the year round.

Our Blessings and Felicitations to MAFS and Mrs. Santosh Kumar to continue in this way for many more years.

Congratulating MAFS on 27 Years!

Premilaben and Ranchhodbhai Patel Schaumburg

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Mini Fundraiser 2019

Our Services

MAFS offers a breadth of services that are targeted to support our community. We can help you with immigration, translation, nutrition, computer training, paying your light and heat bills, or if you’re just in need of a home cooked meal.

The Big Picture: MAFS can only sustain itself and serve the community by Grants, Fundraising, Volunteering and In-kind contributions. The majority of MAFS’s funding comes from Grants and Fundraising.

One very important factor that is often overlooked is that funding from; State, Federal and Local Government is given ONLY at 65% to 75% at most to what is needed to run the program.

The remaining 25% to 35% must be raised by MAFS to fill this gap. That is why we need our community and people like you to contribute through fundraising activities and/or donations/contributions in person or through mail. These donations/contributions can be in various ways, like cash, In-kind or volunteering hours of service to support MAFS’s programs.

SAHELI - YEAR 1 OF A 5 YEAR STUDY

For the past 12 years, MAFS has participated in a community-based partnership with Dr. Namratha Kandula, MD, MPH and Northwestern University. As part of a new research study funded by the National Institutes of Health, we will be starting recruitment into the South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) which is a culturally tailored lifestyle intervention for South Asian men and women. This research is intended to create a larger network of researchers and community groups to address the serious issues of cardiovascular disease amongst minority populations. The relationship between Northwestern and MAFS has resulted in extending the research grant with MAFS for 5 more years.

MEMORY CAFÉ 2018-19

MAFS has received a one-time stipend for the Memory Café project for the fiscal year of 2018-19 by AgeOptions. Our Memory Café, also known as the “Comfort Me Café”, is a wonderful & welcoming place for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia or any other type of cognitive brain disorders.

We meet every fourth Wednesday of each month at 1421 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL. In this program, we participate in a variety of activities like memory games, crafts, music, painting and motivational speeches with family member or caregivers. Memory Café is beneficial to those affected. It is also beneficial for their caregivers as well. It is not a place to just “drop off” your loved one for a while but a way to enjoy activities with them as a break from the normal routine. They can simply enjoy the company of those with similar things in common.

Activities are varied but tend to focus on pictures that are apt to cause one to reminisce about times gone by. That “connection” to the past can be as comforting as it is medically beneficial. Please benefit by registering for this program by calling, 866-330-8627 if your parents or your loved ones need help!

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Report numbers from 7/1/2018 - 12/31/2018 Public Benefits

MAFS is a pioneer in providing social services to low-income and underserved populations. We assist client in accessing public benefits available to fit their individual needs. Our staff helps fill out applications for these services and escorts them to the appropriate public benefit offices such as Department of Human Services or Social Security Administration, Immigration and Naturalization to submit the application and serve as their interpreter.

We also translate official forms in Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Spanish, and Bosnian languages to facilitate the process of applying for benefits. Our staff acts as liaisons between the client and public officials to help our community members get the help and support they require.

This year we had the privilege of helping complete 4422 cases in Cook, Suburban Cook County, DuPage and Lake County.

We also served 993 people in Senior Opportunity Services (SOS) program funded through Age Options.

>990 people

4422 cases

Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The LIHEAP Program is designed to help low-income families pay their heat and light bills. This program is offered multiple times throughout the year and brings hundreds of people from all nationalities to our Chicago and Niles offices. Many of them arrive before the office opens and wait in line for hours to benefit from this program. This service is funded by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA). MAFS’ staff help clients in processing their application to receive funds. This year we have helped 1779 eligible families through this program.

Affordable Care Act (OBAMACARE)

Metropolitan Asian Family Services has collaborated with the Asian Health Coalition for assisting our community with the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It was the state-run outreach and education program offered to all legal residents of Illinois to enroll into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance.

We have enrolled over 325 individuals into Medicaid or Marketplace health insurance and reached out to over 2000 people through outreach efforts at temples, mosques, churches and Gurudwaras.

>325 individuals

mafsinc.com

Nutrition Program

at MAFS Golden Dinner (City of Chicago) at Chicago & Congregate Meal (Age Options) at Niles and Schaumburg.

We have provided 13,038 hot meals to senior community members in 2018 from all three sites. Even though funding has been affected by the budget cut, our active management and seniors have made it possible by bringing funding privately to continue the meal programs. Want to enjoy a healthy, balanced and freshly cooked meal? Please visit one of our locations near you!

>13,038

+205% increase of clients in the Senior Medicare Program

+65%

meals

Adult Literacy Program

Adult Literacy Program funded by the office of Secretary of State, Jesse White.

Started in July 2018, this program is running very successfully at 3 locations. We have 50-60 senior students, who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL).

We have 25 volunteer tutors who run this program smoothly. This program has undoubtedly helped seniors improve their English learning skills and simplified their daily lives by helping them manage their banking needs by reading, understanding, writing and signing their own forms. They can communicate on the telephone with ease! They are now able to communicate with their grandchildren effortlessly, who have been born and brought up in the US. They can count currency helping them shop and be independent. They understand and watch regular TV programs. If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please feel free to call us at 630-788-3557 for further information.

>60

individuals

over last year

families served by

Other Programs: Senior Medicare Program

served by SOS

1700+

25

volunteer tutors

Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) MAFS is a Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) certified. Take advantage of our free statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. We have served 1000 clients last year in 2018. Seniors with any Medicare or Medicaid queries can contact Urvashi Bhatt in our Chicago location for ore informations.

Senior Housing Referral Assistance

increase in the clients

Social Security Assistance/ Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI)

LIHEAP this year

30% increase in the individuals

70

individuals

465

individuals

250

enrolled in Medicaid or Marketplace Insurance

individuals

5

Mini Fundraiser 2019

Activities at our Senior Centers

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NAPERVILLE - ADS SENIORS AND STAFF CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK’S DAY - Eva Contractor (ADS Coordinator), Heena Mehta (ADS Coordinator), Kala Thakkar, Rozeena Jaffer (ADS Coordinator), Triguna Dave, Parul Shah (ADS ASST. Coordinator) and Manju Kalra.

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NILES - SENIORS ENJOYING OUR NUTRITION PROGRAM, From L to R: Pushpaben kotak, Kokilaben Patel and Jayshree Vyas, Rosamma George, Manjulaben Trivedi and shantaben Zaveri.

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VERNON HILLS - Seniors Celebrate New Year enjoying breakfast and watching movie with afternoon snack and doing laughing exercises.

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SCHAUMBURG 827 (PATEL BROS. PLAZA) SENIORS ENJOYING OUR NUTRITION PROGRAM At our newly opened location in Patel Brothers Plaza, 827 W Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL 60195.

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mafsinc.com

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CHICAGO - CELEBRATING RAKSHABANDHAN, Sitting from Left: Umesh

Trivedi, Kishan Gupta, Maheshkumar Patel, Dhirajlal Sisodiya, Mohammad Nazeer, Ferozali Virani, Smitesh Shah (CCP Supervisor) and Elnas Topic (CCP Supervisor) 2nd Row: Standing from Left: Shama Beg, Bhagwatiben Ruparel, Tarunika Hebbar, Chandrikaben Patel, Nalini Dave, Ramanaben Gandhi, Roshan Virani, Rashmika Shah, Pramila Gupta, Lilavati Bhansali, Parvez Sheikh, Shirin Virani, Raina Samnani, Prabhabhen Sisodiya, Kalpana Desai, Pankaj Patel (ADS Coordinator), Himali Bharucha (MAFS), Jagruti Jagatia (ADS Coordinator), Tazneem Shaista (ADS Coordinator)

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ORLAND PARK - PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS, From Left to Right:Mahidas Kothadia, Survana HIfzur, Kalidas Kundaria, Ramanlal Shah, Khandubhai Patel, Rajendra Katwala, Sunil Handa, Laherchand Shah, Sumitraben Patel, Shantaben Patel, Manjula Sheth, Jyotiben Shah, Mukta Kundaria, Kamla Berry, Nirmal Sareen, Sharmistha Shah, Vajiben Kothadia, Kamlesh Handa, Bhanumati Patel, Jaya Samnani, Chandrakanta Patel

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SCHAUMBURG - 2019 HOLI CELEBRATION, Top Left Row to Top Right Row : Sudhir

Mohmmad

Pandya Suresh, Patel Ranchhodbhai ,

Topiwala Shantilal, Patel Babalbhai, Kadakia Rameshbhai, Gandhi Subhashbhai, Patel Haribharbhai, Patel Vallavbhai, Patel Chandrakant, Patel Pafulchandra, Patel Manubhai R, Thakkar Pravinbhai, Patel Arvindbhai, Modi Hasmukhbhai, Patel Jashbhai, Patel Niranjanbhai, Thakur Purshtombhai, Patel Jagdish 2nd Row: Soni Bharatbhai Mistri Rameshbhai, Kadakia Girlataben, Patel Premilaben, Patel kailashben, Joshi Kailashben, Patel Kishoriben, Modi Chandrikaben, Patel Chandrabala, Patel Induben, Topiwala Nirmalaben, Dave Sheela, Topiwala Sarojben, Crawford Edward, Patel Kaushikiben 3rd Row: Patel Kantaben J, Shah Dipti , Patel Manjulla C, Nensey Akberali, Patel Mital,

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Nensey Roshan, Patel Manjulla.

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2500+

2000+

400

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HAPPY HOME CARE CLIENTS

CAREGIVERS ON STAFF

HAPPY ADULT DAY CARE CLIENTS

CHICAGOLAND LOCATIONS

Homecare

Adult Day Care

Do you have elderly at home that need help?

Our unique homecare program helps you keep your independence from the privacy of your home.

Do you have elderly at home that want to enjoy their golden years ?

Our centers provide a venue elderly to get involved in structured fun-filled activities. We offer door to door transportation.

Our Caregivers.

Your Language.

Door-to-Door Transportation

umasinc.com 866.330.8627

family | advocacy service | support

WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN: 

Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)



Disability Benefit



Adult Literacy Program



Medicaid / Medicare





Social Security Services

Food Stamps (SNAP)



Energy Assistance Program



Health and Medical Research



Immigration & Citizenship Assistance OCI, Passport, Visas

847.306.7606 mafsinc.com

Nutritious

HOT LUNCH Program

CONGRATULATIONS TO

For providing 27 years of Comprehensive and Integrated Service to the Community . . . Because We care about your Smile!

Zainab Jafri, D.D.S.

FIRDAUS JAFRI, D.D.S.

206 North Gary Avenue Carol Stream, IL 60188 (630) 665 - 2147