Art 4 a cause

Art 4 A Cause

During my recent trip to Kutch, India for our second Sight4Eyes camp, a powerful new idea began to take shape. One evening, as I wandered through the vibrant night markets, I stumbled upon a small booth displaying exquisite handmade crafts. There were colorful bangles and intricately designed picture frames featuring Lippan art, a traditional form of mud and mirror work unique to Gujarat. The beauty and cultural richness of the artwork immediately caught my attention and sparked an idea.

Even more captivating than the crafts was the story behind them. The booth was run by a group of talented, hardworking women who poured their heart and skill into every piece they created. Their dedication and spirit were deeply moving. In that moment, a new idea took shape: What if I could empower these inspiring women artisans while also supporting Sight4Eyes?

This year’s fundraiser was built around that vision. Each donation played a dual role. It helped fund cataract surgeries and eye care through Sight4Eyes, and it also supported women-owned businesses in rural India. By contributing, donors empowered these artists to grow their dreams. Together, we can give the gift of sight, the gift of opportunity, and the gift of hope, one piece of artwork at a time. 

Improvements from last year 

This year, I decided to take a more thoughtful approach. Instead of setting fixed prices like last time, I focused on creating meaningful conversations. When people stopped by, I shared the mission of Sight4Eyes and explained how this year’s fundraiser also supports women-owned businesses in Gujarat. I told them that just $45 can restore someone’s sight, and rather than naming a price, I invited them to donate whatever felt right from the heart.

As a token of appreciation, every donor received a beautiful set of handcrafted bangles. Those who chose to sponsor a full cataract surgery received the Gift of Vision Bundle, which included a bangle set and a unique Lippan art picture frame. This approach made every exchange more personal and purposeful. Instead of simply purchasing an item, people left with the joy of knowing they were part of something bigger, something that changes lives.

In addition, I reached out to my sponsors and mentors to ask for guidance on how to expand Sight4Eyes. Vishal Uncle gave me a valuable piece of advice: “Build a team.” I took that to heart and asked my friends Yatri and Dakshata to help at the booth and it turned out to be one of the best decisions. They brought people over to the booth, and I shared the mission and impact of Sight4Eyes. It created a great rhythm of teamwork. Not only did we reach more people, but it truly felt like we were all working together to give the gift of vision.

Rajesh Uncle shared another thoughtful suggestion. Last year, I had tried creating a sponsor group, but only a few people responded, and it felt a bit disconnected. This time, he recommended sending personal thank-you messages to each donor and inviting them individually. So that’s exactly what I did and it worked! People appreciated the messages, joined the group, and stayed engaged with updates.

San Jose Walkathon

The San Jose Walkathon was my first event of the season, and the energy was amazing. The sun was out, and people walked around smiling and chatting. With help from my mom and friends, I set up my booth with the bangles, picture frames, and of course, some of the bracelets from last year.

One of the biggest surprises of the day came from Rajesh Uncle. After seeing the results of the second eye camp and hearing that people had come to the eye-camp again to do their other eye’s surgery, he quietly donated $450. At first, I thought there had been a mistake. That he must have been meaning to give $45 and given $450 by accident. However when I asked him, he smiled and said he wanted to sponsor ten cataract surgeries. His generosity and encouragement has meant so much to me and he’s one of Sight4Eyes biggest sponsors!

I also had the chance to meet someone really inspiring- Chetan Patel. He told me about how he used to be a young entrepreneur just like me and had once earned enough money to buy his own sports car. He connected with my journey and reminded me, “It’s never too late, keep going, and don’t give up.” However, what struck me most was the way he donated. He didn’t ask how much or try to decide on an amount. He simply said, “It’s for a good cause, so whatever’s in my wallet, I’ll give.” He handed it over without even looking. That moment really stayed with me. It was selfless and full of heart.

Tri-Valley Walkathon

The Tri-Valley Walkathon came with a challenge of its own, wind! It was so strong that I had to keep adjusting the setup every few minutes to stop things from flying away. But honestly, adapting became part of the fun, and the incredible support from the community made it all worth it. As soon as Falguni Aunty saw I was struggling to keep the frames up with the wind, she immediately offered to help. She said she had a bigger frame holder in her car, and quickly went to get it for me without a second thought. 

In this walkathon, I took the suggestion of my friend Yatri and brought something new: a glass lens that mimicked what it’s like to see with cataracts. Watching people look through it was so powerful because in just a moment, they could feel the impact their donation would make. Many were surprised that cataracts affect vision so much, especially  because they’re known to be so common. 

One of my favorite moments happened when a few younger kids who had bought bracelets from me last year came running over with more of their friends, dragging their parents behind them. They were so excited to see the new designs and proudly told their parents they wanted to support Sight4Eyes again. That joy reminded me how when something is made with love and purpose, people always remember and choose to come back. 

One of the most touching supporters I met that day was Smitha Aunty. She loved the mission so much that she bought twenty frames to use as return gifts for her daughter’s baby shower and her daughter is actually an eye doctor! I was truly moved by how she found a personal way to connect a family celebration with the larger purpose of giving the gift of sight.

Toward the end of the event, it was time for me to be interviewed and to be honest, I was a little nervous. But to my surprise, it only took one take! Everyone said I did really well, and I felt proud. I realized that all the conversations I’ve had this year, whether it was talking to people at school, sharing the cause at events with friends and family, and even sharing the mission at our walkathon booths had helped me grow. I didn’t need a script. Everything I said came naturally, because it came from the heart.