March of Dimes has dedicated its mission to saving babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality for more than 50 years. In Mercer County, students from area high schools lead the Mercer County Chain Reaction Youth Council, a highly effective group that raises thousands of dollars to help improve the health of babies all around the world. Much of the fundraising comes from Rangeela, a multicultural event, started 10 years ago by Rahul Bansal, a 2003 graduate of High School North. Over the years this event has raised more than $250,000 for March of Dimes. This year’s event will be held at High School North on Saturday, June 4, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Rangeela history dates back to 2001, when a dedicated March of Dimes youth volunteer went on to become the chair of the National Youth Council. Rahul Bansal founded the first Rangeela event to raise money to save the lives of babies as well as for an educational building event for young people.
Bansal graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in finance, accounting, and economics. He is an investment banker with Greentech Capital Advisors, a bank focused on alternative energy. Based in New York City for two years, he recently transferred to Zurich, Switzerland, to open Greentech’s European office. He is still an active March of Dimes volunteer.
Over the years the number of volunteers and the presentation have grown, and Bansal’s goal has become closer to being achieved. Following his example, many middle and high school students have joined the Chain Reaction Council and Rangeela committee to support the cause. Beginning with WW-P High Schools South and North, the Mercer County Chain Reaction Youth Council has expanded its volunteers to Princeton High School, Robbinsville High School, and South Brunswick High School. The students secure advertisements, acts, in-kind donations, and sell tickets.
They promote Rangeela and the March of Dimes’ mission by speaking on cable television and radio. The credit for the continuity of Rangeela goes to the adult mentors, including Percis Bansal, Rahul’s mother. “With their encouragement, they enable the volunteers to reach far beyond their goals and teach the youth of our community the value of giving back,” says Akshay Thaper, High School South, president of the Class of 2013.
The headlining performing group is Articulate: Promoting Indian Performing Arts and the Challenged Through Arts, a troupe of visually impaired artists. Flying in from India to help benefit the March of Dimes, the 10 visually impaired children will perform a classical Indian dance. “It is exhilarating to watch this group and those who have seen them have been awe-struck,” says Thaper. “To see visually impaired children perform with such passion is momentous.”
Performance groups are either based in West Windsor or Plainsboro or have a large number of students from the WWP community. Dance schools performing include Nupur, Prerna, Aatma, Kalanjali, Sudhamini, and Timeless Music. Multi-cultural entertainment include Lanyun Chinese Group, a musical duet from Princeton, salsa, and the High School South Jazz Band.
A three-course vegetarian dinner from Palace of Asia is included in the price of a ticket. Formal attire is requested — either black tie or Indian formal. For ticket information contact Jyotsna Thaper at 609-558-9648, Percis Bansal at 609-448-7620, or Ketan Thakker at 609-462-1208. All proceeds will go towards supporting the March of Dimes’ mission to programs and research to help give babies a healthier start to life.
Volunteers working behind the scenes to make Rangeela a success include adult volunteers Percis Bansal, Jyotsna Thaper, Kalpana Mehta, and Pallavi Gandhi. Youth volunteers include president Anjali Mehta; vice presidents Akhil Lakhwani, Sonia Shah, and Neeraj Devulapalli; secretary and communications chair Akshay Thaper; treasurer and fundraising chair Kushal Gandhi; co-fundraising chair Mihir Sheth; mission chair and membership chair Sabhya Gupta; sponsorship chair Tanvi Purohit; and the representative from Robbinsville High School, Deanna Chhor.
— Lynn Miller
Rangeela 10th Anniversary, March of Dimes, High School North, 90 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro. Saturday, June 4, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tenth annual benefit evening of food, music, and dancing presented by the youth volunteers. Full dinner from Palace of Asia. All proceeds are to benefit the March of Dimes. $15 (students) to $100. 609-448-7620. www.marchofdimes.com/newjersey.
