The Indian American Civic Forum’s annual picnic will be held on Saturday August 2, at West Windsor Community Park. The event features an orchestra with Indian songs, co-sponsored by the West Windsor Arts Council, Indian food for lunch, games and prizes for children. Officer Sam Dyson, West Windsor Police, presents a talk. The winners of the essay contest, “How will you solve violence in schools and colleges?” will be announced. Student scholarships of $200 to $500, will be awarded.##M:[more]##
“The organization’s goals include maintaining educational values, having safe environment for children, helping seniors, assisting people in need, and looking out for issues that will effect our quality of life,” says Mickey Grover of West Windsor, one of the organizers. A software consultant with New World Resources, Grover’s wife is a teacher in Trenton, and their three children are in first, fifth, and tenth grades.
Born in Delhi, India, his family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland when he was 10, and to West Chester, Pennsylvania, when he was 14. Since graduating from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, he has lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, Tokyo, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Jersey City. The family moved to West Windsor 10 years ago. “Since my last name is Grover, and there is Grover’s Middle School, and Grover’s Mill Pond in town, this seems like destiny for me to settle down here,” he says.
Over the years, the family has attended many Indian American Civic Forum events including the picnic, health fair, annual dinner, and benefit performances,” says Grover. “We have enjoyed meeting people who love the community and also meeting community leaders.”
When the group invited Grover to help two years ago, he said yes. “I realized that this group works hard to raise community awareness and promote good will,” he says. “Since I had personal experience from good things this group does, I volunteered my services.” He is now secretary of IACF.
“I have grown up always wanting to live in a culturally diverse community and I think that the West Windsor, Plainsboro, Princeton area is a great place,” he says. “I have gotten to know many wonderful people in town and I feel that Indian Americans need to join together and give back to this great community and also be good citizens and role models for our children.” — Lynn Miller
Annual Picnic, Indian American Civic Forum, West Windsor Community Park, Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor, 609-275-8784. www.indoamericanfair.com Games, music, and food. Rain or shine. $5. Saturday, August 2, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
