2016 Annual Report 2016 Annual Report | Page 46

IANT and IANA Donation to Assist the Officer Foundation On Saturday, August 13, 2016 the India Association of North Texas (IANT) celebrated their 40th annual Anand Bazaar. During the event, the IANT raised awareness on the plight of police officers and showed appreciation to members of the Dallas Police Department and the Grand Prairie Police Department. Chief Gil Garza and Lieutenant Paul Thai were in attendance and accepted monetary gifts on behalf of the Dallas Police Department. The India Association of North Texas, along with the Indian American Nurses Association, donated more than $70,000 to the Assist the Officer Foundation. DPD is Visited by the Cookie Crusaders Founded in 2015 by Gina Brock Oster, the Cookie Crusaders bring love and homemade treats to departments as a way to honor their fallen officers. In response to the overflowing emotion throughout the country, these women gathered up support and baked cookies. Baking over 8,800 cookies for Dallas and New Orleans officers and driving them from Knoxville was a testament to that support and emotion. Forty-two women baked a variety of cookies including special doggie treats. They didn’t want the K-9 officers to be left out! K-9 Yoll especially loved his treats! This free event was hosted at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and celebrated India’s Independence Day. IANT is a non-profit organization designed to “serve the cultural and educational needs of the North Texas Indian community.” On behalf of the