Note from the President's Desk
Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying the beautiful start to summer. ICON’s first-ever fundraiser 5K Walkathon, Strides for Smiles, early in May was a grand success! The article by Shalini and Smitha in this edition highlights want went into making it happen and the significant charitable impact the community could make. Our recent Holi celebration was truly a wonderful reflection of what makes our community so special. It was heartwarming to see families and friends come together to enjoy a day filled with vibrant colors, laughter, games, snacks, and shared memories. The energy and enthusiasm of our community were clearly visible. A big thank you to all the volunteers and participants who made these events a tremendous success. As we continue our Knowledge Series fostering learning, wellness, and connection, I encourage everyone to join our upcoming events. Our next session will feature a presentation by the NCC team, highlighting programs and benefits available to our community. This promises to be an informative and valuable discussion. We are also planning to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 with a special community yoga event. And a Holi Workshop for kids and teens will cap the eventful May and June for us! Warm regards, Sujata Sarda President sujata.sarda@iconeedham.org
Events in June 2026
Know Your Community Council (3-4 pm Sunday, June 7th) - Session led by Sandra Robinson, Executive Director of Needham Community Council; In-person @NCC Building on Hillside Avenue, and on Zoom International Yoga Day (8-10am Sunday, June 21st) - Session led by Shruti and Nikhil; @Greene Fields Holi Workshop for Kids (2-4 pm Sunday, June 28th) - @Public Library
Join us for the Know YourCommunity Council Session onJune 7
You are cordially invited to this seemingly informative session on the great work the Needham Community Council has been tirelessly doing for the last 90 years. Session will be delivered by Sandra Robinson who is the Executive Director of the Needham Community Council.
Join us for the International YogaDay on June 21
ICON is delighted to invite you all to come celebrate the International Yoga Day, with a community yoga session for all ages and experience levels. This will be a wonderful morning together, of wellness, mindfulness, and community spirit. This is a FREE event, Open to ALL! Needham families and their friends in nearby towns are most welcome. The session will be moderated by Shruti and Nikhil Sole of NeeYAM.
Event Recap: Fundraiser Walkathon forBoston Children’sby Shalini Jha & Smitha Thomas
Strides for Smiles! When we first decided to organize a Mother’s Day 5K Walkathon for Boston Children’s Hospital, we were excited—but also nervous. It was our first time organizing an event of this scale, and the questions came quickly: Would we get the permits? Would people register? What if it rained? Like many first-time organizers, we had plenty of doubts and very little certainty. Together, we set a goal of raising $2,000. In the early weeks, registrations and donations trickled in slowly. We checked the fundraising page often, hoping to see the numbers move a little further. Meanwhile, we threw ourselves into preparations. We designed posters, coordinated logistics, ordered walkathon hats, recruited volunteers, mapped the route, and spread the word throughout the community. In parallel, we explored the possibility of securing a matching donation, and we were fortunate that Vikram Kaul, on behalf of OneNorthStar, generously agreed to a dollar-for-dollar match! As Mother’s Day approached, the momentum began to build. Registrations increased, donations started coming in, and suddenly our goal no longer seemed out of reach. We first crossed $1,000, then $2,000, and with Vikram’s generous match and the incredible support of our community, we ultimately raised a whopping $5,061 for the Boston Children’s Hospital. The walk itself was everything we had hoped for and more. Families, friends, students, and community members came together on a beautiful spring morning, united by a shared purpose. There was excitement at check-in, plenty of conversations along the route, and a wonderful sense of connection as people walked side by side. What started as a fundraiser became an opportunity for neighbors to meet, families to spend quality time together, and volunteers to make a meaningful impact. With support from our dedicated high school volunteers, generous donors, and enthusiastic participants, this event became more than a walkathon. It was a reminder that when a community comes together around a cause that matters, small ideas can grow into something truly special. Looking back, neither of us will remember the fundraising total as much as we will remember the people—the volunteers who showed up early, the families who spent part of their Mother’s Day walking together, the donors who believed in the cause, and the community that rallied behind it. To everyone who donated, volunteered, walked, cheered us on, or simply believed in the effort— thank you. You helped turn a first-time idea filled with uncertainty into a day filled with purpose, connection, and hope.
Event Recap: Holi the Festival of Color &Friendship!
Last month, we came together to celebrate Holi in a vibrant and joyful gathering filled with color, laughter, and community spirit. The event saw an excellent turnout, with participants enthusiastically joining activities such as Tug-of-War, Dodgeball, and, of course, playing with colors. The festivities were further energized by lively Holi music and a talented drum artist whose beats got everyone dancing. Families and friends enjoyed delicious Indian snacks and tea while spending quality time together in a picnic-like atmosphere. With plenty of colors shared among attendees, the event beautifully captured the essence of Holi—friendship, joy, togetherness, and the celebration of spring. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the celebrations memorable. A Big thank you to all the youth and adult volunteers too who helped tremendously without which the event would not have been possible.
ICON TownSquare!
Dear All (Active and Prospective) ICONians! The need for more efficient and direct communication among members and the board channel was felt for some time, for important ICON announcements, ticket sales, and to make it a 2-way street. Towards that end, we started a WhatsApp Group called “ICON-TownSquare” in November of 2024. Here is its overall framework. Main Objectives To provide an efficient 2-way communication among ICON members, prospects, and board members To enhance ideation, inclusivity, diversity, feedback, and participation Guiding Principle Helping ICON achieve its below-core mission is the overarching principle: ICON is a secular, non-profit organization aimed at celebrating and preserving the culture and heritage of India and surrounding South Asian countries; fostering friendships and unity among community members; advancing the educational, cultural, and charitable interests of the community; and representing the community to the people of Needham, MA, USA, and beyond. Working Framework Mostly used for ICON announcements, event ideation and planning No forwards of any kind at all, and no good mornings, good nights! Highest respect for each other is utmost expected Moderated by a few ICON Board Members, with windows for 2-way communication at times ICON Board reserves the right to tweak this working framework as needed Everyone is cordially invited to please join using the link or the QR code below.
Join ICON TownSquare here
