On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Dell Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Austin, Texas, was home to an extraordinary cultural collision that shook the rafters with laughter, music, and profound community purpose. It was the 14th annual Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt (BMBB) Gala—our signature event co-hosted by Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) and Shalom Austin.
As we look back on this milestone evening, we are incredibly proud to report that BMBB 2026 did not just meet its expectations; it completely shattered them. For our leadership, our volunteers, and our community partners, the night was a masterclass in what happens when distinct heritage groups decide that their shared values are far larger than their differences
At its core, BMBB 2026 was driven by three clear, uncompromising strategic goals:
- Broaden donor engagement across the Greater Austin community by crafting an inclusive, high-energy cultural event.
- Deliver a deeply rewarding volunteer experience for our planning and stage execution teams, recognizing that their time is a priceless gift.
- Achieve our vital fundraising targets so that we are fully equipped to meet the massive surge in school supply needs for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year.
Through the combined energy of our supporters, we achieved all three. This is the story of how our bilateral alliance turned an evening of performance into a pipeline of tangible hope for thousands of local children.
1. Bridging Cultures, Broadening Hearts: May as a Month of Unity
The timing of BMBB is never accidental. Each year, we align this celebration with Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month, both of which fall in May. By placing our flagship fundraiser during these spring heritage months, we build a critical bridge of financial support. This early runway ensures that HC4A can purchase, sort, and custom-pack our backpacks before the chaotic back-to-school rush in August.
This year, the bridge between our communities was stronger than ever. As our incoming co-CEO of Shalom Austin, Rachel Stern, shared during her keynote address, this bilateral alliance is built on a long, rich history of trust:
“This project doesn’t just pack backpacks; it brings Hindu and Jewish cultures together, building deep mutual understanding and a stronger, more connected community. Here’s to many more years of making a difference together!”
This legacy of collaboration laid the foundation for an evening centered on a beautiful, shared metaphor: Friendraising at the Schoolyard. As HC4A Leadership shared during the opening welcome, every person in that room walked in carrying a child inside of them—a child who, when stepping into a new yard, simply asks: “Would I want to make friends with this person?” BMBB became our adult schoolyard, a joyous space where hearts asked, energy answered, and lifelong bonds were forged.
2. Compelling Needs: The Socioeconomic Landscape of Central Texas
To understand why BMBB is so foundational to our mission, one must look at the hard data reflecting the reality of our public school districts. While Greater Austin is celebrated as a thriving economic and technological powerhouse, thousands of families are quietly falling through the cracks of this rapid expansion.
Consider the sobering statistics from our partner Independent School Districts (ISDs) for the upcoming school year:
- Austin ISD: Serves nearly 3,000 students identified as homeless or in transitional housing under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. Within its safety nets, like Project HELP, the struggle to secure basic learning tools is an everyday crisis.
- Manor ISD: Operates with nearly 80% of its student population classified as economically disadvantaged. It represents one of the highest concentrations of families experiencing extreme financial strain in the region.
- Del Valle ISD: Features a student population where nearly 85% qualify for free or reduced-lunch programs, requiring intensive, continuous regional support.
For these families, the “backpack pinch” is not a minor inconvenience; it is a major financial barrier. When a family is forced to choose between groceries and a $50 school supply list, the psychological impact on the child is devastating. This is the exact gap HC4A is determined to close. Our goal for the 2026–2027 academic year is to assemble and distribute 1,500+ grade-specific, high-quality backpacks—ensuring that the most vulnerable students start their year with their heads held high.
3. The Leaders’ Lightning Round: Civic Advocacy in Action
Rather than subjecting our guests to dry, traditional political speeches, BMBB 2026 introduced the Leaders’ Lightning Round. Moderated on stage, this rapid-fire panel challenged civic leaders and educators to share brief, high-impact visions of educational equity and community triumph.
Our panel featured the very leaders who oversee these growing districts, and their responses illuminated the deep connection between educational access and local prosperity:
Civic Unity & Broadening Engagement
When asked why a cultural fusion movement like BMBB is exactly what our region needs right now, Austin Pro-Tem Mayor Jose “Chito” Vela emphasized the systemic power of diverse coalitions:
“A cultural fusion movement like Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt isn’t just entertainment—it’s exactly what the City of Austin needs to foster deep, lasting community partnerships.”
Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin expanded on this, reminding the audience that a child’s psychological safety is the absolute prerequisite for academic success:
“What makes a community a special place for families is education. We want to build schools where every child can thrive, but everything doesn’t get to thrive if we leave students behind. At the end of the day, what makes America special is the core idea of people working together in a community, believing they can shape their own neighborhood because they know what’s best for it.”
Round Rock Council Member Frank Ortega took to the microphone to celebrate the region’s relentless volunteer spirit, emphasizing that local unity must rise above national division:
“We are actively embracing different cultures and ensuring our community is welcoming to everyone. Don’t listen to divisive outside rhetoric; instead, look at the goodness and cooperation we see right here in our local community.”
The First-Day Difference: Insights from Our Educators
Our district superintendents brought the reality of the classroom straight to the stage. Dr. Robert Sormani, Superintendent of Manor ISD, painted a vivid picture of the quiet anxiety that underprivileged children face on their very first day of school:
“A child walks into school, and every other student has a nice backpack and seems completely prepared, while they are the only one who doesn’t have the basic tools needed for class. On that very first day of school, the child feels confident, included, and ready to learn, setting a positive tone for their education for the rest of the year.”
Dr. Mark Cantu, Deputy Superintendent of Del Valle ISD, echoed this sentiment, detailing how providing a child with proper tools is an act of deep validation:
“These items might seem very simple, but their impact is profound. We know that having these supplies makes children feel comfortable and valued in their learning environments. A child naturally wants to feel integrated and involved with their school community and culture. When we provide these tools, it changes the dynamic because they are empowered to contribute fully.”
4. Priceless Energy: A Volunteer Experience Beyond Transactions
An event of BMBB’s scale cannot be bought; it must be built. For HC4A, a key operational goal of BMBB 2026 was to ensure our volunteer workforce—from our stage hands to our coordinators—felt a deep, spiritual reward for their labor.
We wanted our team to move away from the transactional nature of modern life. Our Stage Producer, Malvika Rao, put this beautifully when she reflected on what she would say to someone hesitant to volunteer:
“Just know that deep down you can always carve out time to collaborate and volunteer when not everything has to be a transaction in life. If you can find the time, you will get the rewards which are like a thousand times better than doing something to earn money. Voluntary ship is free, but the rewards are so much more than paisa in the bank… it’s a magic. It’s making friends, and it is priceless.”
This priceless energy carried into the artistic performances that defined the night. The crowd was treated to the boundary-pushing classical choreography of Anuradha Naimpally and Purna Bajekal, followed by the brilliant stand-up of emcee Samson Koletkar (Mahatma Moses). Koletkar kept the room in stitches with his lighthearted, narrative-style teasing of Texas geography—joking about how visitors from Dallas and Houston expect a grand tour of Austin, only to find themselves immediately packed into a car and driven straight to San Antonio.
Yet, Koletkar also grounded the audience, reminding them of the sheer operational precision that makes HC4A’s backpack drive unique:
“It isn’t just a generic bag of random supplies; every child gets a backpack custom-tailored to their exact school curriculum.”
Our musical headliner, Secret Siren (featuring Cassandra Norton and Jayne Ball), closed the performance segment with their soaring, haunting folk melodies. Before launching into her dedicated piece, “Woman of My Heart,” Cassandra—a public educator of over 20 years—reminded the audience of the direct link between a child’s basic physical comfort and their capacity to grow:
“I can tell you from decades of experience in the classroom: when children are cared for and have their basic needs met, they show up as their absolute best selves.”
5. From Hardship to Hope: Our Path to August
The ultimate measure of BMBB 2026’s success was our ability to translate cultural celebration into direct, immediate relief. The climax of the fundraising appeal was led by BMBB co-founder Jennifer Bloom Greenberg and community advocate Will, who shared a deeply personal story about the humiliation of walking into a school yard carrying his clothes and schoolbooks in a black trash bag—the standard reality for many foster and homeless youth.
Carla Scott, representing Austin ISD’s Project HELP, stepped up to synthesize the ultimate goal of our bilateral alliance:
“For many students, school is not just a place to learn—it’s a place of safety, consistency, belonging, and where hope exists. Every child deserves the chance to dream, to live, and to thrive, and HC4A’s program is absolutely foundational and essential to making that happen. Together, we can turn hardships into hope and provide stability where there is uncertainty.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors—including our food partner Rasoi Restaurant, who served a spectacular Indian-Jewish fusion dinner—every single dollar raised from our ticket sales and live pledges goes directly toward purchasing school supplies. No overhead, no administrative leakage. Just pure, direct magic for our students.
6. Our Pillars of Support: Thank You to Our Sponsors
A critical factor behind BMBB’s unique operational model is that 100% of the proceeds from our ticket sales and live pledges go directly to purchasing school supplies. This outstanding achievement is only possible because our community partners, local businesses, and corporate sponsors cover the entire overhead of the event. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our culinary partner, Rasoi Restaurant, for donating and preparing the exquisite Indian dinner.
Furthermore, we thank our venue host Shalom Austin, our media collaborators at New India Abroad and Austin South Asian, and our team of talented local photographers, videographers, and performing artists who gave their time and resources so generously. Because you stood behind us, we are able to transform every single dollar donated into actual physical tools, confidence, and dignity for 1,500+ Austin-area children.
Next Steps: Mark Your Calendars
The fundraising momentum generated during this beautiful May gala will culminate on Sunday, August 2, 2026, during our annual School Supplies Packing (SSP) Event.
This is where the magic becomes physical. Volunteers of all generations, faiths, and backgrounds will gather to hand-assemble, sort, and completely pack all 1,500+ backpacks using the exact, grade-level criteria demanded by our local school districts. This ensures that when school sessions resume in mid-August, every registered student in need walks through those school doors equipped, confident, and ready to succeed.
To our donors, our sponsors, our civic leaders, and our beautiful volunteer family: thank you. You have shown Central Texas that when we serve where we live, we don’t just change lives—we weave a tighter, more compassionate community.
To sign up for the August 2nd packing event, or to continue supporting our educational programs, visit us today at hc4a.org.
