Dr. Harvinder Sahota (Philanthropy) has donated U.S.$1.5 million to the University of Irvine, California for a chair in Sikh studies. The chair will be named after Dr Sahota’s mother, Bibi Dhan Kaur Sahota. UI and Dr Sahota signed an agreement on August 12, 2015 which includes teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Sikhism, starting in September 2016. Dr Sahota is a graduate of Patiala Medical College in Punjab. He is the creator of the perfusion angioplasty balloon. He is affiliated with four universities in Southern California—Claremont Lincoln University, Claremont School of Theology, Loyola Marymount University and U.C. Irvine.

Mr Ashok Madan (Community Service) is a veteran Real Estate Investor who came to the USA in 1970 to pursue a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering. After graduating, he worked in the Information Technology filed, and joined the County of Los Angeles in 1976 where he ascended to a management position. He retired from there in 2010, after putting in 33 years of service. Mr Madan has done yeoman service to the community over the years. He is currently President of the NFIA—the National Federation of Indian American Associations, Founding Member, COLAIAPA—County of Angels Indian American Professionals Association, Life Member, GOPIO—Global Organization of People of Indian Origin.