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For two decades the Zarathushti Heritage and Cultural Center (ZHCC) has been serving as a meeting point for the community in Houston. To mark the 20th anniversary of its inauguration, the executive committee of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) invited the community to a celebratory jashan followed by lunch on April 2, 2018. "Sarosh Collector, ZAH’s beloved Sunday School teacher for over 30 years, lit the divo for the jashan as eight Houston mobeds started the prayers and the resplendent building was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood,” noted a report by former ZAH president Percy Master.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZAH president Sheroy Haveliwalla then presented a special plaque to Sam Bhadha who had donated over $ 100,000 to ZAH in memory of his parents Peshotan and Jerbanoo who derived "immense joy and comfort from the Parsi community and the ZHCC” after they made their home in Houston to reside with their daughter and son-in-law, Arnaz and Jehangir Mistry. The plaque was later placed on the special donors’ wall at ZHCC by Sam and Arnaz. Having spent over 40 years in the hospitality industry in Bombay, London and New York, Sam who has settled in Houston since the last three years realized that the best way to honor the memory of his parents was to donate to ZAH to refurbish the grand hall of the ZHCC. A celebratory lunch of dhan-dar and kolmi no patio followed by a special 20th  anniversary cake bearing the ZAH logo was enjoyed by 282 attendees.
 A week before the event, a dedicated team of volunteers led by Yasmin Medhora and Arzin Italia spruced up the building for the celebration. During the year 2016-17, renovations to ZHCC saw the addition of 2,500 sq ft of space, including about 2,100 sq ft for the Purvez Rustomji Room (donated principally by Aban Rustomji in memory of her husband Purvez) which is being used as a conference and media room; a new classroom for the middle group children; re-tiling of the atrium; and refurbishment of the restrooms.