As a 10th grader planning her maiden fundraising drive, Yasna Goshtasbi approached Navroz Gandhi, then president of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington Inc (ZAMWI) in 2015 for permission to use the Kamran Dar-e Mehr premises. Enthused by the support of community members and friends, she and her younger sister Athra have, through their fundraisers in the last four years, been able to garner over $ 20,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS) and $ 8,000 for ZAMWI, acknowledged current ZAMWI president Anne Khademian.
Above: Yasna (l) and Athra Goshtasbi:
supporting community and cancer relief causes
"The fundraisers are themed parties with music, dancing, dinner and events such as auctions or violin serenades during dinner,” explained Athra, a junior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland, who has from the time Yasna went to college last year been playing a pivotal role in these fundraising ventures. For their fifth fundraiser this year at the Kamran Dar-e Mehr on November 30, the theme selected is "Winter Wonderland” with the "night of fun” for those aged 13 and above promising music by disc jockey Shamoudi, catered dinner, cash bar, awards, raffle prizes and more. "Dress to impress in white and blue, or simply your favorite clothes,” specified the flyer. Tickets, if booked in advance, are priced at $ 45 per person or $ 35 for those with a student identity. At the door the tickets are available at $ 55. The first 50 fully paid registrants qualify for a raffle. All proceeds will be shared by ACS or ZAMWI unless the donor indicates a preference for one cause. "A big part of the fundraiser is donations, especially from those who are unable to attend,” specified Khademian.
"Each of our events has attracted 90-120 people. We have our usual supporters, those who attend the events, and those who make donations, whether they attend or not. Going outside of that group and attracting additional people to attend or make donations has been our major challenge,” conveyed Athra, hoping to raise a higher amount this year with the support of the wider community. Besides Gandhi and Khademian she valued the assistance from Mojgan Ariaban and Manijeh Aidun in planning for the event, named Fereydoon Keshavarz for volunteering to serve as the master of ceremonies with daughter Shawdi helping on the committee. The sisters appreciate the encouragement of their parents Jamshid Goshtasbi and Shahrzad Yazdani and all those who give freely of their time and resources.
"Almost everyone is connected to cancer… whether they are directly affected, or through a relative or a friend. Our family has been no exception,” commented Athra explaining the reasons why she and Yasna supported ACS’s mission "to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.” And Yasna was familiar with ACS since elementary school from the time one of her teachers did fundraising for them.
Yasna is currently a sophomore chemistry major at the University of Maryland on the pre-dental track (undertaking courses considered prerequisites for dental students) and Athra will be joining college after two years, planning to become a physician so that she can give people the chance of a better quality of life. The siblings hope "we can still find a way to continue with these events... that bring people together while supporting a good cause.”