Purvi Shah, Sakhi’s executive director

The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) presented a Community Service Award to Sakhi for South Asian Women for its community-based, non-profit work combating domestic violence at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Dec. 3.

The AILF presented the award during its 5th annual New York Immigrant Achievement Awards ceremony to honor outstanding immigrants whose contributions have enriched the nation, a press release said.

Purvi Shah, Sakhi’s executive director, was quoted as saying that the organization is honored to receive this award in recognition of our work with immigrant survivors of violence and admired the American Immigration Law Foundation for its wonderful support of immigrant rights.

“This award is especially meaningful because so many women we serve require immigration and legal support.

“For immigrant women who do not know their rights –– or are vulnerable to violence due to their immigration status –– it is critical to have groups such as AILF which help to ensure immigrants have a voice in American policy and society,” Shah said.

Saveen Kaushal, a program advocate with Sakhi, said “it is so great that the legal community is recognizing the importance of addressing domestic violence in the immigration context.”

Honorees who attended the event included Jamaica-born International Grandmaster of Chess Maurice Ashley; South Africa-born ceramics revolutionary, writer and philanthropist Garth Clark; India-born chef, author, television personality and actress Madhur Jaffrey; and Cyprus-born physician and university professor Maria Nicolaides, the release added.

Past honorees of the AILF Immigrant Achievement Awards are actress Zoe Caldwell, film producer Ismail Merchant and actor Alan Cummings.

The AILF, founded in 1987, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of immigration law and policy and the value of immigration to American society, the release said.