By Mizan Rahman
Glen Cove, NY: The Long Island Mind Spark Lions Club celebrated its Charter Night on February 7, 2026, marking the official launch of a new Lions Club inspired by the global mission of Lions Clubs International—service, leadership, and community empowerment. The club was formed with a strong emphasis on youth leadership and professional engagement, guided by the mentorship of 2nd Vice District Governor Indu Gajwani, Founding President of the Long Island Indo American Lions Club and a respected philanthropist.
During the ceremony, Dr. Krishna Maddipatla took the oath as the Charter President of the Mind Spark Lions Club. The oath was administered by Past District Governor Sue Piccolo. Numerous dignitaries from Lions District 20‑K2 (Nassau County, NY & Bermuda) attended, including LCIF Vice Leader PDG Lorri Reiger, District Marketing Chair PDG Fred Rieger, DG Jeanne Mulry and Kevin P. Mulry, PDG Theresa Oster, PDG Maria Leitao, PDG Theresa Whalen, PDG Sue Piccolo, GET Sharon Wozniak, PCC Andy Umreiko, PIP Al Brandel, and LCIF Coordinator Helen Farley.
A highlight of the evening was the keynote address delivered by Past Lions International President Anthony Paradiso, who spoke about the importance of service and the growing role of youth in shaping community impact.
District Governor Jeanne Mulry conducted the installation of the Executive Committee: Kiran Parvathala (Secretary), Sirisha Tunuguntla (Vice President), Bhagawan Nadimpalli (Joint Secretary, Karthik Maniam (Treasurer), Supreet Arora (Joint Treasurer), Indu Gajwani (EEGL), and the members-at-large installed included: Malleswari Bommareddy, Nikhila Boppana, Mahesh Chhatlani, Nithyasree Dabbara, Sundhir Gunda, Hamsini Jamboor, Nagababu Kadavakollu, Swetha Kalpati, Sarwar Z. Khan, Krutika Khatri, Pragati Khatri, Godbind Ludhani, Prabin Pauld, Jyothi Pemmani, Deepika Sammeta, Mila Shah, Tej Tunuguntla, Vikram Veeramachanemi, and Raja Vijay.
The event was attended by leaders from across the region, including Anju Sharma, President of LIIALC and District Zone Chair, and renowned oncologist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, recipient of India’s prestigious Padma Bhushan award. Dr. Nori praised Dr. Maddipatla’s leadership and emphasized the importance of empowering youth as community change‑makers.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Krishna Maddipatla expressed deep gratitude to Lions Indu and Shyam Gajwani for their mentorship and unwavering support, including their guidance in securing the club’s 501(c)(3) approval in record time. Dr. Maddipatla, a seasoned leader with 27 years of experience in education, technology, and organizational development, outlined an ambitious vision for the new club. As founder and chairman of the KM Group of Companies—spanning educational institutions, healthcare supply chains, and real estate—he brings extensive leadership experience to the role. He also serves on multiple nonprofit boards and leads the Maddipatla Foundation.
To demonstrate his commitment, Dr. Maddipatla announced a $100,000 pledge from the Maddipatla Foundation for FY 2026–2027 to support the club’s initiatives. He emphasized that the club will be youth‑led, community‑powered, and rooted in inclusivity, welcoming members from all backgrounds. Most of the club’s charter members are young adults in their twenties, and an additional ten new members joined during the event—reflecting the club’s strong appeal to emerging leaders.
The celebration concluded with a warm and lively reception featuring gourmet appetizers during cocktail hour, followed by dinner after the charter oath ceremony. The evening marked not only the birth of a new Lions Club but also the beginning of a dynamic, youth‑driven movement for service on Long Island.
(Mizan Rahman is Chair, Community Outreach Committee of Long Island Indo American Lions Club (LIIALC), Garden Club, NY)
(All photos courtesy: Mizan Rahman)
