From a Living Room Gathering to a Nationally Respected Chapter
In the ornate ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, where more than 700 guests gathered on November 8, the 16th Annual Gala of The Citizens Foundation (TCF-USA) Washington, DC Chapter unfolded with a sense of purpose that extended far beyond the evening’s celebrations. A Movement Not a Gala: How TCF-DC Raised $4.6M for Schools in Pakistan was evident in every detail. The chandeliers, the applause, the conversations at every table all contributed to the ambiance—yet what truly defined the night was the unmistakable feeling of a community united by a shared mission: to expand access to quality education for children in Pakistan.
This year’s event raised an exceptional $4,601,772, funding eight new schools in some of Pakistan’s most underserved regions. It was a milestone achievement, but also a continuation of a journey that began nearly 28 years ago in the humblest of places: the living room of Shimmi Kidwai. In 1997, early volunteers gathered in her home under the banner of the Association of Pakistani Women in America (APWA), sharing meals, ideas, and a belief that a small group of committed individuals could spark change across continents.
What started as a grassroots effort born from compassion has grown into one of the most influential and consistent donor communities within TCF-USA.
The Steady Hand Behind the Chapter’s Growth: Shimmi Kidwai
Leadership in the nonprofit world rarely looks glamorous. More often, it reveals itself through endurance—through the discipline of showing up year after year, through the willingness to solve problems quietly, through a commitment to mission above recognition. In Washington’s Pakistani-American community, Shimmi Kidwai has become a symbol of that kind of leadership.
For 16 consecutive years, she has helped guide the DC Chapter’s gala from a modest community gathering to one of the strongest charitable fundraisers for education in the United States. Her approach is neither performative nor self-promotional. It is grounded in consistency and sincerity: arriving early, staying late, welcoming every guest, listening to every volunteer, and ensuring that each donor feels their contribution matters.
Having documented this gala for a decade, I have observed something rare—something that sets TCF-DC apart from other fundraising traditions. At many charity events, enthusiasm gradually fades and donor fatigue quietly sets in. But here, the opposite continues to happen. The ballroom remains full. Longtime supporters return each year. New donors step forward, often moved by the transparency and humanity with which the DC Chapter operates.
This phenomenon is not accidental. It is the result of a culture shaped by trust, clarity, and community—values that Shimmi Kidwai has nurtured with quiet determination.
Her leadership is visible not in accolades but in her presence: weaving through a 700-person ballroom with grace, stopping at each table, greeting familiar faces, welcoming newcomers, and reminding everyone why they are there—to ensure that children in Pakistan have the opportunity to dream beyond the limitations of their circumstances.
This is not sentiment; it is observation. After attending and covering dozens of nonprofit events across Washington, I can say confidently that what happens at TCF-DC each year is different. It is grounded not in charity, but in shared responsibility.
A Team Behind the Success
While the evening’s spotlight naturally gravitated toward the mission of TCF and the generosity of the attendees, the event’s flawless execution was the work of a dedicated team whose efforts deserve recognition.
Year after year, Hasnain Aslam and Adnan Ahmed set the tone as Masters of Ceremony. With calm composure and professional precision, they guided the evening’s program seamlessly—keeping the audience engaged, maintaining the flow, and ensuring each segment transitioned smoothly.
Among the most heartfelt moments of the night was a performance by Sophia, the daughter of longtime volunteers Sunny and Sumer, who travel from Florida every year to support the gala. At just eight years old, she played the Pakistani national anthem on the cello—an emotional reminder that the legacy of giving is already passing to the next generation.
Several volunteers worked behind the scenes with equal dedication. **Azmat Ahmed stood out for her remarkable commitment to guest experience—moving swiftly across the ballroom whenever assistance was needed, resolving seating challenges with calm reassurance and patience. swiftly across the ballroom whenever assistance was needed, resolving seating challenges with calm reassurance and patience. Meanwhile, Yasir Choudhry, Saba and Habib Chotani, Sameer Qudsi, Rishm Najm, and many others ensured every logistical detail was handled with care.
Together, they reflected the true spirit of TCF-DC: collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in purpose.
TCF at 30: A Legacy of National Transformation
This year’s gala also commemorated 30 years of TCF’s work in Pakistan, a journey that began with just five schools and 800 students. Today, TCF stands as one of Pakistan’s most impactful nonprofit education networks, with:
- 2,261 school units
- 320,000 students
- 71,000 alumni
- 13,000 all-female faculty
- 293,000 adult learners through the Aagahi literacy program
The numbers are powerful, but the human stories behind them are what truly define TCF’s impact.
That sentiment was echoed by United States Senator Chris Van Hollen, who praised the organization’s work and the Pakistani-American community’s commitment to global education.
“Education means emancipation,” he said, quoting Frederick Douglass. “It means light and liberty. And that’s what TCF provides—not just to Pakistan’s children, but to the world.”
While the DC Chapter’s achievements are impressive, they are part of a broader national tapestry. TCF-USA’s leadership, along with its chapters across the country, continues to expand opportunities for children through transparent operations, strong accountability, and an unwavering commitment to dignity and learning.
Kainat Ansari: From Orangi Town to Harvard
Among the evening’s most unforgettable moments was the speech delivered by Kainat Ansari, a TCF alumna whose story brought the ballroom to complete stillness.
Raised in Karachi’s Orangi Town—one of the city’s largest informal settlements—Kainat spoke candidly about a childhood shaped by limited opportunity, social constraints, and the expectation that girls would marry young rather than pursue education. She challenged that narrative.
Her journey took her from a simple classroom in Pakistan to Norway for high school, to a full undergraduate scholarship in the United States, to Oxford for an academic exchange, and now to Harvard University, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Education.
“I’m not extraordinary,” she told the audience. “I’m just like other girls in my neighborhood. The only difference was that someone—through TCF—gave me an opportunity.”
She closed with a verse by Faiz Ahmed Faiz:
“Dil na-umeed toh nahi, nakaam hi toh hai.
Lambi hai gham ki shaam, magar shaam hi toh hai.”
Her words served as both a reminder and an invitation: that hope, when paired with opportunity, can transform entire generations.
From Laughter to Legacy: A Night Rooted in Community
The gala balanced inspiration with joy. Comedian Yasmin Elhady brought laughter with her sharp wit and storytelling, while music legend Alamgir filled the ballroom with nostalgia and energy through his iconic pop hits.
But beyond the entertainment, the purpose remained clear: every moment, every conversation, and every pledge contributed to expanding access to education as a fundamental human right.
Lighting the Way Forward
If 2024 set a benchmark, the 2025 gala reaffirmed TCF-DC’s place as one of the most consistent and impactful chapters within TCF-USA’s national network.
In a time when charitable attention is often fleeting and donor fatigue is real, TCF-DC continues to defy the trend—anchored by a community committed to long-term change and a leadership ethos shaped by sincerity and accountability.
As one guest said while leaving the ballroom:
“You don’t just attend a TCF gala. You carry it with you.”
And so the work continues—a shared promise to build more schools, open more doors, and invest in the limitless potential of Pakistan’s children. Because where there is education, there is dignity. And where there is community, there is unstoppable hope.