Namaste Award Recognizes Those Who Serve Others
Film Director and Twin Peaks’ Creator David Lynch Will Be Recipient of the 2016 Namaste Award Presented by Yoga Gives Back at Sept. 25th Fundraiser in Malibu
Los Angeles, CA–Yoga Gives Back (YGB) proudly announces that three-time Oscar-nominated film director and creator of the Twin Peaks series, David Lynch, will be the recipient of the YGB foundation’s prestigious 2016 Namaste Award.
The Namaste Award ceremony will take place at the YGB foundation’s fifth-annual Thank You Mother India fundraiser on Sept. 25, 2016 in Malibu, California. The fundraiser is a joyous event where over 200 members of the Southern California yoga community and beyond come together to express gratitude to “Mother India” for the gift of yoga.
“I am thrilled to present the 2016 Namaste Award to David Lynch whose passion for Transcendental Meditation led to creating the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace,” says YGB Founder Kayoko Mitsumatsu. “The Foundation teaches Transcendental Meditation in many countries and, through its practice, helps young children in inner-city schools, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the homeless, and women and girls who are victims of violence.” Lynch began practicing Transcendental Meditation in 1973.
She explains, “While it’s common for many to perceive yoga as a physical exercise, the ultimate goal of the practice of yoga is to unite with the Divine Self—and meditation plays an important role in achieving this. ‘Namaste,’ which means ‘the divinity in me salutes divinity in you’ in Sanskrit, symbolizes Yoga Gives Back’s mission, which is to help others, and is the inspiration for the Namaste Award.”
“The Namaste Award recognizes special people who have gone beyond the practice and teaching of yoga to incorporate noble humanitarian service, which helps make the world a better place,” she continues, “and we believe Mr. Lynch exemplifies this through his acts of kindness and desire to help others reach enlightenment. ”
Mitsumatsu founded Yoga Gives Back because she was deeply moved by the degree of poverty experienced by people in India. “While benefitting so much from regular yoga practice and teachings, it hit me hard that 75% of India’s population still live on under $2.00 a day,” she says. “It became very clear that if everyone worldwide who enjoys yoga donates even the cost of one yoga class to help those less fortunate, we can effect real change in the birthplace of yoga.”
The Thank You Mother India fundraiser will take place at the Malibu estate of philanthropist Dr. Amarjit Marwah at 4:30 p.m. Following a welcome reception, there will be a seated dinner featuring the Namaste Award ceremony, a short YGB FILMS presentation, silent and live auction, raffle, and live entertainment. Each event attendee will receive a generous gift bag from the event sponsors. Tickets ($250 each) will be available as of early June here.
This fundraiser serves as the launch for YGB’s annual five-month, global fundraising campaign. From September 2016 through January 2017, more than 150 YGB events will take place in over 15 countries heightening awareness of the realities faced by the poor, especially women and children in India. “While the 2015-2016 global campaign raised over $75,000.00 (USD), this year’s goal is to raise over $100,000.00,” says Mitsumatsu. “Yoga studios and communities will again host special yoga classes or fundraisers whose proceeds will benefit YGB’s programs.”
“For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life” is the organization’s mantra, which has grown 35% every year since 2009, and now funds nearly 900 mothers and children in Karnataka and West Bengal, India,” she adds. YGB’s micro-loans and educational scholarships offer a minimum five-year commitment to each recipient.
The 2016 YGB Host Committee includes many prestigious members of the yoga community: Derik Mills, Felicia Tomasko, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Jorgen Christiansson, Ken Atchity, Kino MacGregor, Mandy Ingbar, Phillip Goldberg, Shiva Rae, Susan Nichols, and Tara Guber.
Yoga Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all or part of the gift may be deducted as a charitable contribution. Check with a tax advisor. For more information, visit Yoga Gives Back.
