Bhaktivedanta Academy, a devotional primary school located in Alachua, Florida, hosted its third annual spring fundraising event on Friday, April 23rd.

Over 150 supporters filled the Alachua Women’s Center to enjoy the music of Bada Haridas and band, who performed some of the tracks from his latest album Sri Nama, and an opulent seven-course traditional Indian dinner.

A dessert bar, stocked with an assortment of bite-size treats (including mango cheesecakes and guava empanadas) prepared by Amaradha Dasi of Terra Nova catering, and a performance by Yadunath Dasa, a professional actor and comedian, rounded out the evening.

The event raised $17,611 toward its goal of $20,000, as attendees responded enthusiastically to the appeal by Visvambhara Dasa, the school’s director, to help raise teacher salaries and create a scholarship fund for needy families.

“So much has been done to bring Krishna and Balaram to New Raman Reti, but who will take care of them ten, twenty, or thirty years down the road?” Visvambhara asked. “That’s where we come in.”
The reference was to the new deities scheduled to be installed in the Alachua ISKCON temple on Memorial Day weekend.

Bhaktivedanta Academy opened in 1990, and is currently the largest and longest-running Hare Krishna school in North America. It serves fifty students ranging in level from Preshcool through 6th grade, using a Montessori framework.

To make a donation, or for more information, please see bhaktivedantaacademy.org.