New York City, New York Sep 12, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Dr. Raj Bhayani, Vice Chairman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation and a Founder Trustee of the National Alliance of Indian Organizations (NAIO), is helping launch a Nepal Disaster Relief Fund aimed at mobilizing humanitarian assistance for communities affected by disaster in Nepal.
The initiative brings together the AAPI Charitable Foundation and NAIO, combining the reach of two community organizations to encourage support for Nepal and coordinate relief efforts.
As part of the launch, the organizations hosted a Nepal Disaster Relief Zoom meeting on August 30, bringing community leaders together to discuss the relief effort and ways to support those affected. Dadhiram Bhandari, Consul General of Nepal in New York, participated as the chief guest.
For Dr. Bhayani, the initiative reflects a longstanding commitment to connecting community leadership with practical humanitarian action.
"When a disaster affects communities anywhere in our region, our response should go beyond expressing concern," Dr. Bhayani said. "We have organizations, community networks, and people who are willing to help. Our responsibility is to bring those resources together and turn that willingness into meaningful support for the people who need it."
Two Organizations Come Together for Nepal
The Nepal relief initiative brings together the AAPI Charitable Foundation's charitable mission with the growing national network represented by NAIO.
Dr. Bhayani serves as Vice Chairman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation, an organization focused on charitable and humanitarian initiatives. He is also a Founder Trustee of NAIO, a national coalition established in March 2026 to bring Indian-American organizations and community leaders together on a unified platform.
Those two roles placed Dr. Bhayani in a position to help connect leaders, organizations, and supporters around the Nepal relief effort.
The August 30 meeting carried the message, "Together for Nepal, Together for Humanity," reflecting the initiative's broader humanitarian focus.
Consul General Dadhiram Bhandari's participation also provided an important connection between the relief effort and Nepal's diplomatic representation in New York.
"Community organizations can be especially effective when they work together rather than responding separately," Dr. Bhayani said. "The goal is to create a coordinated effort that makes it easier for people who want to help to become part of something larger."
Building on a Record of Community Service
The Nepal Disaster Relief Fund is the latest community initiative involving Dr. Bhayani, a New York surgeon who has spent years balancing his medical career with civic, charitable, and community leadership.
His service has included involvement with more than 20 community organizations and associations, as well as initiatives supporting healthcare, education, road safety, hunger relief, and community development.
Dr. Bhayani has helped organize health and blood donation camps and supported fundraising efforts for programs providing meals to children in India. He has also participated in charitable initiatives such as Football for Nation in Delhi, which brought together parliamentarians and members of the film industry to raise funds for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
His community work has also extended to major civic gatherings. In 2014, Dr. Bhayani served as a key organizer surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden.
More recently, he played a prominent role in NAIO's "Azadi Ka Mahotsav" celebration on August 15, 2026, at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, New York. The event brought together more than 1,000 guests to commemorate India's 80th Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
That gathering centered on a message of greater cooperation among Indian-American organizations. The Nepal relief initiative provides an immediate opportunity to put that principle into practice.
Turning Community Networks Into Humanitarian Action
Large diaspora organizations can play an important role during humanitarian crises because their networks extend across professional, cultural, civic, and geographic communities.
For Dr. Bhayani, however, the value of those networks ultimately depends on what they accomplish.
"A strong community is not measured only by how many people we can bring together for a celebration," Dr. Bhayani said. "It is also measured by how quickly we can come together when people are facing hardship. Nepal needs support, and this is a moment for our community to respond."
The collaboration between the AAPI Charitable Foundation and NAIO is intended to provide a platform for that response, bringing greater attention to the need for relief while encouraging individuals and organizations to participate.
The effort also reflects the broader theme behind much of Dr. Bhayani's community work: organizations can increase their impact when they share resources, relationships, and a common purpose.
A Call for Support
Dr. Bhayani and the participating organizations encourage community members to support the Nepal Disaster Relief Fund and help extend its reach.
The August 30 meeting represented an early step in building awareness and bringing community stakeholders together. The larger objective is to translate that engagement into assistance for people and communities in Nepal affected by the disaster.
"Humanitarian work reminds us that our connections are bigger than any one organization or title," Dr. Bhayani said. "When people need help, what matters is whether we are willing to act. We hope this effort encourages people throughout our communities to stand together with Nepal."
Additional information about NAIO is available at www.naio.global.
About Dr. Raj Bhayani
Dr. Raj Bhayani is a New York-based surgeon, community leader, social activist, and entrepreneur. He serves as Vice Chairman of the AAPI Charitable Foundation and is a Founder Trustee of the National Alliance of Indian Organizations. Alongside his career in ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Bhayani has maintained extensive involvement in civic, cultural, philanthropic, and humanitarian initiatives. He has served on the boards of more than 20 community organizations and associations and has spent years strengthening community cooperation, supporting charitable causes, and building connections between organizations in the United States and South Asia.
Source :Dr. Rajendra Bhayani
