Sri Sathya Sai International Organization - USA

Gratitude in Action: Celebrating 42 Years of the Dallas Sai Center

The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Dallas (DSC) recently held its inaugural Gratitude Event, on Dec 13 2025, in Plano, TX, celebrating over 42 years of spiritual and community impact since its founding in 1983. What began as a modest volunteer appreciation dinner blossomed into an expansive community gathering, honoring the pioneers who laid the Sai Center’s foundation and the dedicated volunteers who sustain its mission today.

The evening brought together DSC members, civic leaders, and interfaith partners.

During the planning for this event, it became evident that the story of DSC is deeply intertwined with the broader community it serves. It was reflected in the many vital community partners who were invited and honored.

Distinguished guests included:

• The Honorable Mayor of Richardson, Amir Omar, and City Council members
• Civic and community leaders
• Interfaith partners
• Representatives from service partner organizations
• Regional leadership from the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) Region- USA South Central Region

The venue was thoughtfully designed to balance reflection with connection. To the right of the stage, Swami’s altar provided a serene spiritual anchor. In the Founders Hall, interactive Open House booths showcased the center’s five wings—Service, Devotional, Education (SSE), Young Adults, and Environmental Care—offering guests a window into four decades of community outreach. This further strengthened the sense of community that defined the evening.

The program commenced with an invocation by Brother Venkat Sitaraman, devotional coordinator. He welcomed attendees by explaining the Dallas center’s placement within the global SSSIO, which spans over 2,000 centers in 120 countries. He reaffirmed the center’s North Star: “Love All, Serve All. Help Ever, Hurt Never.”

Sister Chitra Niranjan

Sister Chitra Niranjan, president of the Dallas Sai Center, followed with a welcome address. She paid tribute to the elders who established the center, the dedicated center members bringing forward the Sai mission, and to the valued service and interfaith partners, and civic and community leaders present. She highlighted Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s ten guiding principles—manifested globally through free educational institutions, super-specialty hospitals and humanitarian efforts, such as free water projects—that drive the daily service activities of DSC’s nearly 500 members. She emphasized how gratitude, humility, and selfless service are at the core. Finally, she also expressed appreciation for the five wings—Service, Devotional, Sai Spiritual Education, Young Adults, and Environment Care—for their commitment to working in unity.

The event featured powerful testimonials from civic and service leaders:

• Mayor Amir Omar commended the DSC for being a model of "humanity in action," citing its involvement in Meals on Wheels, community gardening, and its support for The Stewpot and Austin Street Center.
• Chris Culak, CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, expressed deep gratitude for the center’s decades-long commitment to the Meals on Wheels program, particularly during the holiday seasons.
• Service Overviews: Coordinators Sister Viji Shiva and Brother Chandra Vishweshwara detailed key initiatives, including Afghan refugee tutoring, ‘Sandwich Service’ and the DSC’s first medical camp held in July 2025.

Sister Keerti Kharod, Educational Coordinator, led a reflective panel discussion on gratitude as a guiding force. The panel featured diverse voices, including Reverend Drew Gaylor (Care Church), Dr. Julie Trivedi (UT Southwestern), and leaders from the Network of Community Ministries and The Stewpot. The conversation centered on the importance of building service relationships rooted in dignity.

The evening was further enriched by:

• Interfaith Initiatives: Brother Satish Natarajan highlighted the 24-hour Akhanda Bhajan and weekly study circles that foster interfaith harmony.
• Musical Offerings: The DSC Young Adults performed a moving set, including "I Am Light" and "Color Esperanza," ending with a piece inspired by the message of universal love.

Behind the scenes, the Media Team led by Brother Viswanath Jagdeesh captured the evening’s spirit through livestreams and heartfelt testimonials. The event concluded with a shared dinner of Indian and Italian cuisine, where guests continued to weave the "common thread of gratitude" that defined the night. As the DSC looks toward the future, the evening served as a powerful reminder that when service is rooted in gratitude and love, it transcends mere charity and becomes a way of life.