<p>Celebrities of all stature can be spotted participating in events and programmes of various non-profit and non-government organisations promoting their cause. The trend which has been there since long is on the rise owing to a number of reasons.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Metrolife spoke to a few NGOs to know if bringing celebrities helps in the cause in the long run or makes a bubble impact.<br /><br />Arohan, an NGO working for the education of underprivileged children recently organised a fund raiser fashion and dance show inviting like celebrity choreographers Terence Lewis and Kaushik Ghosh. Though Terence and his troupe backed out of performing at the event last minute, the Dance India Dance fame choreographer did make an appearance as a special guest. <br /><br />Jyotsna Aneja, who works with Arohan says they had invited celebrities though “that’s not our philosophy as a rule. I won’t say that the celeb’s presence makes a lot of difference but it does help slightly. We roped in celebrities for the first time,” she says.<br /><br />Despite involving well-known faces in order to reach out to a wider number of people, NGOs believe that it is the work that speaks and helps in the long run.<br /><br />Tanya Alag, coordinator of fund raising events at 23-year-old NGO Salaam Balaak Trust, which was started with proceeds of Mira Nair’s film Salaam Bombay for betterment of street children, says celebrities and well-known faces can pull crowds but at the end of the day, what works is word of mouth publicity for the good work.<br /><br />“We do a fund raiser show annually where well-known faces are invited to perform. This year we are organising a dance show with Astad Deboo; last year Shubha Mudgal had performed for us. But I don’t think they can help attracting people to the issues we deal with. It is work that speaks before celebrities, who are good for adding charm,” says Tanya. <br /><br />“We are working for so long. Our experience says marketing done through good work works best,” she adds.<br /><br />Some NGOs, however, do feel the impact of celebrities’ participation and involvement. Even though the celeb participation may be akin to a cameo in a film it does help in reaching out to larger numbers. Dr Shyama Chona, founder, Tamanna, an NGO working for specially-abled children says, “In India, celebrities get lot of importance. When they convey a message, its impact is definitely bigger. Besides raising good funds, the event and message also get highlighted.” <br /><br />Tamanna organises annual fashion shows where Bollywood celebrities are invited as special guests, with Dia Mirza being the latest. <br /><br />But celebrities or not, it is the cause that has to speak for itself, first and foremost.</p>
<p>Celebrities of all stature can be spotted participating in events and programmes of various non-profit and non-government organisations promoting their cause. The trend which has been there since long is on the rise owing to a number of reasons.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Metrolife spoke to a few NGOs to know if bringing celebrities helps in the cause in the long run or makes a bubble impact.<br /><br />Arohan, an NGO working for the education of underprivileged children recently organised a fund raiser fashion and dance show inviting like celebrity choreographers Terence Lewis and Kaushik Ghosh. Though Terence and his troupe backed out of performing at the event last minute, the Dance India Dance fame choreographer did make an appearance as a special guest. <br /><br />Jyotsna Aneja, who works with Arohan says they had invited celebrities though “that’s not our philosophy as a rule. I won’t say that the celeb’s presence makes a lot of difference but it does help slightly. We roped in celebrities for the first time,” she says.<br /><br />Despite involving well-known faces in order to reach out to a wider number of people, NGOs believe that it is the work that speaks and helps in the long run.<br /><br />Tanya Alag, coordinator of fund raising events at 23-year-old NGO Salaam Balaak Trust, which was started with proceeds of Mira Nair’s film Salaam Bombay for betterment of street children, says celebrities and well-known faces can pull crowds but at the end of the day, what works is word of mouth publicity for the good work.<br /><br />“We do a fund raiser show annually where well-known faces are invited to perform. This year we are organising a dance show with Astad Deboo; last year Shubha Mudgal had performed for us. But I don’t think they can help attracting people to the issues we deal with. It is work that speaks before celebrities, who are good for adding charm,” says Tanya. <br /><br />“We are working for so long. Our experience says marketing done through good work works best,” she adds.<br /><br />Some NGOs, however, do feel the impact of celebrities’ participation and involvement. Even though the celeb participation may be akin to a cameo in a film it does help in reaching out to larger numbers. Dr Shyama Chona, founder, Tamanna, an NGO working for specially-abled children says, “In India, celebrities get lot of importance. When they convey a message, its impact is definitely bigger. Besides raising good funds, the event and message also get highlighted.” <br /><br />Tamanna organises annual fashion shows where Bollywood celebrities are invited as special guests, with Dia Mirza being the latest. <br /><br />But celebrities or not, it is the cause that has to speak for itself, first and foremost.</p>
