Indian Americans honor Kansas hero Ian Grillot with $100,000 to buy a house
HOUSTON, March 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A shooting incident in Olathe, Kansas on February 22, 2017 that is now being investigated as a hate crime, left one person of Indian origin dead and two others injured. During this act of senseless violence, there was also the heroic act of valor of Ian Grillot, 24, a young man from Kansas. Ian showed true sense of the American spirit by intervening in the shooting and was himself shot in his hand and chest.
"It is not every day that one meets a genuine hero — a person who risks his life for another, and takes a bullet for a complete stranger. Ian Grillot is a man who reminds us of the promise of America and its greatness," said Jiten Agarwal, Chair of India House Houston's annual gala. India House is a community center built by Americans of Indian origin in the Greater Houston area to serve all who need help.
On behalf of the Indian-American community in Houston, India House recognized Ian's selfless act and has extended the community's gratitude to Ian Grillot by helping him to buy a house. Charlie Yalamanchili, a India House trustee, proposed the house purchase, and offered to match every dollar raised for this cause. With such generous support, India House raised $100,000. This initiative was strongly encouraged and supported by the Consul General of India in Houston, Dr. Anupam Ray.
Ian Grillot was the guest of honor at the annual India House Gala on March 25, 2017 in Houston. "Ian has given us an occasion to reaffirm a tie that binds us all as Americans, irrespective of where we come from," said Agarwal.
"I don't know if I could've lived with myself if I wouldn't have stopped or attempted to stop the shooter because that would've been completely devastating," Ian said. "I now have a very powerful message and if I can help empower people and spread hope and love, then why not? I am honored to be at India House that serves so many families from so many communities in the Houston area."
This extraordinary gesture of gratitude will leave a long-lasting message of how people from the land of Mahatma Gandhi respond to random acts of violence.
Contact: Pramod Kulkarni, Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (713) 306 3620
SOURCE India House Houston
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