Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray (2nd left) and Town Clerk Mark Bonilla (right) present an official Town of Hempstead Make A Difference Medal to Indu Jaiswal of Garden City (2nd right) on the occasion of the 2009 Make A Difference Award ceremony, which was held at the Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion at Town Hall in Hempstead.

Approximately 35 years ago Indu and her family emigrated to our country embracing their new home and its culture. Today Indu dedicates herself to helping other Indian immigrants navigate their way through their new environment.

As a new resident, Indu became involved with the Welcome Wagon of Garden City, introducing others to their new hometown. A person with a genuine sharing and open nature, Indu Jaiswal welcomes Indians to our home while enriching native Long Islanders with the rich, beautiful and dynamic culture and traditions of India.

As chairperson of the Indian American Forum, Indu has helped initiate Indian American Night at Eisenhower Park, an India Republic Day Celebration at Hempstead Town Hall and a tour of the United States for children with special needs and disabilities from a school in New Delhi.

Always looking to help others, Indu has served as president of India Association of Long Island and Secretary for the Federation of Indian Associations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She was the first Indian woman appointed to the Nassau County Youth Board and she is a board member with the Stony Brook Center for India Studies, the Long Island Arts Council in Freeport, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association.

Indu’s husband, Sudhir Jaiswal, was also on hand to commend his wife.