The 13th Annual Congressional International Women’s Day Celebration, hosted by the American Multi Ethnic Commission (AMEC) on March 12, 2025, honored 20 exceptional women from around the world. The event, held at the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., celebrated excellence, leadership, and resilience across various fields.
Dr. Vasavi Chakka, Awards Jury Co-Chair, emphasized AMEC’s commitment to recognizing and inspiring women leaders. AMEC President Dr. Vijay Prabhakar credited Congressman Danny K. Davis for envisioning this annual celebration, which has now honored outstanding women for 13 years.
Congressman Davis underscored the importance of acknowledging women’s contributions to society, while Congressman Shri Thanedar reflected on his mother’s sacrifices and the lasting impact of her values. Congressman Jonathan Jackson highlighted historical challenges faced by women in Congress, emphasizing the significance of the recognition.
Among the honorees was Vani Ghanate, founder of DhoomDB.com, who was recognized as a visionary technologist and entrepreneur. She made a bold decision to leave a stable IT career to build DhoomDB.com from the ground up, later joined by her husband and a predominantly female team led by her mother in India. Her commitment extends beyond digital innovation—she pledged to support widowed women in Vrindavan, India, empowering them to become self-sufficient.
Vani was nominated by Mustafa Ajmeri and honored by Dr. VGP of AMEC and Congressman Danny K. Davis. In her acceptance speech, she credited her family’s unwavering support and emphasized the transformative power of education.
Other awardees included medical pioneers, policymakers, business leaders, and social activists from the U.S., India, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Lithuania. Special awards were also presented, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. Award for Excellence 2025, which was awarded to the Paralympic Committee of India, and the NTR Centenary Award 2025, recognizing Sunil Savili and Dr. Vasavi Chakka for their contributions.
AMEC’s annual celebration continues to shine a spotlight on extraordinary women, reinforcing the importance of leadership, innovation, and global empowerment.
