Yogmata Keiko Aikawa to join We Raise Hope gala in Manhattan

We Raise Hope will host a gala at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan on Nov. 11, 2026, with Himalayan spiritual leader Yogmata Keiko Aikawa as special guest. The event will spotlight the nonprofit’s work in Nepal, where it funds healthcare, education and community development programs.

Why it matters: - We Raise Hope is using the Manhattan gala to raise support for long-term development work in rural Nepal, where access to healthcare, education and basic infrastructure remains limited. - Yogmata Keiko Aikawa adds a spiritual and humanitarian profile that connects the event to Nepal and broader international peace and service efforts.

What happened: - We Raise Hope will host its gala on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. - Yogmata Keiko Aikawa will attend as special guest. - The event is designed to bring together New York’s philanthropic community in support of We Raise Hope’s mission in Nepal.

The details: - We Raise Hope was co-founded by Italian jewelry designer Alberto Luzzi. - The nonprofit began as volunteer relief work after Nepal’s 2015 earthquake and expanded into broader sustainable development programs. - Current projects include support for Bodgaun Primary Hospital, school education, meals, digital literacy and community infrastructure. - The organization also supports clean water access, technology access and economic opportunity in underserved communities. - Luzzi leads We Raise Hope as co-founder and CEO. - Luzzi runs a jewelry business in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and has more than two decades of experience in the industry. - The gala will include a reception and open bar, followed by dinner, entertainment and stories about the communities served by the nonprofit. - We Raise Hope says the evening will help fund and spotlight its ongoing programs in Nepal. - Yogmata Keiko Aikawa is a Japanese-born spiritual teacher and author whose work centers on yoga, meditation, compassion and peace. - Yogmata trained in the Himalayas and has visited Nepal, including after the 2015 earthquake, when she met with the country’s president and prime minister. - Yogmata’s charitable work has included medical, education and social welfare support in India, plus an international peace campaign. - Yogmata has also spoken and led meditation events at United Nations headquarters in New York. - More information about We Raise Hope is available here. - More information about Yogmata Keiko Aikawa is available here.

Between the lines: - The gala pairs a luxury New York setting with a grassroots development message aimed at donors who respond to both philanthropy and high-profile cultural figures. - Luzzi’s dual identity as a jewelry designer and nonprofit leader gives We Raise Hope a lifestyle and social-circle bridge into fundraising networks. - Yogmata’s involvement broadens the event beyond a standard charity dinner by linking Nepal relief, spiritual practice and international advocacy.

What's next: - We Raise Hope is expected to use the gala to expand awareness and support for its Nepal programs. - The nonprofit appears focused on continuing community-led projects that build local self-sufficiency over time. - The event may also strengthen the organization’s profile within New York’s donor and hospitality circles.

The bottom line: - We Raise Hope is betting that a Manhattan gala and a globally known spiritual leader can convert attention into sustained support for Nepal-based aid and development work.