AmeriCares India & Disney’s ‘Million Dollar Arm’

Million Dollar Arm – Triumphing Over Adversity

What better way to grab victory from the jaws of defeat than to watch ‘Million Dollar Arm’, Disney’s fun tale of two village kids from India making it in the big, big world of professional baseball in America? The fact that this is a true story makes it all the more enjoyable and relevant. The film stars ‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm, along with Lake Bell, Madhur Mittal, Aasif Mandvi and Suraj Sharma in a very likeable film.

This true rags to riches story is about two village boys from India who went on to become baseball pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel.  They were the discoveries of J.B. Bernstein, a failing sports agent who took a gamble trying to find super pitchers within the millions of young boys in India, all addicted to cricket. He conducted a contest which showcased the talents of several non-baseball players – until he found the two who could be groomed to be the million dollar arm, baseball’s next pitching sensation.

‘Million Dollar Arm’ captures the sights, color and flavor of India and you are bound to get hooked to the lives of young Rinku and Dinesh and care about the outcome. In true Disney fashion, the upbeat film is full of fun and life lessons, and keeps you involved. The triumph of the two boys, when it comes, is relished by the audience.

Million Dollar Arm

AmeriCares India & Million Dollar Arm

While the movie has been released in the US, I saw it at a special advance screening hosted by AmeriCares, to benefit the humanitarian aid organization’s health programs in India. The event was held at the AMC Theater in NYC which has those super new seats which can have you reclining in complete luxury, armed with popcorn and a giant soda. While the evening was fun, the motivation was quite serious – to raise funds for changing lives in rural India.

The screening of ‘Million Dollar Arm’ raised $5000 for AmeriCares India, which helps in the aftermath of disasters, as well as supports health projects.  It also operates five mobile medical clinics that provide free primary care and medicines to residents of Mumbai’s slums, and over the years has delivered $50 million worth of medical supplies and aid to India.   “India has experienced great economic growth, but not everyone is reaping the benefits,” said AmeriCares Senior Vice President of Development Kevin Allan. “There are 400 million people in poverty in India – more people than in the entire United States.”

For more information, visit americares.org