Jena Doolas, a South Loop resident and volunteer for the Central Asia Institute (CAI), reports that the organization will host the “Promoting Literacy, Promoting Peace Gala” as the CAI’s annual fundraiser, Saturday, April 3, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare at 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, IL.

The host, CAI’s Executive Director Greg Mortenson, has built more than 135 educational institutions in Central Asia. He also is the co-author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, and at the gala will introduce a new book, Stones into Schools” Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Actress America Ferrera will attend, and there will be food and music from Pakistan. Dinner begins at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Sadia Ashraf at (630) 999-2099 or sadia@ikat.org, or log on to www.ikat.org/cai-annual-fundraiser.