As you know, the recent floods in
Pakistan have been devastating. Below, you will find four e-mail
messages from people (Mahnaz Fancy, Ethan Casey, Aun Rahman, Beena Sarwar) with
deep Pakistan connections telling you about different ways you can help the flood victims. Please take a look and share with your friends.
Meanwhile, the American Pakistan Foundation (APF) and CEO Awais Khan are looking to
connect with US journalists. APF is involved in a fundraising drive in
the US in partnership with IRC, Relief International and Save the
Children. You can contact him at akhan at americanpakistan.org
o o o o o
From: Mahnaz Fancy <mahnaz.fancy at gmail.com>
Subject: Please support the Relief4Pakistan campaign
Dear Friends,
I have gotten many inquiries over the last few weeks about where to send donations tohelp the flood victims in Pakistan. The situation is awful and grows worse by the day as the rains continue to ravage the land.
This report on the 20th anniversary celebrations of Sakhi for South Asian Women was written by new SAJAforum contributors Maia Efrem & Jehangir Irani, with photos by Irani.
Jehangir Irani is a former pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He served
three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s now a broadcast student at
the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism - ji2168[at]columbia.edu
Maia Efrem, 24, is a writer for the Russian Jewish Institute. She is a
master’s student at the Columbia University Graduate School of
Journalism - me2383[at]columbia.edu
~~~
Clad in a gold and burgundy churidar kurta, filmmaker Mira Nair (right) took center stage in Manhattan's Prince George Ballroom, promising, "...only dinner. Appetizers included and excellent conversation," to one lucky bidder. She jokingly added, "and maybe, depending on how tantalizing the conversation is, it can go places." Nair, who agreed to be auctioned off for a charity fundraiser, was one of almost three hundred people in attendance on Friday, Oct. 2, at Sakhi for South Asian Women's 20th anniversary gala. Minutes later, Sotheby's auctioneer Maarten ten Holder went to work, generating a winning bid of $5,000 for the dinner date with Nair. [Nair's new movie, “Amelia,”
starring Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, and Ewan McGregor, opens on October
23.]
Sakhi, meaning "woman friend" in several South Asian languages, is a non-profit organization, founded 20 years ago by five South Asian women. Its modest roots trace back to no particular location, rather various apartments in New York, where volunteers fielded phone calls from women in distress. "Our call volume has tripled over the last 7 years," said executive director Purvi Shah. "I think our community based approach is successful and our community trusts us as a resource," she added.
DJ Rekha, a pioneer in New York's "Basement Bhangra" scene, provided the soundtrack to the night's festivities. Years ago, Rekha was one of three women participating in Sakhi's first internship program. "Through the years I've done many events with Sakhi,"she said. "In fact, it was one of my jobs as an intern. I did their first fundraising event; I organized it."
The evening began with a reception at the World Monument Funds Gallery, adjacent to the ballroom. Inside, traditional South Asian hors d'oeuvres (think samosas and shrimp patya), catered by acclaimed restaurant Devi, awaited arriving guests. The food complemented Rekha's music, which provided a chill, laid back vibe for guests to peruse the items in the auction. Artist Gazala Chinwalla donated one of her paintings for auction. Having two relatives who were victims of domestic abuse motivated her to do it. Sakhi's supportive network also helped both of her family members end their abusive relationships. "Even in these tough economic times, it is inspiring to see the community make protecting our women a priority," said Roopa Unnikrishnan, a former board chair of Sakhi and a NY-based executive. "It is great to see that the 20th anniversary brought out our existing supporters as well as a whole new generation of people who believe in the cause."
November 2009 will be the first anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and SAJA will be tracking U.S.-based efforts to mark the anniversary. Here's the first item we have come across.
Actually, it's two efforts in one. The first part is a website and nonprofit called WGYB, Mumbai: We Got Your Back:
The terrorist attacks on Mumbai in late November 2008 inspired Mortimer Singer, Waris Ahluwalia, and Tina Bhojwani to create an organization (WGYB!) that will highlight the wonders and beauty of communities like India that have been negatively affectedby traumatic events.
Ask people who have been there, and they’ll all tell you India is
like no other place in the world, a land that stirs every one of the
five senses and stays in your heart forever. It is this India that
brought together three friends, Waris Ahluwalia, Mortimer Singer and
Tina Bhojwani to raise funds, spirits, and awareness for the victims of
the attacks in Mumbai in November, 2008.
The editors set
out to create a scrapbook–collecting personal photos, stories, and
memories from people who, like themselves, love India. The contributors
include Wes Anderson, Adrien Brody, Francesco Clemente, Anthony
Edwards, Jeanine Lobell, Natalie Portman, Yves Carcelle, Jean Touitou,
Owen Wilson, Laura Wilson, Cynthia Rowley, James Ivory, Matthew
Williamson, Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Padma Lakshmi, Shobhaa De, Ratan
Tata and Mukesh Ambani. This book declares to Mumbai and the whole
country that we are all thinking of them and support them: hence To
India, with Love: New York to Mumbai. Profits from the sales of the
book will go to support families affected by the attacks. This book can
truly make a difference, by opening eyes to the wonders of India and by
once again letting the pen—or a camera—dominate the sword.
About the Authors: Born in India and raised in New York, Waris Ahluwalia creates jewels for the House of Waris and hopes to share with the world the impact India has on his heart and soul.
Tina Bhojwani is a New York-based fashion executive specializing in international business development. She is currently the senior vice president for Theory LLC.
Mortimer Singer is senior vice president of Marvin Traub Associates, wherehe has focused on, among other projects, advising Indian retailers on bringing Western brands to India.
More information at the links above. Press contact for the book: kelly[at]assouline.com; press contact for the nonprofit: msinger[at]marvintraub.com.
A report from the US Census bureau came out a few weeks ago, noting that as of 2007 Indian-Americans have the highest median household income of any nationality: $91,195. This is specific to those 1.5 million who were born in India. The overall median household income in the U.S. is $50,740, and $46,881 for the foreign-born population.
Indians also have the highest percentage of people with bachelors degrees (69 %) and "the highest percentage of civilian-employed people working in management, professional and related occupations" (69 %). No surprises here, right?
But just where does all that crazy Indian-American wealth go - or for that matter, the time (and energy) of other South Asians? Apparently no one's really sure. Which is why Archana Sridhar and Venu Gupta set up the South Asian Philanthropy Project last April.
The two are Harvard Law graduates, and set out with these questions:
* Where do South Asians give their resources and time? * What issues captivate the philanthropic imagination of South Asian Americans? * What portion of South Asian giving is directed overseas? * How developed is South Asian philanthropy compared to that of other ethnic groups in the United States? * Are there culturally specific challenges with regard to philanthropy and volunteerism among South Asians?
The site is a great resources for journalists--check out this list of research and policy papers, and another list, of South Asian nonprofits and advocacy groups across the country. It's also useful for desis trying to figure out where to direct their cash. SAPP also has an active blog; recently, Sudhir Venkatesh ("Gang Leader for a Day") led a discussion with Sayu Bhojwani, Sunil Garg and Aly Kassam-Remtulla, around this basic question.
“South Asians are, for the most part, an economically successful group,
so why organize their charity along ethnic lines? In particular,
perhaps they should think about looking outside their own base to find
recipients of philanthropic largesse. If South Asians should not
necessarily give (solely or primarily) to South-Asian causes, then how
should they approach their philanthropy? Give us some alternatives.”
With all this in mind, I asked Archana and Venu a few questions about their organization.
Tell us about your group.
The South Asian Philanthropy Project (SAPP) was founded in
April 2008 by me and Venu Gupta. We were classmates at Harvard Law
School, and since then we
have both worked in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. With SAPP,
we want to inspire and galvanize charitable giving and volunteering
among South Asians living in the United States
because of our experiences with fundraising in and beyond our community.
Our goal is to raise awareness around issues of philanthropy
and give South Asian donors (or potential donors) more tools to make charitable
decisions. More than advocating for any
particular cause, we want to create networks that link donors to each other and
to organizations in need, and launch a national conversation about giving.
Interesting to see a corporation doing philanthropy in the middle of the economic crisis. A message from long-time SAJA list member Kate Donovan of UNICEF:
On Monday 23 February, Ikea, the Swedish home furnishings company, is going to announce a $48 million donation to UNICEF India for programmes focusing on the health and nutrition of children; creating a healthy environment for children and their families at home and in school; ensuring water safety and supply management; protecting children’s rights. They are aiming to reach tens of millions. Which brings their total in corporate philanthropy to $180 million, (some $120 million has gone to India alone). Marianne Barner, IKEA's Social Initiative chief, is available for an interviews Monday and Tuesday. She is making the announcement at the UN conference on Philanthropy and Global Public Health. To arrange an interview, contact Kate Donovan at kdonovan[at]unicef.org or call 1 917 378 2128 or 1 718 362 0606.
December is the month most associated with good deeds, charitable works and such. But for George Mathew (PHOTO: Chris Lee), a Singapore-born Indian-American conductor of Western classical music, January is his month for trying to change the world.
And on Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, Mathew is back with the biggest of his charity concerts. "Mahler for the Children of AIDS," at Carnegie Hall, will, according to the press release below, "raise funds and public awareness for pediatric AIDS
and the Prevention-of-Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV
worldwide but especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The
evening will serve as a memorial for the millions of mothers and
children who have lost their lives, a tribute to the resilience of the
survivors, and an urgent call for help to the global community" (see full press release below).
Here's a what Nobel Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu, who is an adviser to the project, had to say: "MAHLER FOR THE CHILDREN OF AIDS echoes Mahler's own words scribbled
into the manuscript of this Symphony, – 'Father, let no creature be
lost!' – Your community of artists and humanitarians alike makes that call
resound across the continents. You are giving voice to the voiceless,
hidden suffering of HIV/AIDS that must be heard by the world. I will be
there with you in spirit."
SAJA presents a music-filled webcast with Mathew, two days before Christmas, to talk about the new concert; the world of Western classical music; his efforts to raise interest in the form in the US and in India; and to discuss what it is like to be a South Asian at the highest levels of this kind of music (you'll see from the advisory board below that two brothers who have been at that level for decades - legendary conductor Zubin Mehta and, on the business side, Zarin Mehta, the president of the New York Philharmonic - are supporters of his work).
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10-11 pm NY time that's Wednesday morning 8:30-9:30 am India time and Wednesday morning 11 am-noon Singapore time See local time around the world: http://bit.ly/RW1P
Listen live or to a recording: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja/2008/12/24/MUSIC-George-Mathew-conductor (you can go and set an e-mail reminder for yourself) or listen live via your phone by dialing this NYC number +1-347-324-5991 [send your questions/comments via e-mail to saja@columbia.edu (subject = webcast) or by posting them in comments section below; see the full archives of SAJA webcasts: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/saja]
In a YouTube video, Mathew talks about his latest concert:
- - -
Listen to a recording of George Mathew conducting Dvorak's Eighth Symphony Movement III (Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia, February 2003):
During the webcast, Mathew will explain various aspects of Mahler's Third Symphony and why he selected it to drive this concert. These are the excerpts we will play - and he will explain:
Do-gooder Hemant Wadhwani, a long-time NYC-area resident and friend of SAJA, sent along a great idea for a post: collecting holiday-season community service projects by South Asian groups.
Here's his starting contribution - projects in NYC. "I actually did not comprehend the depth of all the activities going on here in Manhattan until recently, " he wrote.
Please help us by posting, in the comments section, projects in the rest of the US and Canada.
NYC:
Saturday, December 20: Sathya Sai Baba mission - holiday program
distribution of gifts to 2,000 patients at Goldwater Hospital on
Roosevelt Island (12PM - 4PM)
Sunday December 21, 9:30AM: Sadhu Vaswani Center (SVC) and
Missionary of Charities (Mother Teresa) in Newark, NJ - soup kitchen
activities/blanket distribution - all the nuns in Newark are desis
too... Mother Teresa's group runs their soup kitchen every day except for
Thursdays... Over 1,000 blankets have been distributed on the streets and shelters over the past month by the SVC.
Wednesday, December 24 6PM: Healthy Harlem Food Service - Christmas distribution of gifts. Sathya Sai devotees now run 5 different soup kitchen projects in
Manhattan - every Saturday morning in the Bowery, every Saturday
afternoon in front of Bellevue Men's Shelter, every Wednesday evening
at Harlem, a church (Peter's Place) on 23rd Street - every
Saturday/Sunday evening, and the Baptist church on 32nd street every
Sunday afternoon...at the Baptist church, they open it up as a shelter
on weekend, and 1 or 2 Sai devotees sleep there overnight to man it as
an overnight shelter... Gifts have been prepared for distribution at all these sites. The
whole Sai group about 100 volunteers got together for 3 weekends
continually at the Goldwater Hospital auditorium and turned that place
into a working factory/assembly line to prepare gifts for the 2,000
patients at the hospital in addition to the 1,000 plus people they will
feed during the holiday week. I saw all the energy and it was really
heart-warming.
It's rare that an 11-year-old sends out an appeal letter for a social cause. Even more rare, perhaps is his track record of three campaigns in three years.
Akash Mehta, 11, founder, Kids for a Better Future, believes kids can change the world. This year he’s requesting donations towards Sambhavna, a nonprofit that supports people affected by the Bhopal gas leak of 1984 and others that get added each year.
December 3 this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Union Carbide factory leak that claimed thousands of lives that night and has affected more than 500,000 since. According to the CS monitor article by Scott Baldauf a few years ago:
BHOPAL, INDIA – Nearly 20 years after an accident at a Union Carbide chemical plant killed thousands here, there are signs that a second tragedy is in the making. New environmental studies indicate that tons of toxic material dumped at the old plant have now seeped into the groundwater, affecting a new generation of Bhopal citizens.
The Indian government - long criticized for its lax regulation of Union Carbide and reluctance to pursue legal claims - now says it's ready to hold parent company Dow Chemical liable for the ground contamination.
For many, the Bhopal litigation serves as a test case for India's relationship with foreign businesses and investors. But for the victims of Bhopal, the gas tragedy is a matter of justice, compensation, and safety - all of which, they say, has been a long time in coming.
While Union Carbide settled a civil suit in 1989 by agreeing to pay victims a lump sum of $470 million, a criminal trial against the company and its top officials is entering its 15th year, with less than half of the few hundred witnesses having testified. And the compensation process has taken so long that the settlement fund has nearly doubled in value; Officials haven't decided how to dole out nearly $333 million in unplanned interest.
In the meantime, government inaction on water contamination may be affecting untold thousands who were seemingly left untouched by the poisonous gas accident of Dec. 3, 1984.
Read both Union Carbide and Sambhavana's websites regarding battles of legal and moral responsibility, pending justice and tonnes of waste material that remain in the city. According to the website, members of the nonprofit are planning to come to the US to ask Dow, who now owns Union Carbide, to claim ownership of the premises and the locked building.
Below is Akash's appeal letter.
11/19/2008
AKASH’S BIRTHDAY APPEAL
Dear Friends and Supporters of KBF:
By now you all know what Kids for a Better Future (KBF) is, I’m sure! (If you don’t, read here: Kids For a Better Future is a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, New York City. It is run by a small group of kids in NYC, and was founded three years ago by 10 year old (about to be 11!) Akash Viswanath. Mehta (That’s me!), who was seven at the time.)
FROM CORNELL.edu: Alumnus Ratan Tata and President David Skorton
after signing their historic agreement that will provide an endowment
of $50 million to Cornell for agriculture and nutrition programs in
India and for the education of Indian students at Cornell. PHOTO: Robert Barker/University Photography
What economic crisis? Here's news of a big new philanthropic gift to Cornell University from Chronicle of Higher Education:
Ratan Tata, an Indian industrialist and Cornell University alumnus,
announced today a gift of $50-million to his alma mater to help recruit
top Indian students to the campus and to support joint research
projects with Indian universities in agriculture and nutrition.
The gift from the Tata Trusts, a group of philanthropic
organizations run by Mr. Tata, chairman of the business conglomerate
Tata Sons Ltd., will allow Cornell to establish and expand partnerships
with Indian scientists that build on its strength in applied
agriculture research. He graduated from Cornell in 1959.
The donation will also be used to set up a scholarship fund to bring
more Indian students, who may be discouraged by Cornell's price tag, to
the university. The gift could eventually help support as many as 25
Indian undergraduate and graduate students at a time.
"We want to have our doors wide open and accessible to the best
students, regardless of their capacity to pay," said David J. Skorton,
Cornell's president.
Here's how the gift came to be:
The Tata gift grew out of a trip that Dr. Skorton and other Cornell administrators took to India in January 2007 (The Chronicle,
March 2, 2007). The visit, he said, helped make clear the need to
improve academic and research linkages between American and Indian
universities.
Dr. Skorton, who calls Cornell the "land-grant university to the
world," says the Tata funds will expand on its previous work to improve
the productivity, sustainability, and profitability of India's food
system. Faculty members in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences have conducted research experiments and exchanged scientific
information with their Indian counterparts for more than 50 years.
The precise type and scope of the efforts, however, will be decided
by an advisory panel to be chaired by Dr. Skorton and Mr. Tata. They
will work "shoulder to shoulder," Dr. Skorton said, to ensure that the
projects reflect both Indian and American needs.
For his part, Mr. Tata, who also received an architecture degree
from Cornell in 1962, says he did not want his donation to finance
"bricks and mortar."
The American Express Members Project is going to give away $1.5 million to a nonprofit soon (I presume this money is insulated from all the troubles in the financial sector). I got the following e-mail over the transom from Krishna Penadyala about the top 25 projects:
Two
caring children Nyan and Lekha, aged 9 and 7 have forsaken their
birthday gifts for 2 years and contributed to end childhood blindness.
They have launched "Kids for Sight" initiative and have raised over
$20,000. 320,000 children in India are blind—more than in any other
country—and sometimes simple eye drops at the right time can mean the
difference between a world of shadowy darkness or a life in full-color
clarity. The World Health Organization estimates that about half the
cases of childhood blindness are preventable.
Their
project received a major boost recently when it made into the Top 25 of
the American Express Members Project. They now need 5000 more votes by
September 29th to move to Top 5 to win $ 1.5 million for their
charitable project.
I
am reaching out to you because, you are an influential person (and my
brother's namesake) with an ability to reach and motivate fellow
Indians (who are Amex Card holders) to vote. We would also request you
to look at the possibility of sharing these details with your email
contacts/Websites/blogs, etc. to help us.
We have an urgent need. Between today and Monday, we need to generate these 5000 votes.
The full e-mail is below. You can see the full list of 25 projects here. I spotted at least two other desi projects (there might be more): Jharkhand Tribal Project and SHA - the Livelihood Program for Millions.
The 
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