THRIVE (To Help Rural Indian Villages Emerge) hosted their second annual Diwali Fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus on Saturday, November 20th 2004.

The event, which included dinner, dancing, and a short cultural program showcasing  classical Odissi dance, bhangra , and popular dances from India drew a sold out crowd of 230 and raised over $7000 in contributions alone- a steady increase from the previous year.  Says Monalisa Patnaik, founder of THRIVE,  “We are both touched and overwhelmed by the compassion of our local community members and particularly our cosponsor, the Orissa Society of New England (OSNE) …we hope all who attended left with a sense of having actively taken a role in positively impacting the lives of impoverished women and children in our international community.” 

Proceeds from the benefit will go towards helping rural villages in the eastern coastal state of Orissa, India which has suffered perpetual cycles of poverty and illiteracy, which has only been intensified due to natural disasters including floods, and the supercyclone in 1999.

Since its inception in 1999, THRIVE’s programs have expanded to include a school for tribal children, providing midday meals for students, 13 women’s self-help groups, and access roads for village inhabitants. The organization will complete the addition of a second school and add a health-care focus in 2005. 

Going beyond “band-aid” solutions for impoverished communities, THRIVE aims to provide long-term solutions by providing basic health care and education to these communities, allowing them the opportunities for personal dignity and self-sufficiency.

THRIVE maintains administrative offices in the US and India.

For more information please visit the website: http://www.wethrive.org.

Contacts:
Dr Amaresh and Sadhana Mahapatra
Ms. Ranjana Tandon
Mr. Bidhan Patnaik
Ms. Monalisa Patnaik

|