Thousands of donors have placed their faith in India Development & Relief Fund (IDRF) again as their “Charity of Choice”.  With their overwhelming support, IDRF’s donation receipts for tsunami relief and rehabilitation have exceeded $600,000.

While the tide of direct giving by individual donors has receded, more and more institutional donors like Indian associations, temples and cultural groups are approaching IDRF to channel their collection of donations due to IDRF’s 17-year track record in working for the poor and affected people in India.  IDRF’s donation receipts are expected to reach $1 million due to such resolute support and generosity from the Indian-American community.
IDRF released $20,000 for immediate relief that was used for providing complete set of utensils, mats, towels, bed sheets, and rice to more than 600 families in two villages Ulavar Nagar  and Kellar near Nagapatnam in Tamil Nadu. 60 Fishermen in costal Andhra Pradesh were provided a Fishing net each costing 10000 rupees. Two senior IDRF volunteers are touring affected areas coordinating relief operations and exploring plans of various NGOs who wish to work with IDRF for taking up reconstruction work. More details about immediate relief efforts can be found at http://tsunami.idrf.org 

In another development augmenting the efforts of its full/part-time workers and volunteers in India, IDRF is now partnering with Indicorps USA’s professional team in seeking concrete proposals from a wide range of NGOs for the long-term rehabilitation in tsunami-affected areas.
IDRF chapters all over USA have been organizing successful fundraiser drives. IDRF Boston chapter screened movie “Swades” in the first week of January to benefit Tsunami victims. More than 100 people enjoyed the movie despite snow and icy conditions. IDRF Boston chapter is planning to organize fundraising event Holi and two dance concerts during next 3 months.  Living up to their tradition of joining to help victims of natural calamities collectively, the Indian-American community is supporting IDRF’s fundraisers whole-heartedly.

Those wishing to donate to IDRF should make checks payable to “India Development & Relief Fund” (mention ‘Tsunami’ in the memo) and mail it to: IDRF, 40 Orchard Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. From IDRF’s website, donations using PAYPAL or credit cards is also possible. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

IDRF recently released a VCD Sparsh - The Healing Touch, showcasing the outstanding long-term earthquake rehabilitation work done in Gujarat by 18 NGOs which it financed.  IDRF’s sincere efforts in helping earthquake survivors without any discrimination and in a cost-effective manner has turned many new donors towards IDRF.  For instance, many Indian American community groups, religious institutions and professional organizations from various cities are now actively working with IDRF.  IDRF collaborates with such donors in making decisions on how and where their donations should be used.  The donors are also encouraged to help monitor those projects.

With a long proven track record for helping India’s poor and suffering people during previous calamities like Uttaranchal earthquake, Latur earthquake, Kargil conflict, Orissa super-cyclone, Gujarat earthquake IDRF has become the “Charity Of Choice” for the Indian-American community.

IDRF is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious, and tax-exempt organization approved under Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3).  Founded by ex-World Bank economist, Dr. Vinod Prakash, IDRF has been a favored means for thousands of donors in the USA who wish to contribute to various development, relief and rehabilitation efforts in India.  IDRF is administered by volunteers in USA who receive no honorarium of any kind.  For more information on IDRF and its projects, please visit the IDRF website http://www.idrf.org.

|