It is an extraordinary journey for a person with a middle class background, attending a town public school in Bhadrachalam India and making it to the top rung of the corporate ladder in the US. Mohan Nannapaneni, CEO of Sigma Systems, a company based in Massachusetts is in the news for plenty of reasons. It could be that his company has notched some business awards for entrepreneurial success. It could also be as recent as being appointed to the Business Advisory Council by the National Republican Congressional Committee at Washington DC. But the most significant achievement and satisfaction for him and his wife Shama has been the contribution and success that they have achieved through the Mohan NannaPaneni and Friends Foundation that has been their focus for more than six years.

Bhadrachalam counts Mohan Nannapaneni as one of its most generous benefactors. His transformative gifts to the town with the establishments of schools and scholarships are a tribute to his native town and his country that has helped him become what he is today.Mohan Nannapanneni recalls one particular experience that moved him. During one of his visits to his native
town Bhadrachalam, his car stopped at a railway crossing and he was approached by a lady begging for alms. When she was asked what brought her to that state, she said that her sons have forsaken her and she was forced to beg. “I did the first thing that came to my mind” says Nannapaneni” I fished into my pocket and handed out all the money that I had. She moved a few steps behind from my car but after seeing the rupee notes came back immediately and asked me if I had enough money  since I had given everything away.” Even in her state she was so generous, he recalls and he was moved  by her kindness and her declaration His periodic gift giving through his Foundation called Friends Foundation has helped innumerous poor and gifted children. All this grew out of Nannapaneni's sensitivity to the needs of the poor children and families in Andhra Pradesh.

The word "philanthropist" in our vocabulary means someone who gives money away. To Mohan and Shama Nannapaneni however it is taking some of the issues of poverty, education and health into consideration and the desire to help in some way. Says Mohan Nannapaneni “I see it as taking a small portion of what you have and giving back to your community. Our
focus is on children and education and scholarships to those who genuinely need it.Mohan Nannapaneni and the Friends Foundation have made amazing strides in helping people in many ways. While he funds all the initiatives he takes personal interest in many cases. “I  feel a great sense of satisfaction when it's a need I discover on my own either in a newspaper ad or
when a letter for help that arrives on my desk. I do get a huge amount of self-satisfaction from knowing that I have done something that has caused positive change, particularly at the level affecting people's lives. Let me state a few examples. Very recently a boy named Gourappa came to me. His mother was forced to go begging and the child needed money to go to college. We adopted him and he was given a scholarship which allowed him to attend medical school Another child, whose father was a municipal sweeper in Khamman was a bright student but had no resources. The Foundation helped by funding his education and he is now in IIT Kharagpur. Similarly a farmer’s daughter went to an Engineering college in Tirupathi with help from the Foundation".

How about government apathy and bureaucratic slowdowns ? “I am fortunate that I have friends on both sides that makes it easier to do what I have to do. There have been occasions when the government has given matching grants for schools that we have funded".Shama agrees “If you sit there no work will happen. You have to call people, spend time and have to intervene to get it done. Mohan does all that and things happen. The government is supportive of his ventures and back him totally without expecting anything in return".

The Nannapaneni's are also involved in local community activities. They give funds to local charities and also sponsor cultural organizations like TAGB and TANA. Says Nannapaneni " TAGB is growing in strength and numbers. In future we hope to push the organization to do more community service. As a community we need to stay together and come and participate at events. Sometimes it may be boring but it gives us a chance to get to know each other and when we are trouble, we also have support. I have also supported
TANA at the national level and hope to involve myself more in future".

So how does he find  the time to run a successful company as well as the Foundation while being with family ? Says Shama, " My main focus is the family right now and the work at the office. Maybe when the kids are off to college, then I can get more invloved". Their two children Hima and Suren are in private schools and speak fluent Telugu. We are fortunate that they are comfortable with their Indian heritage and are also socially responsible. We have tried to inculcate these values in them". Says Nannapaneni, laughing , " I
have to find more time to spend with my family but Shama has been very supportive. Also I am fortunate to have employees who are loyal and hard working and the company is run efficiently on a day to day basis."

So does he have a vision of where this will all lead to ? "I have no such vision but that we make a difference in people’s lives and their families. We hope that we serve as models for other philanthropies to do the same. Ultimately we must all collectively strive to improve and provide optimism to the less fortunate when we ourselves are so fortunate Why should we  look at our own background and not try  to improve it. I don't think that is acceptable. Even in India there are scores of rich people who can bring out some change in the lives of the ordinary. It bothers me when I see crores of money being spent on temples and not enough for development. I am not criticizing temple building but if we can spend the same kind of money in schools, hospitals and our neighborhood, it will go a long way. The government and the people should think how to provide education and employment. This can be a big problem for India if we don’t get involved in our neighborhoods. Ultimately the less privileged will want as much as the others and if the haves do not improve their lives there will be societal problems.What I am trying to say is with involvement from the community even a single family can be uplifted.When I look at the happiness that is reflected in those kids it is priceless".

To read more about the Foundation goto http://www.nmfriends.org/

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