Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and  Friends Foundation have donated more than 800 school backpacks with school supplies to three schools in Massachusetts.  TANA and Friends Foundation have been exemplary leaders in helping needy students both in India as well as in the USA for a long time.  TANA, founded in 1977, is an organization that perpetuates, integrates and assimilates the cultural heritage of Telugu-speaking people into the main stream cultural heritage of North America.  Friends Foundation is a non-profit organization established by a group of friends in 2000; it is funded primarily by Nannapaneni Mohan, the Founder and Chairman, and his spouse Shama, but the work done by the rest of the team is both essential and priceless.

Last year, TANA and the Friends Foundation donated about 200 backpacks to Chandler Elementary School in Worcester, Massachusetts, where more than 90% of the students qualify for reduced price or free meals.  At a ceremony held in Worcester City Hall, Mayor Mrs. Constantina B. Lukes and the entire Worcester School Committee, consisting of school administrators, teachers, elected student and parent representatives, honored Nannapaneni Mohan and other members of TANA for their generosity and the wonderful work they have done to improve the education both in India and America.  It was at that honoring ceremony that Mayor Lukes and the School Committee asked Mohan if he and the organizations could adopt more schools and help more needy children next year.  Little they knew at that time that Mohan, TANA and Friends Foundation would quadruple their generosity the following year, donating and distributing 800 school backpacks and school supplies to the school student populations of three different schools in Worcester and Boston.

Mayor Lukes stopped by the Nannapaneni home to thank the supporters and donors for their efforts and to encourage them to do it again next year.  She thanked TANA and it’s members, about 10 school-age children, ( Hima & Suren Nannapaneni, Swathi & Pranay Bolneni, Divya & Deepti Kanneganti, Pooja Ika, Chris Uhl, Kyle Parson & Deepthi Kilaru), as well as other parents who had set up an “assembly line” to fill the school backpacks with school supplies such as note books, folders, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, color crayons, glue, etc.  The mayor was particularly impressed with the involvement of the school-age children in this worthy cause to help other school-age children.  The mayor said she would like to see some of the children of our community go to the Worcester schools and speak to other school children about the importance of education and how education has changed their lives.

Hima Nannapaneni, a 12th Grade student at Saint Mark’s School in Southborough, said she learned from her experience with the backpacks that there are a lot of children who don’t have much.  She said by doing something good for them, she is also doing something good for herself.  It makes me feel good and kind of unselfish,” she said.  Her brother Suren, a 7th Grade student from Fay School in Southborough said that he is very happy to be part of school backpack program.  “It is a good feeling to help others,” he said.  Swathi Bolneni, a 12th Grade honor student, and her brother Pranay, a 10th Grade honor student from Shrewsbury Public School, also helped stuff backpacks with school supplies.  “By doing this, it makes me realize how fortunate I am,” said Pranay, an award winning member of the school’s math team.


TANA and Friends Foundation members whose generosity made the school backpack donations possible include: Mohan & Shama  Nannapaneni, Friends Foundation, Dr. Muddana Haribabu, Dr. Paparao Gundavaram , Mr. Purnachander Bolneni, Dr. Seshagiri Rao Meka, Dr. Ekambar Kandimalla, Dr. Murthy Kanneganti & Vani Kodela, Mr. Taranath Yarabothu, Mr. Babu Tammisetti,  Karthik & Nimisha Shaw, Mr. Govinda Bhisetti, Dr. Mohandas Divi, .  The 800 backpacks this year were distributed to two schools in Worcester and one school in Boston:  Nativity School and Woodland Academy in Worcester, and P. A. Shaw School in Boston. 

    The Nativity School of Worcester is a tuition-free middle school for inner-city boys living in the vulnerable neighborhoods of Worcester, Massachusetts.  About 60 students in grades 5 through 8 are currently enrolled at this school.  Now in its sixth year, Nativity School provides an exceptional educational opportunity to boys from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Nativity School principal Mr. David Roach said, “Your donations and assistance helps us with the many programs that make Nativity School such a special and sacred place.  We rely on the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations, and we greatly appreciate your support and contributions.”

    Mohan Nannapaneni, speaking to the students at the school assembly on their first day of school said, “You are in a very good school environment with some of the best teachers and administrators.  I was amazed at the school principal and other school administrators, who personally greet every student by name at the front entrance, as the students arrived.”  Dr. Muddana Haribabu, a highly successful pediatrician in Worcester and a strong supporter of education, told the students, “to focus on education and work hard.  You are in America, the Land of Opportunities, and you can become a doctor too.”

Woodland Academy is located in the main south quadrant of the city of Worcester, with a student enrollment of about 430 in grades from pre-school through 6th Grade.  Woodland Academy principal Patricia Padilla says, “Most of our students are from low income families with about 84% eligible for free and reduced lunch.  We greatly appreciate your generosity to help our school.  Our mission is to provide all students with the opportunity and support to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically so as to become a productive learning community.”

Speaking to the entire school student body, Principal Mrs. Pedilla, teachers, Mayor Lukes and Worcester City Councilor Ms. Barbara G. Haller, Mohan Nannapaneni told the students, “Education is the most important thing in your life.  You work hard, listen to your teachers, and succeed in your lives.  After your parents, Teachers are the most wonderful people who will be very happy about your success in your life.”  Mohan reiterated the story of most first generation immigrant Telugu community from India, who came to America with nothing but an education degree, a bag of books and clothes, and a small amount of money.  To the hall filled with students, Mohan said, “We worked hard and succeeded, and so can you.  Dream big and pursue your dreams.  You are the future scientists and leaders.”  Hima Nannapaneni, after distributing the backpacks said, “It is so fulfilling- helping these school children is a good deed.  I am giving back.”
 
The last and final phase of the project was P. A. Shaw Elementary School in Dorchester area of Boston.  The School was named after Pauline Agassiz Shaw (1841 – 1917), a wonderful pioneer for education.  She was the person responsible for bringing institutionalized kindergartens to Boston Public Schools many years ago.  The school has an enrollment of about 315 students, mostly from low-income families.  Mrs. Maudlin Wright, Principal of Shaw School says, “We strive to provide opportunities for learning to all students, in a positive school environment that prepares each child to achieve their full potential.  One of the primary goals of our school is to have each student develop love for learning.  To that extent, the entire school community appreciates the school backpacks and school supplies.”

Purnachander Bolneni of Shrewsbury, who is also an elected representative of the Shrewsbury Public School Council, and a strong supporter of education system, takes pride in Telugu community’s outreach to the needy children in local schools.  He said, “We need to get more involved in community events and showcase our generosity, culture and heritage.”  Suren Nannapaneni and three other students from Fay School took permission from the principal to miss a portion of their first day of school so that they could distribute the backpacks at P.A.Shaw School.  Suren said, “I am very happy to see the smiles of students when they received the backpacks filled with school supplies.”

In addition to the 800 backpacks they distributed in Massachusetts, TANA and other local organizations have given out about 4,000 backpacks to school children in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, San Jose and Washington, D.C.

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