Home > Magazine > Around Town > National convention raised $100,000 for underserved in Tamil Nadu

 

National convention raised $100,000 for underserved in Tamil Nadu

July 2019
National convention raised $100,000 for underserved in Tamil Nadu

 

 

(Left) A dance program, one of many presented at the Tamil Nadu Foundation's 45th National Convention.

 

About 800 delegates from different parts of the USA gathered in Atlanta for Tamil Nadu Foundation’s 45th National Convention during the Memorial Day Weekend. The objective of the two-day Convention was to enrich and empower the underserved in Tamil Nadu through TNF’s “Mann Vaasanai​” (Smell of Native Soil) initiative which includes establishment of a corpus fund to initiate and sustain humanitarian projects in each of the 33 districts in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

PeopleRepsenting33DistrictsOfIndiaWhereTNFdoesCharity_680.jpg

People representing 33 districts of India where TNF does charity work.

The Convention, hosted by the Georgia Chapter of TNF in partnership with Greater Atlanta Tamil Sangam, raised about $100,000 for the “Mann Vaasanai” initiative. Well-known Tamil scholar and humanitarian Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar was honored with TNF Excellence Award for his educational and humanitarian services in rural Tamil Nadu, and Mr. Rajarethinam, IAS (Retired), was honored with TNF Service Excellence Award for his visionary leadership to TNF Tamil Nadu Chapter.

Consul Asim Kumar_300x226.jpg

 

 

Consul Asim Kumar.

Mr. Asim Kumar, Consul, Consulate General of India in Atlanta inaugurated the Convention and lauded TNF’s focus on government affiliated schools, hospitals, and organizations, as they are the ones that cater to the needs of the underprivileged. He requested to focus on promoting entrepreneurship-based partnership between Tamil Nadu and India as that will generate more jobs for the underserved in India and in enriching the status of the Indian community in USA.

 

A significant aspect of the Convention was the Youth Convention attended by about 50 second-generation American Tamils,which that focused on volunteering in India and connecting with their ancestral heritage through service, said Kannappan Sekkappan, TNF Convention Coordinator. The inaugural Tamil American Youth Making An an Impact (TAYMAI) Awards were presented to Shreya Ramesh of Atlanta, Meghna Chandrasekaran of Maryland, and Ananya Ramanathan of Pennsylvania for their grant proposals to continue their TNF summer internship related service projects in Tamil Nadu.

Majestic dance drama “Kadai Ezhu Vallagal” directed by Madurai Muralidharan with participation by 120 local artists portrayed the philanthropy of seven legendary Tamil kings.

Program Committee Chairman Sudhaher mentioned that the light music by popular folk artists Rajalakshmi and Senthil Ganesh brought the audience dancing to their feet. A colorful parade with groups representing their native districts was conducted for the first time in the TNF Convention. The majestic dance drama “Kadai Ezhu Vallagal” directed by Madurai Muralidharan with participation by 120 local artists portrayed the philanthropy of seven legendary Tamil kings.

TNF_Drama_Slide.jpg

 

 

(Left) Programs were presented by members from all over the country.

Somalay Somasundaram, President TNF USA, mentioned that the Atlanta Convention has brought good visibility for TNF in Georgia and the surrounding Southeastern states. The entrepreneurship forum, organized by American Tamil Entrepreneurs Association, focused on developing and supporting U.S.- based Indian entrepreneurship.

 

VolunteersWhoMadeItHappen_680compressed.jpg

 

Atlanta volunteers who made it happen.

Tamil Nadu Foundation USA is, the largest and oldest US-based nonprofit solely focused on Tamil Nadu. TNF’s 1,200 life members and 25 chapters send more than $1 million annually for educational and humanitarian projects in India.

For more details: https://tnfusa.org

Videos:
Reviews of Kadai Yezhu Vallalgal by Kalaimamani Madurai Muralidharan that featured around 125 Dance drama artists.
https://www.facebook.com/madurai.r.muralidaran/videos/2475636459197442/

Maxhai thuli sangamam by SenthilGanesh-Rajalakshmi
https://www.facebook.com/TamilNaduFoundationGeorgiaChapter/videos/1563883323746592/

https://www.facebook.com/TamilNaduFoundationGeorgiaChapter


[The article above is a Website Bonus Feature, appearing only on the website for July 2019, not in the print/digital issues.]

 

 Remember, we have new Website Bonus Features that are not in the print magazine. Every time you see the W symbol in the print magazine, you can go to our website to see additional print or audiovisual material!

Submitting your report for consideration in Around Town

Please send post event reports for consideration in the Around Town section to AroundTown@khabar.com. Publication of reports is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. Guidelines for the reports are on our website at http://www.khabar.com/magazine/around-town/guidelines_for_submitting_reports_to_around_town. Deadline: 15th of each month—for consideration in the following month. However, chances of inclusion are better if reports are received well in advance of the deadline – where possible, e.g. within 3-7 days of the event

Submitting your news item for consideration in Newsmakers

Please send news items for consideration in the Newsmakers section to CommunityNewsmakers@khabar.com. Publication of news is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. We are focusing on local community members with some achievement or award that will be interesting and/or inspiring to our readers.


Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.


  • Add to Twitter
  • Add to Facebook
  • Add to Technorati
  • Add to Slashdot
  • Add to Stumbleupon
  • Add to Furl
  • Add to Blinklist
  • Add to Delicious
  • Add to Newsvine
  • Add to Reddit
  • Add to Digg
  • Add to Fark

Back to articles

 

DIGITAL ISSUE 

03_24-Cover-NMACC-W.jpg

 

eKhabar

Sign up for our weekly newsletter
eKhabar

        

TrophyPoint-Webads-200x200-4.jpg

  NRSPAY_Khabar-Website_2x2_Ad.gif

Krishnan Co WebBanner.jpg

Raj&Patel-CPA-Web-Banner.jpg

Embassy Bank_gif.gif 

MedRates-Banner-11-23.jpg

DineshMehta-CPA-Banner-0813.jpg