KAW Community Outreach Programs
Kerala Association of Washington has been actively involved in community outreach programs
towards the betterment of the community we live in and also in supporting charity initiatives in our homeland, Kerala.
KAW traditionally has been offering financial aid to our members in need and also for our less fortunate countrymen back in India, especially in Kerala. The funds usually come from voluntary donations from KAW members and also through matching donations from Microsoft, Boeing, Cingular, Washington Mutual and other similar organizations who offer 100% matching on donations to non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organizations. 100% of your donation to KAW Charity Fund goes directly to Charity w/o any administrative expenses. Contact us if you would like to help our less fortunate brothers & sisters.
Right now, the only solution for Anwin is a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and the family is searching worldwide for a positive match. KAW member Vipin Pillai is helping the family with his knowledge and connections in this field. The expense for a BMT is anywhere between Rs. 25 to 35 lakhs ($50,000 to $75,000). Having the cord blood cells collected at the time of birth together with the cells of his twin sister, Ann, Abel can be treated using stem cell transplantation (SCT). Abel has to wait until he reaches one year-old to undergo the transplantation. The expected cost for Abel is around Rs. 12 lakhs ($25,000). Both the children are undergoing treatment at Vellore Hospital. The family has already spent all of their savings, close to Rs. 8 lakhs ($16,000) and now turns to their friends and family for help with the expensive treatment costs.
KAW requests its members to consider this case and help the family to the greatest possible extent. Please write to your check either to KAW or Care & Share. KAW has worked with Care & Share to use any funds collected in this regard for the sole benefit of Anwin & Abel. The donations through Care & Share are tax deductible and also eligible for any company matching from employers such as Microsoft.
April 27, 2009: KAW donated $1600 (Rs. 80,000) towards the treatment of Lenin Thomas (Leukemia patient, Vadakkal, Alappuzha).
We Conducted a fund raiser to help a Malayalee boy who has been diagnosed with AML M2, which is an acute variety of blood cancer. Follow link for details.
In keeping with our tradition of extending a helping hand to the needy people, KAW organized a community service program on December 13th, 2008. Twenty two KAW volunteers helped Hopelink Bellevue and Kirkland centers in sorting food and other gift items so that Hopelink's clients could come and shop for Christmas presents during the Christmas shopping days. Other notable activities included:
2) Sep 16, 07: KAW EC has successfully organized an OnamSadhya for the 70+ members of LittleFlower Orphanage in Kundara as part of KAW's Onam Celebrations. 3) Sep 16, 07: KAW organized a Bone Marrow Donation drive in association with the Onam Event on Sep 16th. 4) Sep 4, 07: KAW is currently supporting two Drinking Water projects (Construction of 2 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks) of 20,000 Indian Rupees for two families in Soth Chellanam, Kochi-8, Ernakulam District of Kerala (Details of the households will be disclosed only to KAW memebrs upon written request) along with many other charity initiatives. 5) Aug 31, 07: KAW EC' 2007 has donated a sum of 1000 dollars for sponsoring 3 orphaned kids in an S.O.S village in Kerala. The Children with IDs - CCI00023, CCI00024, CCI00025 (Details of the children will be disclosed only to KAW memebrs upon written request) will be supported by KAW for 2 years. SOS state head for Kerala, Mr. Sudheesh Kaimal would like to express his deepest gratitude to all the KAW members for our valuable gift to the children for this Onam.
Thanks to Ram Pranam, Ojus John and Ashley Elenjickal for coordinating these activities. 6) As a Project Leader For United Way - Day of Caring - Sept 21st 2007 -
http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwkc/volunteer/news/volunteerdoc2007
7) http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwkc/org/opp/21556628.html?project_id=10239563345 is a good one for computer-savvy KAW members. Its mainly data entry sort of thing and Ashley is already coordinating the effort to find volunteers for the same.
The following are few examples of the charity work that KAW has been able to organize in the recent past..
When : Saturday 7/21/2007 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Apna Bazar, 2245 148th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98007
Contact Person: Anish Talati --- (206) 790-9183
When : Saturday 7/22/2007 11.00 am
Where: Gurudwara Singh Sabha of WA, 5200 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA, 98055
Contact Person: Gita Gisin --- (206) 618-6088
We are very proud to inform you that construction of 2 out of 4 homes are in
their final stages in Chellanam. The expenses for each home being built is about 1.5 lakhs. The Rotary Club of Cochin Global is providing all the engineering expertise and supervisory work through their member Rotarian L. Gopakumar, a senior renowned architect. Manual helping work and other expenses is also arranged by the Rotary Club.
FOKANA and the Rotary Club of Cochin Global are planning to build a total of 18 homes. The money we have provided will be only sufficient for 4 completed homes. They plan to use the remainder for the 5th home as well.
About Community Psychiatric Clinic (CPC):For more than fifty years, Community Psychiatric Clinic has maintained a reputation for excellence by helping thousands cope successfully with everything from the challenges and stresses of everyday life to serious mental illness. For more information check out their website at http://www.cpcwa.org
If you need to get in touch with the committee regarding our community outreach programs, please email KAW Community Outreach.
KAW traditionally has been offering financial aid to our members in need and also for our less fortunate countrymen back in India, especially in Kerala. The funds usually come from voluntary donations from KAW members and also through matching donations from Microsoft, Boeing, Cingular, Washington Mutual and other similar organizations who offer 100% matching on donations to non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organizations. 100% of your donation to KAW Charity Fund goes directly to Charity w/o any administrative expenses. Contact us if you would like to help our less fortunate brothers & sisters.
Charity Updates
November 1 - 30, 2009: Fund Raising for Anwin & Abel
Anwin & Abel, born into a middle class family in Trichur, are both affected by the genetic disorder Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Anwin is three years old and Abel is just four months. Anwin went through several treatment phases, but none of them worked. Doctors recommended that the parents try for a second child, whose cord blood cells may be used to try and treat the disease. A year and a half later, Anwin's Mom delivered twins; a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the cells of either new born did not match with those of Anwin. To further complicate the situation, one of the twins, Abel, was also diagnosed with the same disease.Right now, the only solution for Anwin is a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and the family is searching worldwide for a positive match. KAW member Vipin Pillai is helping the family with his knowledge and connections in this field. The expense for a BMT is anywhere between Rs. 25 to 35 lakhs ($50,000 to $75,000). Having the cord blood cells collected at the time of birth together with the cells of his twin sister, Ann, Abel can be treated using stem cell transplantation (SCT). Abel has to wait until he reaches one year-old to undergo the transplantation. The expected cost for Abel is around Rs. 12 lakhs ($25,000). Both the children are undergoing treatment at Vellore Hospital. The family has already spent all of their savings, close to Rs. 8 lakhs ($16,000) and now turns to their friends and family for help with the expensive treatment costs.
KAW requests its members to consider this case and help the family to the greatest possible extent. Please write to your check either to KAW or Care & Share. KAW has worked with Care & Share to use any funds collected in this regard for the sole benefit of Anwin & Abel. The donations through Care & Share are tax deductible and also eligible for any company matching from employers such as Microsoft.
Other Charity Activities in 2009
On July 24 2009, KAW donated an additional $300 towards the treatment of Lenin. However, we are saddened to announce the passing of Lenin on July 30th. Lenin's 41st Day Memorial Mass will be held on September 8th. Lenin's father expressed his family's sincere gratitude towards the members of KAW for all our support.April 27, 2009: KAW donated $1600 (Rs. 80,000) towards the treatment of Lenin Thomas (Leukemia patient, Vadakkal, Alappuzha).
2008 Activities
We recieved a Letter of Gratitude from Care&Share to KAW Leadership for sponsoring more than Eight Thousand (8000) dollars in the year 2008 for various Charity activities in Kerala. Click here for details.We Conducted a fund raiser to help a Malayalee boy who has been diagnosed with AML M2, which is an acute variety of blood cancer. Follow link for details.
In keeping with our tradition of extending a helping hand to the needy people, KAW organized a community service program on December 13th, 2008. Twenty two KAW volunteers helped Hopelink Bellevue and Kirkland centers in sorting food and other gift items so that Hopelink's clients could come and shop for Christmas presents during the Christmas shopping days. Other notable activities included:
- May 28, 2008 - $600 - For the treatment of Lenin Thomas, Leukemia, Vadakkal, Alleppy
- Oct 18, 2008 - $400 Joseph Vinith - Brain Tumor surgery, Chellanam, Kochi
- Oct 18, 2008 - $400 Saiju Xavier - Leukemia, Chethy, Alleppy
- Oct 31, 2008 - $500 - (First Installment) Priyesh Ramachandran - Spasticity surgery
- Nov 11, 2008 - $500 - (Second Installment) Priyesh Ramachandran - Spasticity surgery
- Feb 9, 2009 - $3,750 - Adityan - Surgeries for severely burned deformity on the face and scalp
- In addition, $500 that was given to a case that came through Youth Recreational Club.
Past Charity Drives
1) Dec 9, 07: KAW EC' 2007 has donated a sum of 500 dollars for sponsoring another orphaned kid in an S.O.S village in Kerala. (Details of the child will be disclosed only to KAW memebrs upon written request) will be supported by KAW for 3 years.2) Sep 16, 07: KAW EC has successfully organized an OnamSadhya for the 70+ members of LittleFlower Orphanage in Kundara as part of KAW's Onam Celebrations. 3) Sep 16, 07: KAW organized a Bone Marrow Donation drive in association with the Onam Event on Sep 16th. 4) Sep 4, 07: KAW is currently supporting two Drinking Water projects (Construction of 2 Rain Water Harvesting Tanks) of 20,000 Indian Rupees for two families in Soth Chellanam, Kochi-8, Ernakulam District of Kerala (Details of the households will be disclosed only to KAW memebrs upon written request) along with many other charity initiatives. 5) Aug 31, 07: KAW EC' 2007 has donated a sum of 1000 dollars for sponsoring 3 orphaned kids in an S.O.S village in Kerala. The Children with IDs - CCI00023, CCI00024, CCI00025 (Details of the children will be disclosed only to KAW memebrs upon written request) will be supported by KAW for 2 years. SOS state head for Kerala, Mr. Sudheesh Kaimal would like to express his deepest gratitude to all the KAW members for our valuable gift to the children for this Onam.
Thanks to Ram Pranam, Ojus John and Ashley Elenjickal for coordinating these activities. 6) As a Project Leader For United Way - Day of Caring - Sept 21st 2007 -
http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwkc/volunteer/news/volunteerdoc2007
7) http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwkc/org/opp/21556628.html?project_id=10239563345 is a good one for computer-savvy KAW members. Its mainly data entry sort of thing and Ashley is already coordinating the effort to find volunteers for the same.
The following are few examples of the charity work that KAW has been able to organize in the recent past..
Support for Bone Marrow Donation drive
Here's a time when your helping hand will save two precious human lives..Vinay & Samir, suffering from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)..For details, kindly visit the websites - http://www.helpvinay.org/dp/index.php & http://www.helpsameer.org/. The time/location of the drives are given below:When : Saturday 7/21/2007 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Where: Apna Bazar, 2245 148th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98007
Contact Person: Anish Talati --- (206) 790-9183
When : Saturday 7/22/2007 11.00 am
Where: Gurudwara Singh Sabha of WA, 5200 Talbot Rd S, Renton, WA, 98055
Contact Person: Gita Gisin --- (206) 618-6088
Lending a helping hand to KFB
On Saturday May 12th, 17 KAW volunteers helped the Kent Food Bank (KFB) in sorting a portion of the tonnes of food that came in from the letter-carriers drive. The typical job was to unload the food from the truck, sort it, pack in boxes and store inside the Kent Food Bank warehouse! Fun and satisfying! KAW's enthusiastic volunteers helped from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm in sorting the food items. KAW thanks the coordinators Ojus John & Binoy Varughese and all the following volunteers for showing their support to the community...Ashley Elenjickal, Tom George, Neeni George, Suresh Goraphy, Krishnan Sreenivasan, Deepa Krishnan and our committed youth brigade of Angela, Allen, Shawn, Tushara, Sanoj, Soby, Noble, Nelvin & Syba. Way to go!!!.. Click here for some photos of the charity eventHelp for Viraj's Family
We recently did a charity drive with suport from Care and Share, to financially help the Family of a boy who was diagnosed with Leukemia and underwent treatment at Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington. Through this drive, we rasied a sum total of $12,730. Thanks to Jyothish & other volunteers for heading this.| Contributions Eligible for Company match | $5,475 |
| Non-Matched contributions (Checks made to Care & Share) | $450 |
| Non-Matched contributions (Checks made to KAW) | $1,330 |
| Matching contributions from Employers | $5,475 |
| Total | $12,730 |
Help for Tsunami victims in Kerala
KAW, with the help of Care and Share, raised $8000 towards Tsunami relief efforts in Kerala. Totally we contributed around $12000 donation (including matching funds) to Rotary Club Global of Kochi thru Mr. John Titus and FOKANA. The donation was specifically intended to help the Tsunami victims in Chellanam village in the Ernakulam district of Kerala.We are very proud to inform you that construction of 2 out of 4 homes are in
their final stages in Chellanam. The expenses for each home being built is about 1.5 lakhs. The Rotary Club of Cochin Global is providing all the engineering expertise and supervisory work through their member Rotarian L. Gopakumar, a senior renowned architect. Manual helping work and other expenses is also arranged by the Rotary Club.
FOKANA and the Rotary Club of Cochin Global are planning to build a total of 18 homes. The money we have provided will be only sufficient for 4 completed homes. They plan to use the remainder for the 5th home as well.
Cascade Hall Voluntary Work
We had about 40 volunteers working for about 5 hours for Community Psychiatric Clinic in Seattle to build a walkway for the inmates.About Community Psychiatric Clinic (CPC):For more than fifty years, Community Psychiatric Clinic has maintained a reputation for excellence by helping thousands cope successfully with everything from the challenges and stresses of everyday life to serious mental illness. For more information check out their website at http://www.cpcwa.org
Other Activities
- A sum of $2,000 was donated to an orphanage, Abhaya Kendram in Kotttayam, Kerala in 2002.
- Around $2,000 donation for Balasubramaniam in early 2003. Bala was a Software Engineer and was hospitalized in Seattle after he had been found unconscious in a swimming pool. He was the only child of an elderly Tamil couple and was in contract with a lot of restrictions in his Medical insurance. Bala later died in Coimbatore.
- Food drive at Kent Food bank (around 30 volunteers working for about 5 hours), in 2004 & in 2006
- Around $5,000 donation to a member family in Seattle towards medical expenses.
If you need to get in touch with the committee regarding our community outreach programs, please email KAW Community Outreach.