Dave and I have been contemplating about what kind of initiatives we should be selecting that would be most impactful, can be administered directly by us and can show concrete results to customers and others donating money to our initiatives. In this process I met people from www.aasai.org.    

Even before I met Mr. Subbu and Mr. Kumar from AASAI , I was very much impressed by some of the initiatives they have been doing since 1998 details of which can be found on their website.  AASAI is a social service NGO, started a few years ago, by Mr. Narasimhan Raghavan, current President of AASAI. They support projects based on the Mission: Help Others so that They Can Help Themselves. 100% of the funds raised go to support the projects and the projects are selected by individuals committed to the cause behind the projects. The projects are reviewed including personal on-site visit, by AASAI board prior to acceptance for funding and support.  The individuals put in their own money even for fund raising expenses.

Subbu and Kumar took the time to explain to me in much more detail about their projects and how their projects over the years lead to self sustainment of organization receiving their money and time.  A classic example given to me was the eco-friendly project initiated by AASAI called Ghosala (cow farm) to support TRUST, an organization for destitute mental health patients.  The project has over the years developed into a valuable facility with 13 cows,  gobar gas plant and an organic fertilizer capability. Besides producing enough milk for patient consumption the cow farm provides therapeutic value and financial resources to TRUST for its core mission.

Most of the people involved with AASAI or distinguished individuals who have excelled in their professional life and it is very heartening to see them take up such noble causes. We plan to continue our association with AASAI to learn more and seek their advice to make sure the initiatives we choose have most value to the community and are administered in the best possible way.

- Rao