Hi everyone,
Raised in an environment, and a family which always prioritized our education over their comfort, my cousin Lakshmi and I (Shruti) have always been very aware of the privilege we grew up with. We feel very strongly about universal access to education, especially for the ones who are less fortunate.
‘Asha for Education’ is non-profit organization that provides basic education to underprivileged children throughout India. What’s unique about them is that they work at the grassroots level while operating very lean (volunteer-driven), with over 95% of the donations sent to groups in India. Asha for Education has consistently secured a 100% rating on Charity Navigator, a well-established database that evaluates non-profit organizations on the basis of transparency, accountability and financial parameters. Click here to learn more about the projects supported by the Asha Seattle chapter, all over India. The Asha Seattle chapter has very interesting and unique ways of raising funds, one of them being training enthusiasts for adventure activities like endurance biking, marathons, and iconic mountain climbs.
This year, Lakshmi and I are going to attempt the 204-mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland (STP), with Lakshmi’s 11-year-old daughter, Kavya. Lakshmi and Kavya have been training with Asha since March. Watching Kavya persist through this training inspired me to join them ~1.5 months ago. Our goal for the
STP ride is to raise funds and awareness for this charitable organization ‘Asha for Education’. Team Asha are a bunch of wonderful committed folks, volunteering their valuable time and knowledge for a charitable cause. Without their guidance, support and encouragement, this training wouldn’t have been possible.
In Kavya’s words – “My name is Kavya and I just turned 11. This year, I decided to bike the STP because both my parents have done it in the past and this made me want to try it too. My Chitti (aunt) and my mom are training for the ride with me this time, guided by Asha volunteers. At first, when we did the big rides, it was a bit hard, but when we kept going, it got easier. Team Asha has made this journey educational and fun, from learning to fix flats to post-ride ice creams and word games with friends on the long rides.”
This year, we aim to raise $1,200 (before company matching) for ‘Asha for Education’. We would appreciate your help in reaching this goal. No amount is small – every cent of yours will go towards funding educational projects for the underprivileged in India. Additionally, we will match every dollar of total donations up to $1,200. We are thankful to Lakshmi’s husband’s (Vaibhav’s) employer Microsoft, and my employer Intel, who will match every dollar we donate. So, your donation will have a 3X impact.
Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and your donation!
Shruti, Kavya and Lakshmi
Note that Asha is a registered 501(c) organization, and all donations are tax deductible.