I lived all my life in the US in Texas, a bright sunny place always but when we moved to WA in 2017 it was nothing but rainy and cloudy days mostly. Seattle Freeze was not just a term, it was real and got to me for the first few months of our move. So, I decided to explore some new hobbies that will lead me to get outdoors and try new adventures. Of all the things I did, hiking is something that stuck with me and brought me joy and peace. It also provided me an opportunity to meet like minded people. What started as a hobby became my passion.Now I go into the mountains to lose my mind and find my soul.
My passion grew into a desire to also go beyond hiking and to make an impact with it. This search led me to Asha. Asha Seattle chapter primarily focuses on providing support to groups trying to improve the state of education in rural and economically backward areas in India. I am where I am today because of the education provided by my parents. I strongly believe that education is the biggest gift you can give to any child that can empower themselves in many ways. And so, I commit to climb Mt. Baker with Asha in July 2021 and raise funds for education for underprivileged kids in India.
I would like to clarify that the funds being raised here are not financing my climbs in any way. I have provided the finances for the gear and guide services for those myself. All the funds raised will be exclusively used for Asha for Education projects.
I am asking you to make whatever contribution you think is appropriate. Any amount no matter how small helps to provide a brighter future for someone in need. All donations are tax-deductible (Tax Id 770 45 9884), and the organization is registered with many corporate employers for donation matching programs. With your donation please add the following comment – “Team Asha Climber 2021 – Gayathri Devalapalle”. Thank you so much for your support!
Why Asha for Education
Asha is a “minimal overhead” organization, driven by volunteers (including the administrative expenses) ensuring that more than 95% of your donations are sent to our partner 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.
Please visit Asha For Education to learn about some of the work that Asha volunteers do. The funds that are raised for Asha are disbursed to worthy initiatives in India. I would also encourage you to look at some of the Projects List taken by Seattle Chapter.