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Greetings to all our friends and supporters with a wish for a healthier and happier time. Karuna Charities Washington was inaugurated by our Late Chairperson Lekha Srinivasan in May 1998. I have had the honor and privilege of serving as the President for the last 23 years alongside a most dedicated ALL WOMAN Board. Together, we started this humble organization holding a small Platter full of hope and an ardent desire to do something for our community here ni the U.S and overseas. Today, we are 130 members strong and each year, some more join us on our mission.

Karuna, which means compassion in Sanskrit, is the heart and soul of Karuna Charities. We are a grass-roots organization that makes a difference in the lives of the needy and disadvantaged (mainly women and children) in the United States, India, and other countries. Domestic violence does not discriminate. It shows in all levels of society; it rears its ugly head in the homes of the rich and poor. We believe all beings have a right to live a life of dignity. We may not have walked in the shoes of those in need but we can hold their hands and walk beside them and lend them a helping hand. Some of these emotionally and physically abused women take refuge in shelters but a different kind of challenge faces them as they step out to begin their life anew. We step in and help in various ways, including money for their first month’s rent, lawyers’ fees, training for a new job, essential commodities so they become stronger and forge ahead with more confidence. Through our assistance, no matter how big or small, we aim to provide a boost to our beneficiaries so that they can lead a better, independent and more purposeful life.

Education is also of paramount importance for it allows a person to earn and to be independent. Karuna has set up four scholarships for the needy, particularly women, at the following Institutions: Northern Virginia, Community College; Montgomery College, Maryland; the University of the District of Columbia; and the Universities at Shady Grove, Maryland.

Karuna Charities also participates in community service. We cook and serve meals in shelters, give cleansing materials in orphanages and Mother Teresa homes. We have been active in our giving especially now during this pandemic. Most recently, we have delivered food to shelters, monetary help to food banks, and provided additional funding through the aforementioned universities to students struggling to make ends meet. Karuna also contributed wholeheartedly during the very dark period of Covid days. Karuna Charities contributed around $19,000, to food banks, shelters in the DC metropolitan area in 2019 and 2020 and also reached out to COVID affected people in India with much needed medical supplies worth $10,000 in 2021.

During the intense Covid period, we added another Chapter to our activities, by adding and bringing about awareness of the needy amongst our very young generation, ages 12 and under. This Youth group wing is headed by Priyanka Rattana and Sangita Kalotra. They carried out an online inaugural Talent Program; made New Year cards for a home for the aged, organized a Read AThon, and raised money to purchase fifty gift cards ($50 each) for children residing at a local shelter in Virginia during Thanksgiving.

The last two years saw a revival of the Golf Tournament which enabled us to arrange a Fundraiser out in the open. tI proved very popular under the erstwhile Ajay Kalotra, the principal architect of this Tournament and now it has come to stay.

There is still a lot we can do. Remember the small platter we started out with in 1998? It has been growing bigger and bigger and is now full of love, care, empathy and happiness. Al this we couldn’t have done alone. It is our beloved community, all of you that have made all this possible. When Iwas a young girl living in Calcutta, India, Iremember looking through our car window and seeing a frightened, homeless girl about my age crying out for food. Iwondered…why I had so much and she so little…maybe nothing! Why life was so unfair to so many. A voice inside of me was asking “Why God, why?…Why can’t you do something about it” I entreated. This image of that little girl has always remained engrained in my consciousness. Then, many years later, I was able to find my answer in the form of a question: “What am I going to do about it?” THE SEED OF COMPASSION, the intense desire to help others in need that was lying dormant in my mind has been my call to service.

Tonight, we are celebrating our 25 years of Community Service. Yes, it is our Silver Jubilee! I feel blessed that I have had the opportunity to work alongside with my Board Members, Ambassadors, Sponsors, and Karuna members to mobilize our community’s support in the most trying of times for those in greatest need.

I am so glad that you chose to take time out of your precious schedules, especially on a Sunday evening, to be here with us al. I hope you enjoy the Show.

Amrit Kalotra 

President

Karuna Charities Washington Inc.