HOUSTON TAMILS TO HELP MOTHER LAND

Several community leaders and long-time residents from the Houston Tamil community met at the Madras Pavilion on January 28^th and formed the Houston Chapter of Tamil Nadu Foundation to focus on humanitarian projects in Tamil Nadu.  Sam Kannappan, a well-known Houstonian, welcomed the gathering and mentioned that Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) a U.S.-based charitable organization devoted to the promotion of social, economic and educational objectives was founded in 1974, the same year Bharathi Kalai Mandram (BKM) was started.  Kannappan noted that the goals of TNF are unique and this will enable the local chapter to work in partnership with several other Houston-based organizations to help needy Tamils in Tamil Nadu. 

Somalay Somasundaram, TNF’s Vice President for Chapters, made a presentation on the activities of Philadelphia and Michigan chapters and gave an overview of the more than 600 projects that TNF has executed in the past.  The audience was impressed by TNF’s ongoing projects benefiting mentally challenged children in Sirkali and orphan girls in Vedaranyam.  Somasundaram added that TNF’s goal is to establish 18 chapters all over the U.S. in the next two years and to get the growing American-Tamil community involved in humanitarian activities in Tamil Nadu. Reflecting on the rich experience of the leaders assembled at the meeting, Somasundaram expressed confidence that the Houston chapter will soon become a role model for other chapters across the county. 

The gathering elected Naga Ganesan as the President of Houston Chapter.  The committee includes Kumar Ganesan (Vice President), Rajamani Ganesh (Secretary), S. Narayanan (Treasurer), Tupil Narasiman, Seshadri Kumar, Karu Manickavasagam, Satheesh Kumar (Committee Members).  Sam Kannappan and Dr. A.K. Subramanian will serve has Honorary Advisors to the chapter.  Newly elected President Naga Ganesan expressed his team’s desire to work with other established Houston organizations including the Meenakshi Temple, BKM,  Pratham and UNICEF to help the neediest in Tamil Nadu.