Running with Asha
Asha for Education is a volunteer run organization aiming to catalyze socio-economic change in India through education. The objectives of the group are:
- To provide access to education for underprivileged children in India
- To promote universal education and decrease child labor
- To support grass roots initiatives in deprived and marginalized communities in India
- To address, whenever possible, other issues affecting human life such as health care, environmental and socio-economic issues, women's issues, human rights issues, etc.
As a part of Team Asha this runner has committed to meet the above objectives through your support. Please read the runner's personal statement below and use the donate button on the right to make a contribution to the runner's objective.
Raj Shetty
Racing to educate…
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Hello everyone,
Come Dec 13, 2009, I will wake up at an unearthly hour to start a 26.2 mile run at 7:00AM through the streets of Dallas.. I have pledged to raise $2620 ($100 for every mile) - my hope is that you will feel inspired with me and support my effort. I will train and run the best I can - in return it will be an honor to get your support.
Why am I running?
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I get this question quite a lot. To be honest, it started as a result of my wife’s constant nagging for years to run along with her:) and I finally succumbed to her pressure last year and ran my first half-marathon; I wanted to get in shape, re-address my work-life balance, and incidentally do so for a good cause with like-minded people. Though the original premise still holds, as I pound mile after mile in training, the important reasons crystalize. Everyone is working towards overcoming their limits; I hope, in overcoming mine, I can help others who can’t help themselves do the same. That spurs me on.
Why ASHA?
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Started at UC Berkeley, in 1991 (Go Bears!), ASHA has a very simple and powerful objective. To bring about socio-economic development via education for underprivileged children. Having stewarded an Asha Dallas project and sponsored a kid’s education, I firmly believe in the value of education. I have seen first-hand the jaw-dropping difference education can bring to the lives of children and via them their families. Apart from believing in ASHA, what I have really liked in ASHA’s approach to ensure funds raised reach the child:
1. Keep operational costs down as close to 0 as possible. To do so, it leverages a massive team of volunteers. (Go Team Asha!) You should see the comparable administrative costs (check the link to charity navigator below) at other charitable organizations to appreciate how big an achievement this is.
2. Commitment to ensuring that 100% of your donations will make it to the end project.
References & Stories
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1. Charity navigator, and independent organization that rates charities has given Asha for Education a 4 star rating, the highest. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=7630
2. Here is a CNN story on a sample project being run.
http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/category/impact-your-world/
How can you help?
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I have two big challenges. Both of which you can help with.
1. Donate: I have committed to raise $2620 towards ASHA. Please make this easier for me with your generosity; If you could sponsor a mile ($100), that would be great :) No contribution is too small and it all goes to a worthy cause (with a tax exemption to boot). You can donate using a credit card or send checks; If you would like to send a check, please let me know and I will send you the address that you could send the check to; Receipts will be provided and donations can be made anonymously in all cases.
2. Support: The thoughts of you wonderful donors, the children you will help spurs me on. As a friend cheered me on last year with the words - “Run Forrest Run” 
If you are local, show up for one of our long runs over the weekend or make it up to the city to cheer us on the big day. Every shout helps, and will bring a smile to our faces.
Please email me your mailing address, so that I can send you a receipt for your tax records.
Thank You!
Raj
Cell: 972-839-7722
