Kal Penn to help raise funds for rural India

NEW YORK: The Nanubhai Education Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on advancing the education of rural students in India,

NEW YORK: The Nanubhai Education Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on advancing the education of rural students in India, has teamed up with renowned actor and producer Kal Penn for a festive night of entertainment as Nanubhai celebrates its five-year anniversary. Other honored guests include US Olympic Bronze Medalist Raj Bhavsar, Miss India USA 2007 Melanie Kannokada, and Gurbaksh Chahal, successful entrepreneur, author, and star of Fox Television's "Secret Millionaire."
The event to be held at the Scholastic Headquarters in New York City on March 6 features a vibrant evening of Indian cultural entertainment, live music, South Asian art displays, dance performances, and a silent auction.
"I support the Nanubhai Education Foundation because education is a tool which can never be taken away," says Kal Penn, actor for lead roles in films like The Namesake.  "It empowers those who have been denied access in the past, and gives hope to a brighter, more just future for children everywhere."
Nanubhai Education Foundation volunteers have worked tirelessly since 2004 to integrate an innovative program of English and Information Technology education into their focus school of 2,000 students residing in over 100 surrounding farming communities in the Indian state of Gujarat. Building on the success of the previous four years, Nanubhai is now launching an ambitious two-year plan to reach over 6,000 new students by expanding programs into two additional schools. The current goals of Nanubhai include hiring new English language teachers, creating computer labs with internet connectivity and increasing graduation rates with particular focus on female students.
"We've accomplished so much since Nanubhai was established," says Raj Shah, founder and president, Nanubhai Education Foundation. "Graduation rates have increased from 25 to 75 percent, scholarships have been secured for students, and computers have made it into the classrooms. We invite everyone to celebrate our successes over the years and also recognize there is still a lot to be done."
Another recent achievement for Nanubhai is its partnership with the Network of Indian Professionals - New York to provide full, four-year college scholarships to students in the program. This is the first time a Net-IP scholarship program is helping Indian students attend college in India.
Nanubhai is also supported by the 85 Broads Foundation, a foundation which supports education efforts in the US and internationally.