United Way of delhi Open Its Doors
New Delhi, November 11, 2008. Delhi has taken an exciting step for its communities by forming the United Way of Delhi, which opened its doors in September 2008. It has joined well-established United Ways in Baroda and Mumbai, and marks the second (Bengaluru was first in July, 2008) of 11 United Ways to be founded across India during the next two years.

United Way is a global network of locally governed not-for-profit organizations in 47 countries and territories whose members work to create long-term solutions to local human needs. United Ways convene community leaders to identify and prioritise local needs, generate and distribute resources for mission-centered work, help improve the effectiveness of the non profit sector, and enhance service delivery. This work happens at the local level, where community needs and opportunities are best understood by local volunteer leaders.

We at United Way of Delhi are truly committed to the United Way vision of creating stronger communities in and around Delhi,” said Venkatesh Valluri, Board Chair of United Way of Delhi and President and Country General Manager Agilent India. “Our volunteers are enthusiastic and eager to start demonstrating the value of United Way and to focus on addressing the community needs to bring positive change.

Valluri, leads a committed and impressive Board of Directors, including Neeta Agarwal of AT&T, Siraj Chaudhry of Cargill India, Kapil Dev of the Indian Cricket League and Patron of United Way of Delhi, Bhushan Kachru of Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, Rohit Kochhar or Kochhar & Co., Kapil Kumria or Corporate Flyers, Pracheesh Mathur of Raytheon, Saket Misra of Navatar Group, Rekha Mody the founder of Stree Shakti and Divya Chhaya, William S. Pinckney of Amway India Enterprises, Sunil Sachdev of American Express and Pranav Roach of Hughes Network Systems.

Uited Way of Delhi has been established with the financial support of LG. Dr. Y.V. Verma, Director, HR & MS, LG Electronics India LTD, expressed LG’s commitment to the communities of Delhi saying, LG invested in United Way of Delhi to help bring the local NGO sector together to address the community’s most pressing issues, to create long term impact and to have an infrastructure for organized charitable giving for donors. We have partnered with United Way in other projects as well and we are truly delighted that the communities of Delhi will now be able to benefit from United Way.”

Another contributor is Cargill India Pvt. Ltd. Commenting on Cargill’s philanthropy and reason for investing in United Way of Delhi, Siraj A Chaudhry, Chairman of Cargill India and Vice Chair of United Way of Delhi stated, "Cargill is committed to enriching the communities amidst which we operate. Our support for United Way in Delhi is a recognition of the need for professional philanthropy management in India, and we are confident that United Way Delhi will be an excellent partner in Cargill India's future community service initiatives."

The United Way executive director, Anupama Kalra, stated, “There is great interest among corporations in Delhi to provide ways for their employees to make gifts and to volunteer to help those less fortunate. United Way can help make sure these activities are going to serve accountable and transparent NGOs, and toward community initiatives that are consistent with the companies’ philanthropic goals.”

Today, to celebrate the launch of United Way of Delhi, the board members have been joined by a group of business leaders from the US who formed the United Way India Leadership Council in 2007 to raise money in the US to support United Way’s work in India. The Council includes business leaders from the U.S. including Nishith Acharya, Executive Director, The Deshpande Foundation, Barry Griswell, Chairman, The Principal Group, Hemant Goradia, President, Vinmar International, Bill Matassoni, CEO, Owner Managed Business Institute, Sheela Murthy, Founder and Managing Attorney, Murthy Law Firm, Suku Radia, President, Bankers Trust of Iowa, Anurag Varma, Counsel, Patton Boggs LLP, and Sunil Wadhwani, Chairman and Co-Founder, iGate Corporation.

The Leadership Council established the United Way India Fund, to provide a way for people in the US, including non-resident Indians (NRIs), to make tax deductible gifts to the establishment of United Ways in India.

About United Way
United Way is a global network of locally governed not-for-profit member organizations in 47countries and territories whose members work to create long-term solutions to local human needs. These members convene community leaders who identify and prioritise local needs, generate and distribute resources for mission-centered work, help improve the effectiveness of the non profit sector, and enhance service delivery. This work happens primarily at the local level, where community needs and opportunities are best understood by local volunteer leaders.

Media Contact:
Anupama Kalra
Executive Director
United Way of Delhi
Tel : +91 98102 10376
Email: uwdelhi@gmail.com
Website: www.uwdelh.org