UNITED WAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS VISIT INDIA
Celebrate the launch of three new United Ways in the country

Alexandria, VA (December 16, 2008) – The United Way movement continues to gain momentum in India with additional local United Ways being established in Bengaluru, Delhi and Hubli-Dharwad in North Karnataka. Recently, members of the United Way Leadership Council of India, along with friends and family, traveled to these three cities to support, inspire and celebrate the launch of the new United Ways and provide visibility to United Ways in these communities. The United Way Expansion in India was initiated in 2007 with the objective of expanding United Ways across India beyond Mumbai and Baroda.

United Way is increasing awareness and support amongst non-resident Indians residing in North America and with the North American businesses with interests in India to support regional communities across India and improve the quality of life. The “India United Way Expansion Fund” was created at United Way International in the U.S. to invite and encourage multinational corporations and non-resident Indians to contribute to the Fund and invest in strengthening local communities and improving the lives of the citizens of India. Investors to this Fund include, in alphabetical order, Mrs. and Mr. Desh Deshpande, The Deshpande Foundation; Mr. Hemant Goradia, President, Vinmar International; Mrs. and Mr. Barry Griswell, Chairman, The Principal Financial Group; Ms. Sheela Murthy, President, Founder and Managing Attorney, Murthy Law Firm and her spouse, Vasant Nayak; Mrs. and Mr. Sunil Wadhwani, Chairman and Co-Founder, iGate Corporation and others, and companies, The Principal Financial Group, LG Corporation, Cargill, FedEx, Metlife and others.

The three-city launch takes the count of United Ways in the country to five. The oldest United Way in India was established 22 years ago in Baroda, followed by Mumbai, which was established in 2002.

The Leadership Council for India members who visited India include Ms. Michele Irwin Griswell, United Way of America’s former National Women’s Leadership Council Member, wife of Mr. Barry Griswell, Chairman, The Principal Financial Group, Ms. Sheela Murthy, President, Founder and Managing Attorney, Murthy Law Firm, Mr. Suku Radia, CEO and President of Bankers Trust of Iowa and Mr. Nishith Acharya, Executive Director, The Deshpande Foundation. Their family members, colleagues, friends and United Way staff were part of the delegation. These leaders and staff met with the Board members, business leaders, other community leaders, agency partners and key media in the three cities, discussing the global model and mission of United Way, sharing personal testimonies and inviting support from members of the local communities. They helped launch early initiatives of the three new United Ways.

United Way of Bengaluru launch event included an Environment Initiative with Qwest Telecom that engages Qwest employees in planting and nurturing over 150 trees surrounding their office. United Way of Bengaluru then signed a MOU with Mapunity, a technology firm, to develop social applications for new technologies. As a first step, United Way is working to popularize a Vaccination Alert system from Mapunity that uses Airtel's mobile technology. Through this program, advance vaccination alerts are automatically sent over mobile phones to parents of infants. This initiative is being beta tested at Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, and the plan is to make it available to many other organizations in the United Way fold eventually. United Way of Bengaluru also signed a MOU with Manipal Hospital to support open-heart surgery for 100 under-privileged children at Manipal Hospital. United Way of Bengaluru is planning to part-finance the difference between the actual cost of the procedure and the compensation given by the Karnataka government under its Suvarna Arogya Chaitanya scheme.

The Leadership team also made a site visit to Chennakeshava School in Indiranagar, Bangalore, which provides education to the underserved population of the community. The school offers meals to the students as an incentive to attract children to attend school. Everyday breakfast is made available with the generosity of Ms. Sheela Murthy who has committed to $25,000 per year for ten years to this school. The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to meet and interact with the teachers and students to understand their needs and how the United Way may be able to better help them through the generous contributions of the United Way donors.

United Way of Hubli-Dharwad launch event was attended by eminent industrialists, Rotarians, Lions members, community leaders, local NGOs and key media. The Leadership team also visited the prospective partners of this United Way including Akshaya Patra kitchen, The Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Science fair organized by Agastya Foundation.

United Way of Delhi launch was attended by over 200 corporations, NGOs and other community leaders and volunteers. Participants heard the personal testimonies of the Leadership Council members, which motivated some of the audience to make on-the-spot pledges toward United Way of Delhi. Mr. Anil Kumble, recently retired Captain of the Indian Cricket team, joined the launch to provide his support to the United Way movement. He shared his sentiments on the need for each individual to accept personal responsibility for the betterment of our societies. He raised instant funds for United Way of Delhi by auctioning two cricket bats and balls signed by the Indian cricket team, which fetched over INR 1,100,000 for the United Way of Delhi. The launch event received media coverage in newspapers like Business Standard, Economic Times, Rajasthan Patrika, Charchit Duniya, and Mid-Day; and by television channels Dilli Aaj Tak and Aaj Tak.

United Way Expansion in India Initiative has plans to establish more United Ways in India in 2009-10 based on seed funding and interest, most likely in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune.