Students Get IACF Scholarship Awards
Last Updated: May 30, 2008

HOUSTON - The IACF Board held its annual scholarship awards ceremony on May 13 at Dr. Ravi and Sudha Mani’s home.

Indian Consul General S.M. Gavai handed over the certificates to students and IACF President Mani Subramaniam handed them a check of $2,000 each to be used toward their college expenses. Gavai commended IACF for the remarkable, charitable endeavors through the years and spoke words of encouragement to the students who won the award.

The following high school students earned the award:

* Arundhati Desai - Lamar High School, commendable GPA. Going to UH for pharmacy

* Shivani Ghai: Graduated from Lee High School, part of education in India, going to Texas A & M for Aerospace Engineering

* Harin Desai- from Lamar High School, going to UH pharmacy

* Purvesh Shah, Hastings High School, came from India in 2005, going to HCC major pharmacy

* Steven Maheshwari, from Bellaire H.S., excellent GPA, many awards and distinctions, going to Harvard, major in economics

IACF President Mani Subramaniam proposed a vote of thanks to the Scholarship Committee Rupa Iyer and Sudha Mani and congratulated the recipients of the award.

The Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF) is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization that continues to make a very positive contribution to the needy in Houston. IACF has been fortunate to receive the strong support of the community leaders.

Since its inception in 1988, IACF has contributed more than $2.5 million to more than 80 local non-profit organizations supporting education, social services and various worthy causes within the Houston and Greater Houston area.
Key areas of focus are:

* Education - through scholarships, essay and scholastic competitions, and supporting organizations like Teach for America, City of Houston Scholarships and IACF Scholarships

* Women - providing access to emergency shelter, support, & legal help to victims of domestic abuse by funding organizations like Daya, HAWC, FBCWC and MCWC

* Poor/homeless/underprivileged - health care support, food & shelter through established Houston area non-profit organizations like Richmond State School, Search and Houston Food Bank.

Education is key for success in the competitive economy. IACF continues to offer scholarships to college bound students based on academics and need basis. This year we have recognized that a concerted effort has to be made to encourage high school students to undertake creative writing in addition to the emphasis in science and math.