January 19, 2004 Contact:
Madhuri
Tallapragada
(301) 529-5204
$5000 awarded to community cause benefited by Honoree’s
service
WASHINGTON,
D.C. -- The Upakar Foundation announced today that it is accepting nominations
for its Community Ambassador Award. New in 2004, the Award will recognize
an Indian-American who displays a dedicated and exemplary commitment to
community service outside their career.
“The Community Ambassador is a
volunteer leader who is giving back selflessly through their personal
commitment to a cause in the broader American context. We do not live in a
vacuum: being doctors, professors and business people is not enough, we also
need social entrepreneurs” said Shekar Narasimhan, Chair of the Upakar
Foundation. “We hope this award will inspire other young Indian-Americans
across the country to dream big dreams about the positive impact they can have
on the communities in which they live.”
A one-time $5,000 grant will be made
to the non-profit organization that has benefited from the honoree’s
efforts. The 2004 award recipient will
also get an expenses-paid trip to deliver the keynote address at Upakar’s annual
banquet in the Washington, D.C. area on June 13, 2004.
Indian-Americans
with a demonstrated commitment and dedication to service are eligible to be
nominated (under 40 years of age will be given preference). We
are inviting written nominations for this award. Please include the
following information with your nomination: The nominee’s name, address, email
address (es) and phone numbers. We need a detailed description of the
activities and programs in which the nominee is engaged. We also require the names and addresses of
two references who can confirm the activities of the nominee. Please send your completed nomination to:
Upakar Community Ambassador Award, 2502 Sandburg Street, Dunn Loring, VA 22027
post-marked no later than April 1, 2004 or by email to: upakarfoundation@hotmail.com.
The Upakar
Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1997. Upakar was created to assist Indian Americans
who require additional financial assistance to pursue educational, artistic or
athletic goals at a post-secondary institution. It is further dedicated to the
promotion and recognition of dedicated community service. Through the Upakar Scholar Program, the
Foundation has so far awarded 60 scholarships to students across the country.
In 2004, the Upakar Community Ambassador Award was created to promote and
encourage young Indian-Americans who are making a difference in the social
sector serving less-fortunate people.
Please visit www.upakar.org for
more information.
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