The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Joining hands for acts of kindness

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Thursday, Jul 23, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Joining hands for acts of kindness

Staff Reporter

‘Joy of Giving’ week to be held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3

200 women below the poverty line to be screened for cancer and given treatment free
Gopichand says his Foundation will train children in badminton and hold tourneys to raise money

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

A noble cause: Actor Venkatesh, former badminton champion Pullela Gopichand and actor Vishnu at the programme to announce GiveIndia’s unique initiative ‘Joy of Giving Week’ on Wednesday. —

HYDERABAD: Have you always wanted to give or support a cause but never knew how? Well, here is a chance. Be a part of ‘Joy of Giving’ week to be held from September 27 to October 3 across India. Being organised by GiveIndia, the country’s largest philanthropy exchange, it aims at bringing together people from all walks of life to engage in acts of giving in the form of money, time, skills or just simple acts of kindness.

Introducing the concept on Wednesday at KIMS Hospital, Venkat Krishnan, Director, GiveIndia said ‘Joy of Giving’ week would serve as a platform for anyone who would like to give back to society in any way they chose to.

Awareness walk

Giving impetus to the initiative, Raghuram of KIMS Hospital announced that Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases would provide 200 women below the poverty line free breast cancer screening and free treatment to those who had been identified with the ailment during the week. The activity would culminate in a breast cancer awareness walk on October 4, Dr. Raghuram informed.

Dronacharya Awardee and former badminton champion, Pullela Gopichand also endorsed the initiative and said that his Foundation would provide access to badminton training to underprivileged children during the week apart from holding tournaments to raise money.

‘Shadow a CEO’

Ajit Rangnekar, Dean of Indian School of Business (ISB), said that they would be associated with the event through the ‘Shadow a CEO’ programme. ISB would connect students of premier B-Schools with leading Indian CEOs.

The students would then participate in an online auction and bid to spend a day with a CEO for a day, he said.

Actors Venkatesh and Vishnu, who were present at the event, lauded the efforts of GiveIndia and said that he would take an active part in the campaign and appealed to everyone in the State to participate.

COVA, a city-based NGO, would implement ‘Let Gandhi Talk’ initiative as part of the week, Mr. Krishnan said. A mega fundraising dinner by the leading five-star hotels of the city was also planned.

For more details log into ‘ www.joyofgivingweek.org’.

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