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US concert tour raises $250,000 for India's poor
A charitable organisation has raised more than $250,000 through a concert tour in 33 US cities for rehabilitating poor and disabled children in India.
Vegesna Foundation, working with rehabilitation of extremely poor and handicapped Indian children, has raised more than $250,000 through a concert tour in 33 US cities.
The concerts titled Ghantasala Aradhanotsvaalu (to mark the 85th birth anniversary of the legendary Telugu singer Ghantasala), began in Atlanta on Sept 23 and ended in Cleveland on Dec 15.
Well-known singer GV Pabhakar and reputed multi-language Houston singer Mani Sastry performed in all the cities.
Vegesna Foundation is registered in Hyderabad and was set up by Vamsee Ramaraju in 1988 with the help of NRI friends from New York and New Jersey.
"We take exclusive care of children who are not only very poor, but are also physically handicapped, mentally retarded, hearing impaired or blind," Ramaraju, who was in Houston last week, said, adding, "We pick up these children from bus-stands, trains, villages, at door steps of temples and village huts."
The foundation shelters over 400 kids, giving them education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, surgical corrections and vocational training.
"We are proud that several of our kids are now enrolled in medical and engineering colleges and well on their way to becoming productive citizens," Ramaraju said.
