Update & clarification on donations

Dear supporters,

We wanted to note that we received several kind donations before our chip in button with the goal tracker was installed on our blog. Thus, when you are looking at it please add $270 to that amount to reflect the correct total to date.

We will be recognizing donors individually on our blog shortly so please stay tuned for that :)

A number of you have inquired as to the tax-exempt nature of these donations. Odanadi US is in it's beginning stages, but the organizers are working diligently to set-up it's formal structure and make sure all paperwork is in order. The process can take anywhere from three-six months, but it is the organizers' goal to be listed as a tax-exempt organization that can provide funding to an organization outside of the US by late spring 2011 (updates will be provided as and when available).

Your donation, however, should you choose to give will go directly to Odanadi US and India to support the cause.

Thank you to our first donors!

I feel so blessed and loved!

I wanted to say a special thank you to my lovely parents (pictured above) for being the first to donate to our journey.

They are so supportive and gung-ho about us doing this work.

I may have to especially hire my mum as our fund-raising manager given her skills :)

The countdown to our $5,000 mark!

Dear family, friends, colleagues and supporters:

This marks our official countdown to reach our fundraising goal of $5,000.

We are confident that with your support and generosity we can reach our goal by December 9, 2010. Please see the Donate button at the top right of our blog :)

How your donations will be utilized:

• 60% of the total amount we receive will go towards Odanadi US and funding the May 2011 US Tour (more information to come)

• 30% of the total amount we receive will be given to Odanadi India once we reach there

• 10% will go towards administrative costs including any shipping of materials we may do to India (more to come on what supplies you may also contribute)

Please continue to support our volunteer work. Simply passing on our link to your circle, as well as posting it on Facebook and other outlets can do so much!

Visit http://www.odanadi-uk.org/ or http://odanadisevatrust.org/ for more information.

If you would rather not use paypal to donate then please e-mail Pareesha or Dharma directly to make alternate arrangements.

Thank you all so much!

"A Ride to Redemption"

This article, written by a writer at the Calgary Herald in Canada, did a fantastic job of capturing what Odanadi does, the troubles it faces, and the issues that many of these girls wrestle with after having been trafficked. The stories of these girls will move you.

Odanadi needs all the help it can get! Information about how to donate will come soon.

http://odanadisevatrust.org/images/Aridetoredemption.pdf

July 26, 2009

Paula Arab, Calgary Herald

Thanks again for your support!

Ready...

It's official. We're going to Odanadi!

For those of you unfamiliar with the organization: "For the past 19 years, Odanadi has been committed to providing a safe haven for victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, slavery, domestic abuse and destitution." (source)

We learned about Odanadi from fellow Terp alum Sharon Choi, who went on a 30-day bike tour to spread the message about human trafficking with survivors last year, and then went again this year with Will Xu to help build leadership and public speaking skills among many things with the girls and boys at the Mysore sites.

Inspired by their experiences and dedication to these youths, we decided we had to go as well. Preparations are starting early, as we want to be able to enrich these girls and boys lives in as many ways possible.

We appreciate your support -- check back often as we update with more information and take you along on our journey!