The Amma Center of Michigan, a humanitarian and spiritual organization based in Ann Arbor, has pledged $1,000,000 to reconstruct 500 homes for the tsunami-affected areas in the South India states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. To reach its goal of rebuilding 500 homes, the Center is inviting individuals, associations, churches, and other parties who would like to sponsor a home or part of a home, to join with the Center’s efforts. Each home will be rebuilt according to State government specifications and will cost $2000 USD. 

The Amma Center of Michigan’s financial commitment is in response to a pledge by the world-renowned humanitarian, Mata Amritanandamayi — popularly known as “Amma” or Mother, and dubbed in the west as the “Hugging Saint” — to raise Rs. 1 Billion or $23.4 Million USD to reconstruct houses destroyed by the tsunami. The Amma Center of Michigan is a local chapter of M.A. Center, the charitable trust dedicated to Amma’s teachings and work. M.A. Math headquarters, located in Alappad Village along the Arabian Sea in South India, is in the worst hit area of the state of Kerala. Thousands in the village have completely lost all their belongings, as well as their homes. Amma’s pledge is the largest single private donation for tsunami relief to date. 

Chad Kymal, President of the Amma Center of Michigan and an Ann Arbor area business owner, has left for the tsunami-affected areas of South India to monitor the projects funded by the Amma Center and to ensure that the funds provided will be used wisely and frugally for the purpose they were intended. According to Kymal, the unique quality of Amma's humanitarian efforts is that “All the work is done primarily by volunteers, so virtually every penny donated gets to the intended recipients. Few charitable organizations can equal this accomplishment.” 

In addition to sponsors, the Amma Center is also looking for volunteers who would like to assist by going to the affected areas to help construct homes. Interested persons should contact the Amma Center of Michigan for more information, 734-665-6488 or ammamich@aol.com. More information about relief efforts being conducted by the M.A. Math in India can be found at www.amma.org/amma/in-the-media/tsunami-relief.html#newwind.

As part of her annual U.S tour, Amma has visited Michigan for the past 6 years; the most recent program was held at the Ypsilanti Marriot in November 2004. Over 10,000 people from all over the USA and Canada attended the five daylong programs that were organized by the Amma Center of Michigan.

For more information, see www.amma.org/humanitarian-activities/social/index.html.