Atlanta, GA, May 19, 2023: Inspired by a speech by Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt he attended in 1974, Dr. S S Badrinath founded Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai in 1978 with the sole objective of providing world class eye care, free to the poor and affordable price to others. Sankara Nethralaya (SN) is a not-for-profit charity organization providing ophthalmic (eye) care throughout India.
For the last four decades, SN has treated millions of patients. Nethralaya also holds eye camps, school screenings and eye bank. One of the unique services is Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU), only one of its kind approved by Government of India. These are operation theatres on wheels. MESU consists of two buses serving as operation theatre, go out remote villages, perform cataract surgeries on 150 to 200 patients over a two-week period and return to main campus after post-operative care.
The Sankara Nethralaya USA team organized a Meet ‘n Greet with Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. K.I. Varaprasad Reddy, Chairman Shantha Biotechnics Limited event in Atlanta on May 6th, 2023.
“Your support for this noble cause of restoring the vision of indigent patients was greatly appreciated. Your generous contributions make a difference in someone’s life ands give a lot of encouragement to the volunteers working for this noble cause, said a press release issued by Sankara Nethralaya USA.
The Program started with jyoti prajwalan (lighting of the lamp) by Chief Guest Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Varaprasad Reddy and his wife Smt Vasanta, Mega donor Dr. Govinda Visvesvara, and Sankara Nethralaya team. After this, local artists from Nataraja Natyanjali, Sri Dutt Raaga Dance Academy, Six Strings, and other singers enthralled the audience with their classical dances and singing.
“Our special thanks to Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Varaprasad Reddy for gracing the event and enabling us with his support and guidance,” the release said. “Based on our interactions with him, we got the impression that he is VVIP – Virtuous Vaccine Immunization Person. If an Electronics Engineer can bring Hepatitis B vaccine to India with perseverance, we got the hope that we can eradicate preventable blindness from India with the same perseverance. We seek his guidance and blessings to accomplish this noble mission.”
When Sankara Nethralaya USA President Bala Indurti announced Dr. Varaprasad Reddy as Brand Ambassador for this noble cause, all attendees responded with a huge applause. Getting unconditional support for this noble cause from a virtuous person gave a lot of encouragement to all the Trustees and Volunteers. Dr. Varaprasad Reddy appreciated the efforts of Sankara Nethralaya USA team in eradicating the preventable blindness from India. Dr. Reddy also praised Sankara Nethralaya for receiving 4 star from Charity Navigator and maintaing the status for the past several years. Dr. Varaprasad Reddy graced the venue with his wife Smt. Vasanta garu.
“Thanks to Dr. Govinda Visvesvara Ji for his generous contribution to Sankara Nethralaya in memory of his parents. Sponsoring an entire floor in the hospital will help in restoring the vision of indigent patients in the coming years and decades,” the release said.
“Thanks to Film Director VN Aditya garu for your support. As we are getting a new MESU – Mobile Eye Surgical Unit to Hyderabad, your help in spreading the word about this noble cause in Telugu film industry will be greatly appreciated.”
The PR also thanked Acharya Ji, founder of Sankara Nethralaya USA, 35 Trustees and hundreds of volunteers throughout the USA that are silently working behind the scenes to make a difference in someone’s life. Dr. Madhuri Namuduri conveyed Acharyaj’s message to the audience who could not make it in person.
President Indurti is leading from the front in expanding the footprint of this organization throughout the USA. For his contributions, Sankara Nethralaya conferred the Sankara Ratna award to him.
“The Sankara Nethralaya USA team is very happy for this well-deserved recognition to him. With his vast connections, we are able to expand Adopt-A-Village program and could restore the vision of thousands of patients. This program provided a conduit for many who want to serve the people in their native place,” the release said.
Vice President, Moorthy Rekapalli coordinated with volunteers and community leaders to make the program successful. Moorthy is a longtime BIG donor to Sankara Nethralaya.
So many people helped to make the program successful.
Trustees from Atlanta:
Srini Reddy Vangimalla (Sponsored Adopt-A-Village Twice)
Rajasekhar Reddy Aila (Sponsored Adopt-A-Village Twice)
Upendra Rachupally (Very dynamic in mobilizing people and funds)
Neelima Gaddamanugu (Raising awareness in her Nataraja Natyanjali students and creating future volunteers and donors)
Meher Lanka (Serving for more than a decade and raising funds)
Dr. Madhuri Namuduri (Thank you for your contributions and raising awareness)
Suresh Vemulamada (Sponsored Adopt-A-Village before becoimg a Board of Trustee)
Sridhar Julapally (Very dynamic and spreading the message about this noble cause)
Some Trustees came from out of town to attend this event:
Shyam Appali from Los Angeles, CA (For his major contributions and help in technical matters for TV programs)
Anand Dasari from Dallas, TX (Sponsored Adopt-A-Village Twice)
Udaya Bhaskar Ganti from Rockville, MD (Mega donor to expand MESU footprint)
Dr. Kishore Chivukula from Auburn, AL (Sponsored an Optometry room)
Thanks also to past Trustees for their contributions and help in organizing the program.
Ramesh Chaparala from Atlanta (Sponsoring Adopt-A-Village)
Jayakiran Pagadala from Atlanta (Fundraising efforts)
Dr. Ramani Jeedigunta from Florida for her efforts to spread the message about this noble cause.
Special thanks to
Lavanya Sreenath, MC – Master of the Ceremony
Geetha Aparna Turaga from Sri Dutt Ranga Dance Academy
Srivalli Sridhar, Shilpa Kumar, & Poornima Arjun from SIX Strings
Srinivas Durgam, DJ/Singer
Suresh Volam for Photography and Videography
Ram Durvasula, Singer
Nanda Madishetty, Singer
Charithra Julapally, who rendered Jana Gana Mana on Flute.
Thanks to prominent community Leaders Sri Subhash Razdan (Ellis Island Medal of Honor award winner), Sri Bob Erramilli (Johns Creek City Councilor), Kishan Tallapally (Johns Creek Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee), Dr. Suresh Alankar & Sri Jayaram Reddy (ISHA), Sreenivasulu Kotlure, Ram Bhupal Reddy Panga, Venkat Reddy Mondeddu, Raghu Sagili, Guru Paradharami (NATA), Padmaja Kelam (Kalaivani Dance Academy), Jyothi Chintalapudi (Natya Jyothi Dance Academy), Srinivas Vemulapalli & Sri Rajesh Vudathu (VIBHA), Dr. Prasad Garimella (SEWA International), JC Shekar Reddy (Metaclipse), Murali Sajja (Adopt-A-Village Sponsor), Vijay Garlapati (GVR Realty), Sekhar Thadiparthi (Sekhars Realty), Rajan Raju (Virtue), Sankara Narayana Rekapalli (Omnisoft), Vishy Dasari (TeluguOne CTO), Rajesh Tadikamalla (Jupiter Technologies), Venkat Duggireddy (PayGo), Sairam Karumanchi, Venky Gadde (TAMA), Nate Natesan (Swacch Devalaya), Shivakumar Sharma (TV9), Sri Niranjan Proddutur (Media), Mohan Devu, Jayachandra Reddy (ATA), Sohini Ayinala (WETA), Srinivas Nimmagadda (Sankranti Restaurant), Vijaya Saradhi Jeedigunta (Florida).
Due to space limitations at the venue, we have extended the invitation to the Sankara Nethralaya donor community.
Thanks to 300 plus attendees at Sankranti (Abhira Event Hall) to make the event most memorable.
The ISHA Team is presenting “Stress Free & Healthy Living with inner engineering “session on Sunday May 14th in Atlanta.
Jyothi Chintalapudi organizing a Fundraiser Kuchipudi Dance performance for Sankara Nethralaya on Sep 3rd.
Photos and videos for this colorful event can be viewed at https://www.sankaranethralayausa.org/photo-gallery/index.html
Sankara Nethralaya USA
