Yashaswini (Yash) Desai

I am honored to be nominated and be in the company of many successful women. I am a mother of two wonderful sons. My husband and I live in Norther Suburb of Chicago in a joint family. My parents instilled in me our culture, moral values, characters, and respect for everyone. Doing seva/self-less volunteering is my passion and has become my second nature.

I became very active in local community > 25 years by serving at local temples and community centers. I have started many new selfless initiatives activities top five initiatives include: weekly HSS Sunday School from 2004 (14 years), Adopt A Highway in Buffalo Grove from 2008 (9 years), weekly yoga and meditation sessions at our home from 2009 (9 years), Started Ekal North Chapter from 2013 (5 years), and these efforts are growing. These are un-paid volunteering efforts. These efforts have engaged little kids, teenagers, young parents, and senior citizens of local community. All of these efforts have been continuous/non-stopped, and ongoing over the years! I have trained many kids, teenagers, and volunteers. I have had the pleasure of meeting like-minded people who are committed to uplifting the community in a selfless service. It is a privilege and an honor receive nomination. I hope that you will consider voting for me.

Volunteering Affiliations with non-profit registered 501-c3 organizations Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh (www.hssus.org), Sunday School, (www.balagokulam.org); Ekal Vidyalaya, (www.ekal.org); SEWA International (www.sewausa.org), Art Of Living (www.artofliving.org); Lake County Hindu Mandir (http://hindumandiroflakecounty.org);

Volunteering Affiliations with non-profit registered 501-c3 organizations Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh (www.hssus.org), Sunday School, (www.balagokulam.org); Ekal Vidyalaya, (www.ekal.org); SEWA International (www.sewausa.org), Art Of Living (www.artofliving.org); Lake County Hindu Mandir (http://hindumandiroflakecounty.org);

For academic professional credentials: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashdesai101/

Vidya Nahar

Vidya is the founder of ICON-SHAKTI - Indian Community's Outreach Network - Share Happenings, Act, Know, Talk, Inspire - a social group spreading awareness about social and cultural issues concerning Indian Diaspora around the world.

Vidya has been offering free Sunrise yoga classes to members of community in summer for last 7 years, and has been organizing free International Yoga Day events for all to participate each year since 2015. She has also uploaded more than 100 yoga / dance videos for the benefit of the community to practice yoga for free anytime, anywhere.

Vidya has been organizing Vishva Hindi Video BHASHAN Pratiyogitaa since 2016 to promote usage of Hindi. Students from all over the world have participated in these video speech contests, giving the young speakers a solid confidence on world stage. More info at www.balodyan.com. She has brought 5 STARTALK summer Hindi camps to Chicago area in the capacity of a director, where 36-40 children in the community can attend the entire Hindi summer camp for free for three weeks in an immersive environment. The camps are funded by a federal grant, administered by the University of Maryland.

Vidya conducts three food drives (January, June, and Diwali time) each year to support Vernon Township pantry. She, along with her husband, actively and financially supports the work of many local non-profit organizations, such as, AIM for Seva, Sewa USA, Chinmaya Mission, Jain Center, Maharashtra Mandal, Sarvajanik Vachanalay - Shirdhon, and Ekal Vidyalaya. She and her husband host an annual Navratri gathering for about 200 invitees to raise funds for a worthy cause.

Anjali Khare

I am secretary of Sanjeevani - 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. The objective of Sanjeevani is to provide outreach in the first line of action for emotional counseling guidance in health concerns, prevention of domestic abuse, mental /emotional well being for men/women/teens and sr. citizens.  

Apart from being active member in Sanjeevani, I work as Site Manager in DUpage Senior Citizen Council where we provide Lunch to our seniors. I love this work as It gives me so much satisfaction and blessings from Seniors.  

My dedication and caring skills along with technical skills I am able to provide excellent service to Sanjeevani and help my community not only in Illinois but all over USA. My goal is to be a good listener and provide assistance to our community wherever and whenever needed.

Anupama Kadari

I have volunteered most of my life. Whether it is in hospitals, senior care centers, schools, or places of worship, I enjoy volunteering! In 2017, I took on the responsibility of setting up the Chicago chapter of a non-profit called VT Seva. I feel volunteering with VTSeva has helped shape my thinking and made me a better person with empathy for those in need. My husband and I have supported education and care of several underprivileged and blind children every year, for the last 13 years. I believe service and serving society is a privilege! I am truly blessed to have this opportunity. I enjoy working with this amazing organization made up of dynamic, hardworking and selfless volunteers!! Another remarkable aspect of VT Seva is that the funds raised are utilized 100 percent for the causes we support.

VT Seva encourages people to volunteer and give back to the community they are part of and raises funds to support activities related to our three focus areas: education, healthcare and environment / disaster relief. We at VT Seva support around 1300 blind and underprivileged students in our schools in remote tribal areas, a school for fishermen's community, a school for blind children and a college for blind spread over three southern states in India. VTSeva regularly conducts health care camps and cancer screening for women and has screened over 300,000 women. Recently when Houston was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, VT Seva raised 50,000 dollars for disaster relief. Over 500 volunteers worked day and night for 21 days and provided 20,000 meals, 100,000 bottles of water, helped clean 200 flooded homes and more.

In Chicago, we are trying to build a team and provide at least 100 hours of opportunities to the people who are interested in volunteering. In Jan this year, we have conducted 8 events. Our upcoming events include packing food for the needy at FSMC, sort and pack books for poor kids at Bernie's book bank and volunteer at senior care centers. I am also trying to raise awareness of VT Seva especially among youth and also those who have not volunteered before. We have had over 120 participants in our events in Jan and around 40% of them were children. We are working on raising funds for the schools for Blind students and Underprivileged Tribal students in remote forest areas. In 2017, we have raised over USD 6000. In January, Chicago chapter has raised USD 900 so far. I hope this nomination will provide more visibility to VT Seva and the noble causes we support.

If you would like to volunteer or contribute to VT Seva or know more about us, you can check out the following link for the Chicago chapter - https://www.facebook.com/vtsevachicago/ - and the following link for the US national organization - http://www.vtsworld.org/

Usha Bhaskar Shedge

Before saying anything about me first let’s congratulate every volunteer for getting “US” nominated. My strength is my volunteers (My family is my first volunteers). Village Development – One far stretched goal of my life which includes Education(sports+music), Employment, Water, Clean village and Women empowerment through Employment. We have started libraries, Computer center, have done plantation, start the garbage truck taken many awareness, educational as well as FUN camps/trips for Children, Women and Framers in many villages. We are BIG Supporter and participant of “Pani Foundation” (Pani foundation has done wonders in drought affected regions of Maharashtra) Here in Chicago We volunteered through PTA, Boy Scout troop 392, IDCA, Organize volunteering at office and neighborhood.

Recently I left my permanent (IT Developer) job and started contracting to focus on school project: Our goal is to make sure every child in the village has the same right to a QUALITY education along with athletics and other activities. Initiated and leading a project of rebuilding frail and deteriorating Z P primary school building at village Shirdhon where 180 children’s of farmers and farm laborers are studying. Please visit http://shirdhonkar.com/School.aspx for more information. Plan is to evaluate and work on all ZP (government) schools to ensure that the school has a better infrastructure and better educational facilities.

We Led a team of committed individuals to create a "Wifi Village" in which every resident can have access to the vast information of the internet. This project has employed several people in the village and has allowed for many people to improve their quality of life and start own business. Farmers, Students House wives are the main beneficiary of this project. Currently working to expand our network in many neighboring villages. Please visit http://www.galaxyinternet.co.in/ for more information.

Women Empowerment: Women’s participation in economy not only boost their confidence but it also helps community. Under the banner “Shirdhon Sakhi” we have started small business for women. Many ladies in the village takes training at our village computer center with no cost.