The Human Face of NetSAP Boston

With the plethora of social organizations and happy hours booming around the Boston area, it is time to reevaluate impacts that NetSAP Boston has tried to make on local and global footings.

While the recent happy hour at Caprice helped to raise $500 for CRY America (www.america.cry.org) , NetSAP Boston has also strived to help local non profits by organizing community events. This was the second happy hour this year that NetSAP Boston has decided to funnel the proceeds to an organization that works in India. While the January happy hour raised $600 for Sahayta, the May happy hour will help to transform the lives of 20 children by ensuring they get education and health care for a year.

Says Shefali Sunderlal, the President of CRY America, "The NetSAP community in Boston has shown itself to be a concerned citizens group. By contributing to CRY America, NetSAP members have portrayed their concerns for the children in India, who suffer silently amongst India's economic development. This fundraiser, besides raising funds, has proved that NetSAP is ready to stand and fight for the rights of the children. Kudos to the NetSAP Boston leadership".

On the local level NetSAP Boston continued its relationship with the Long Island Shelter Organic Farm and made new relationships with the Drumlin Farms. Taking teams of around 20 people, NetSAP Boston assisted in clearing farm lands, walking trails, planting seeds as well as sorting organic food that will serve the homeless in Boston and let the local community enjoy the nature trails. At the Holi celebrations earlier this year at Dakshin, NetSAP helped raise the awareness for the need of bone marrow donations among South Asians with SAMAR. The May happy hour at Caprice also hosted Team AID-Asha marathon runners who interacted with the NetSAP community and registered new participants for their annual marathon. The NetSAP board is firmly committed to fostering amongst its members, a sense of contributing in the local community as well as engaging and acting on issues of global significance. This year's community events are a testament to that commitment.

With similar happy hours intended for other alliance partners like Avsar, India Schoolhouse Fund, Clinton Health Aids Initiative and Vibha, as well as local volunteering events at Community Servings and Greater Boston Food Bank, NetSAP Boston is creating value for its members to be leaders in the community. By organizing social discussion panels, it is also striving to open the process of dialogue to everyone.

We hope our members continue to support our mission in professional development, culture and arts, community and political participation and thus foster a strong sense of South Asian and American values.

About Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston
Founded in 1995, the Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston) is a professional, 501c(6) not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the professional, political, cultural and civic needs of the South Asian community in the Greater Boston area. We seek to unite South Asian professionals, nurture leadership, and build partnerships in the New England area through professional programs, networking events, and community service efforts. For more information visit www.netsapboston.org