Friends Foundation is a non-profit organization established by Mohan & Shama Nannapaneni in 2000. The foundation is funded primarily by Mohan Nannapaneni, the founder, and chairman, as well as his spouse, Shama Nannapaneni, but the services rendered by the rest of the team are both essential and priceless. Thousands of well-wishers from all over the world bless the organization with their encouragement and gratitude, and we are pleased to be of assistance to those in need. The foundation does not seek donations or contributions from any other organizations or individuals at present.
Our Mission
We are committed to making every effort to impart the same life gifts that are taken for granted such as education, social care, cultural values, access to healthcare, and access to clean air and water to those who currently are less fortunate, and then to the future generations. In doing so, we feel that our lives are more worthwhile and fulfilling. In addition, to those who receive the benefits of our efforts, we leave a legacy of goodwill which we hope will benefit each generation to follow.
“We may not live forever but the good or bad we leave behind will live longer than us.” — Mohan Nannapaneni
Our Projects
Run-down Schools
Over time, both the governments and citizens kept neglecting public schools, from where the country made great progress in competing with the developing world. Good schools are the foundation for a strong nation. We committed to improving the infrastructure of public education.
Rebuilt Schools
We took the challenge of rebuilding some public schools. We are very proud to see the happiness in the eyes of children, who were suffering from lack of basic amenities for their learning environment. The schools, we rebuilt in rural India, that has benefitted thousands of children.
Scholarships
The Nannapaneni Mohan and Friends Foundation’s scholarship program supports gifted students who lack the means to pay for their higher education. Our scholarships are awarded to deserving students without regard for their caste, color, religion, location or social conditions.
Humanity
We have responded to several requests for humanitarian relief. We take social responsibility as one of our primary objectives. We have executed various activities related to children, helping farmers, providing healthcare for the needy and other forms of humanitarian assistance.
Sports
Sports give children the opportunity to learn and practice new skills, to exercise to improve their strength, coordination, and to have healthy interactions with teammates and competitors. We have built playgrounds, sponsored sports competitions and donated sporting goods to several schools.
Education
Education increases the capacity of the individual to make immediate and lasting changes and enables them to face the challenges in life with more confidence. We put our best efforts into educating underprivileged children so that they also get a chance to earn a quality life like other kids of their age.
Culture
We have been helping organizations that promote Indian languages, culture, and tradition. Our support is creating opportunities for the youth so that they not only learn to perform their talent but also spread the rich Indian culture among other communities in the western world.
Skills Development
Our Foundation has helped hundreds of rural youth in developing their technical and vocational skills so that they elevate their job opportunities form daily labor to skilled workers. We have been supporting institutions for this cause and proud to make a betterment in many lives.
Rebuilding Public Schools
Our first school project was to completely rebuild a government elementary and high school in India. This school was rundown and shabby after years of neglect. Approximately 1000 children tried to learn in an unfurnished and generally unhealthy school environment. The children routinely were exposed to dust, noise, gusting winds, and the heat of the direct sun. Neither students nor teachers could focus on the education process, as the poverty-driven conditions were far below any reasonable standard. This school currently serves over 1,500 students. Additionally, we purchased and delivered all of the furnishings for the facility’s more than 40 rooms. The school now provides a fully functioning environment with all educational needs being met, as well as providing clean water, electricity, sanitary facilities, and even a recreational area. All of this was accomplished in a miraculously short 6-month time frame. We extend our thanks to Mr. Tummala Nageswara Rao, former minister of Roads & Buildings. Mr. A Giridhar, and Mr. Natarajan Guljar for their enthusiastic support of our project.
Our foundation donated nearly US $200,000.00 and negotiated additional matching grants from the Government of AP. We raised another Rs 20 lakhs from budget allocations of members of Parliament. Special thanks are owed to Mr. Kambhampati Ram Mohan Rao and Mrs. K. Kamalakumari, who contributed Rs. 10 lakhs each from their allocations. With these funds, we built an entire school, complete with modern conveniences like new furniture, electricity, clean drinking water, sanitary facilities, and a nice playground.
Education
It is said that “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”. Mohan Nannapaneni, Shama Nannapaneni, and Friends Foundation believe this maxim wholeheartedly. Therefore, the best form of assistance that could be given to needy children is proper education. Education increases the capacity of the individual to make immediate and lasting changes in his life and enables him to face the challenges in his life with more confidence. Education brings out the latent powers residing within every human being and develops his ability to use and express those powers in new and innovative ways. With this noble objective in mind, the foundation took the initiative to improve educational institutions. We wanted to provide a better learning environment at the schools so that students can focus on their lessons instead of worrying about their living environment. For details of our service to Education, please see Schools and Scholarships sections.
Sports
Sports give children the opportunity to learn and practice new skills, to exercise to improve their strength and coordination, and to have healthy interactions with teammates and competitors.
Nannapaneni Mohan and Friends Foundation sponsored state level invitation cricket tournaments for the several years. We donated nearly Rs. 5,00,000 for this tournament. Our goal is to promote sports in rural areas, where the youth, schools, and colleges get the least support from the government or corporate sponsors. The foundation has also sponsored state-level women’s sports meets at Nandigama, Krishna Dist.
We have donated playgrounds to the tribal schools, and money to build playgrounds and sporting spaces at various schools and colleges. We have provided financial assistance to poor athletes for their higher education expenses.
The foundation has donated sports kits, shoes and tracksuits for athletes. Our support has helped them to win championships & trophies. We enabled athletes and chess players to participate in national and international level events, where they achieved additional recognition. Friends Foundation is committed to advancing sports initiatives that make students and athletes stronger, happier, and healthier.
Cultural
Promoting Indian Culture, Tradition, and Fine Arts: In addition to education, infrastructure, poverty relief, and health assistance, Nannapaneni Mohan & Friends Foundation is very keen to promote the arts and cultural advancement. We are helping some non-profit organizations teach Indian classical dances to children. The foundation has sponsored numerous cultural events, competitions, and festivals through various organizations and on its own, both in India and the USA.
Indian Cultural Associations: We donated more than $100,000 to various Indian cultural associations. The interest of Mr. & Mrs. Nannapaneni in the Indian culture and social activities is the same type of fervor and passion that drives the organization, overall. We sponsored and contributed to several organizations, cultural competitions, programs that promote Indian classical dances and music.
Humanity
The foundation has responded to several requests for humanitarian relief. There are a few cases that truly encapsulate what the spirit of the foundation is.
In Healthcare:
We donated nearly Rs 10,00,000 to Indo-American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad, as well as donated money to the Lions Club of Nandigama to help build an ophthalmology hospital. We have conducted several health camps to provide healthcare to the poor. We donated over 1000 pairs of eyeglasses to poor, elderly people.
In Poverty Relief and Aid to Farmers:
We provided financial help directly to the needy and desperate. We are proud to announce that due to our ability to respond to these needs in a timely manner, we have been able to save lives. This is our highest achievement, as human life is the most precious gift of all. We have helped farmers by providing funds they needed to build their lift irrigation systems, as well as we have helped several children get critical healthcare. We also have helped environmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that share our passion for preserving life.
For Children: By donating plates, cups and cooking utensils, we were able to render assistance to afternoon lunch programs at the primary schools. We donated Rs: 1,00,000 to build a primary school in an urban colony of Bhadrachalam. We donated Rs 1,25,000 to a child rescue shelter built by a TANA foundation in Vijayawada. This rescue shelter identifies hundreds of street children and provides them with temporary shelter, food, healthcare, and counseling until they are sent back to bridge schools or their parents.
Other Humanitarian Assistance:
Mohan Nannapaneni built and donated an ultra modern guest house worth Rs 30,00,000 to Sri Sita Rama Swamy Temple, Bhadrachalam. Though our purpose is not expressly religion-oriented, the foundation has donated money to several temples and churches across the state. Mohan & Shama Nannapaneni donated Rs, 1,25,000 lakhs to the Gujarat earthquake relief fund and Rs: 2,00,000 to the Tsunami Relief Fund, and Rs: 50,000 to the Kargil war relief fund. They have consistently responded when needed and are always willing to extend a helping hand to people in need.
Skill Development
Preservation of Ancient & Traditional Handcrafts: SPN arts & Crafts Promotion Trust in Tamil Nadu, India takes around 50 unemployed youths from nearby rural villages and trains them free of cost in various ancient Indian arts like wood carving, stone sculpture, and painting. When their students complete a rigorous four-year training program, they become fine artisans or craftsmen. Their training ensures better earnings for the youth while preserving ancient Indian handcrafting skills. We are contributing several lakhs of rupees to this organization. Our intention is to promote and pass on our traditional handicrafts to future generations by teaching and producing highly skilled artisans, and creating employment opportunities. We are a proud supporter of this organization.
Skill Development Seminars : Our Foundation has been aiding and working with few vocational and technical educational institutions to train unemployed youth and students. We have sponsored and organized seminars and training classes for, students and as well as for teaching professionals.
Scholarships
There is a very sage proverb that says “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. Mohan Nannapaneni, Shama Nannapaneni, and Friends Foundation believe this maxim, wholeheartedly.
Therefore, the best form of assistance that could be given to needy children is proper education. Education increases the capacity of the individual to make immediate and lasting changes in his/her life and enables the child to face the challenges in life with more confidence. Education brings out the latent powers residing within every human being and develops the ability to use and express those powers in new and innovative ways. With this noble objective in mind, the foundation took the initiative to improve educational institutions. We wanted to provide a better learning environment at the schools so that students can focus on their lessons instead of worrying about their living environment. For details of our service to Education, please see Schools and Scholarships sections. – this is the scholarship section
Mohan Nannapaneni
Founder
5 Glenwood Road,
Southborough MA 01772, USA
Office: +1.508.925.3299