<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote type="cite"><div class="gmail_quote"><p>Food for Life Vrindavan, Indian Charity, Raises Funds for New School for Impoverished Children despite Credit Crunch</p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">London</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">, UK</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> December 5, 2008<span> </span>— </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Despite tight economic times, guests at the 8th Asian Achievers awards on December 3<sup>rd</sup>, reached into their hearts and wallets to pledge help Food for Life Vrindavan, a registered Indian charity, build its third school for desperately poor children in India.<span> </span>The awards, hosted by Gujarat Samacher, raised £130,000 toward FFLV's goal of £150,000. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><br> Food for Life provides educational, environmental and social development programs to the poorest residents of the city of Vrindavan, in Uttar Pradesh.<span> </span>Its two Sandipani Muni schools provide free education, wholesome meals and health care for 1000 poor children who would otherwise spend their days on the streets or engaged in back-breaking physical labour.<span> </span><span> </span>Demand among local parents to send their children to FFLV's schools is so great that the schools now have a waiting list of over 650 children.<span> </span>FFLV's director, Rupa Ragunath, came to London to appeal to the Asian community to help him build a third school.<span> </span>Proceeds from the Asian Achievers Awards will finance the majority of the construction costs of the new school.<span> </span>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">"Before the event, we were apprehensive about how much we could raise in these difficult economic times.<span> </span>The Asian Achiever's Awards exceeded my hopes and expectations," said Rupa Ragunath. "I will be returning to India with a joyful heart, because now I can answer the six-hundred odd children who tug at my sleeve everyday, asking when I will build them a school.<span> </span>Thanks to Gujarat Samachar, CB Patel and London's Asian community, construction can start in early 2009!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Food for Life Vrindavan is a charity in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor.<span> </span>With our schools, medical services, social and environmental development projects,<span> </span>FFLV gives the needy – especially children – an opportunity to live and learn, eventually pulling whole families out of the vicious cycle of poverty and desperation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">FFLV has been serving the poor of Vrindavan since 1990.<span> </span><a href="http://foodforlifevrindavan.org.uk" target="_blank">fflvrindavan.org</a><span> </span></span></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>