Today marks 10 days of regular yoga, waking up at 6am for every session. How is that for serious commitment towards my mission of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro?
I now need to start planning for fund raising events in order to raise AED 17,000 ($4,600 or £2,400) for disadvantaged children and for an AIDS hospital in Africa. Do you have any ideas for me? I am thinking along the lines of a party, a go-karting event for all ad agencies in Dubai and volunteer work at one of the differently abled kids care centers in UAE. I have 4 months to organize these and raise the required amount or even more if people are generous enough. How do you think I can make fund raising exciting and fun so that people feel like donating towards my cause?
Please give me your feedback and suggestions.
I’ve known Kedar since we were 10. And over the years, he’s evolved, changed and metamorphised into something I’m not sure I know anymore.
While I’m mega impressed by your drive and discipline (I can’t get myself to climb the 5 floors to work everyday!) – I’m not sure contributing to an AIDS charity in Africa is anything more than some sort of random gimmick inspired by Hollywood!
Considering India is the country where you lived, loved and laughed for all your formative years and more, I find it surprising that you’d prefer to send your (and everyone else’s) money to not just another country but another continent!
For starters, St.Vincent’s could do with some of your funds. Not everyone can afford an education in the same place we could. A scholarship would go a looong way in brightening someone else’s future.
There’s people dying of starvation in our own country, & there are more causes and people for you to support right here.
And one of the things we both were taught was that charity truly does begin at home.
I could go on, but then again, I’m not sure my humble suggestions would be taken in the correct light.
Good luck on your endeavours. Jai Hind.
By: rohit kulkarni on February 18, 2008
at 10:32 am
Hey Rohit, you are right in saying that I should be donating towards initiatives in India. I couldn’t agree more with you on this.
Charity does begin at home and I will use this expedition to convince the generous folk in Dubai to support the causes I feel most passionate about.
My main reasons for embarking on this journey were to be adventurous and do something in my life that I could tell stories about to my children.
Personally, the climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro was the biggest motivation in this adventure.
The philanthropic side of this journey is not entirely governed by me. I am bound by the terms of the organizers, Gulf For Good and the charities they will support with the money that I raise. The way I look at it, if I can accomplish my personal ambition of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and also raise some money in the process, I would feel reasonably satisfied with myself.
But, if I do manage to raise more than AED17K, I would gladly donate the money towards wildlife conservation in India.
This is just the beginning. I need to prove myself before people find my promises credible enough to give me blank cheques.
By: Floatr on February 18, 2008
at 11:15 am
excellent Kedar! thanks for making the whole process much clearer!
really hope you have a good climb!
By: rohit kulkarni on February 19, 2008
at 11:03 am
Greetings from Montreal!
Why not organize a running or cycling event and invite people to run or cycle for the cause (if its not too hot or if there is an existing event that u can use to invite people to participate in and ask their friends, etc to make a donation to sponsor their effort.
http://murraymakingadifference.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/murray-makes-national-news/
By: pafmurray on May 26, 2009
at 5:38 pm