Report by Padmakar Kulkarni on his recent visit to India and meeting with Lily Foundation Smile Scholars

During our recent visit to India, I had organized a meeting of the families and students on Saturday, March 1^st, 2008, 5 PM at Navangar (suburb of Hubli), Karnataka. Five students and their family members attended the afternoon get together event. This is the first time that these students had met each other and also any one from Lily Foundation has met these students. It was a wonderful experience for me to meet these youngsters and learn first hand how the support from Lily Foundation has affected their lives. They were so grateful for the financial support without which they would have hard time in continuing their education. Their gratefulness was quite evident from their expressions and also they were really wonderstruck that some one not known to them took interest in them and were willing to help them. They were also impressed that they had a chance to meet some one associated with Lily Foundation in person so that they could express their gratitude and were eager to learn more about Lily Foundation and its activities.

I gave each student a book on Swami Vivekananda, a publication of Ramakrishna Mission. I have asked not only the students but also the parents to read the book and asked the students to write a brief book report. They indicated that they would work on it after their exams in May. I hope to receive the report some time in June.

Overall it was a wonderful experience for me as well as the students to meet in person and interact. I would strongly recommend any one visiting India, to take time and meet the students or schools supported by Lily Foundation in order to appreciate how the Lily Foundation support has touched so many lives. The firsthand experience has strengthened my interest and support for Lily Foundation. I thank the Board and supporters of Lily Foundation for the yeoman services and hope they will continue to expand their services with every one’s support.

Padmakar Kulkarni

Dallas, TX