Full disclosure: The prospect of fundraising has always made me cringe.
I know that every charity spends a considerable amount of its resources on raising money for various projects, but as integral as fundraising is to charity work, it has always been my least favorite part. I think I am finally beginning to understand why.
Two young boys served as MC’s for the evening and their work was seamless, and so harmonic with one another. As each dance performance began everyone’s eyes followed the eclectic colors, clothing and moves which followed. As each student poet spoke, we listened to what we felt was so profound, so deep, so rhythmic. The band was mesmerizing, the organization was wonderful and we were just so thankful to the staff and students who arranged for this.
The Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Highschool NHS, students, staff and volunteers were able to raise $1500 for charity in the name of Thaakat Foundation. I cannot begin to share my pride in the work they have done. Thank you so much!
As I entered the classroom to present to these young bright eyed individuals, I felt inspired by all of the ideas, diversity and vision that was around me. After I shared a little bit about how THAAKAT began and what our goals were for the future, I went on to share why community service was so important.
This Thursday March 3, 2011 the National Honor Society at Jaqueline Kennedy Highschool will be hosting a benefit where all proceeds will be donated to Thaakat Foundation’s local and global causes for 2011. The night will be decorated with colors, music performances and dancing with a feature presenation by DJ Flawless! As the students round up preparations, THAAKAT had the opportunity to talk to Puja Patel about what has been going on behind the scenes. Puja is a supporting member on Thaakat and teacher at the highschool. She been working non stop with the team these last few months to ensure the experience is a wonderful one for the students.
Why did you feel it was important to get the kids at Jaqueline Kennedy Highschool involved?
- Are you Creative?
Ingredients
By: Uzma Bawany / Executive Director / Thaakat Foundation / Thaakat@gmail.com
I’m hoping since some of you avid readers have been seeing Thaakat in the Urdu Times over the last few years. I’m also hoping that through your followings you have come to know a little bit about what we stand for. Thaakat is a 501c3 Not for Profit Organization started by young group of American South Asian students and young professionals.
We began with small efforts and booths to raise charitable awareness for our communities locally and abroad. In a few years we have managed to grow our support from schools across the nation to partnerships with globally recognized Non Profit partners.
I can tell you a little secret about how we got to where we are today- a lot of passion, dedication and a wonderful board.
I wanted to take a few nice splurges of words to share with you all a behind the scenes look at our board- the board who has made Thaakat a live reality. Every week we will showcase a member on the team so be on the look out for our features!
Ammara was on the founding board of Thaakat Foundation and it is an honor to have her by our side yet today. I had always known her to be very dedicated and well- very sweet. (Believe it or not, sweetness is a very important base for your board). From her inception on the team she always brought something unique to the table that none of us others had- a keen eye for classy creativity. Her words are eloquent, her input consists not of just great micro management but cool photographs and beautiful booth designing. I will put it like this, she brings a Monet like feel to the organization, a special sense of sassy swirliness that we all enjoy.
In our official 501c3 operating year of 2008-2009 Ammara was voted most “dedicated” board member by the rest of her team mates. Yes, Ammara, you were hands down the majority vote winner for having put forth a grand effort towards the cause! From your detail oriented outlines on our global causes, unmatched attendance record for all of our events and priority you took with all of the initiatives, the team really looks up to you.
I just want to take this moment to say, everyone please join me for a boisterous round of applause for Ammara Bokhari and all of the hard work she has put towards raising charitable consciousness plus being an awesome team mate.
Here are a few words from Madam herself:
What is the reason that you joined Thaakat?
“I always wanted to do some type of charitable work and I just never came across the right opportunity. When Thaakat came along it really gave me a wonderful chance to join something that was selfless. I joined the team and it allowed me to give back. It was the perfect opportunity and a great cause. My fellow peers were awesome so it made it even better.”
In the few years that you have been a part of Thaakat , what has been your biggest gain?
“There are two parts: One is the gain that I see in giving back. I’ve seen Thaakat grow and provide help via amazing global projects. We have been able to better communities through our work, this has been the biggest for sure.
The other gain has been the friendships and the bonds that we have formed as a group, it kind of feels like a second family. One is a very practical gain and the other is very personal.”
What do you think would be Thaakat’s Golden Ticket?
“A stronger fiscal budget for sure. If we had a strong budget we could really go above and beyond. But aside from monetary gains, I believe stronger contacts abroad would really help. Globally, I would love to see Thaakat develop and start it’s own projects abroad but for this not only would you have to be financially strong but would need the contacts to bring these projects to life.
I think Thaakat Foundation has a really unique mission that sets us apart from other Non Profits. I really like that our mission is not only to do charitable work abroad and locally but also to unite people in appreciation of a greater cause- that cause being to inspire charitable work and philanthropy.”
Words that Ammara lives by:
“Eat, Pray, Love. Not only the title to a great book I’m reading these days but I’ve come to realize these are the three things in life that you really only need.”
Contact her 
‘abokhari@thaakatfoundation.org’
Ammara- Let me end this by saying that you really take Thaakat to the top with all of the work that you do. Your attention to detail and hard work has been a source of inspiration for me and I am so glad that you have been here to help the cause prosper.
Hoorah, Hoorah, Hoorah!
By: Uzma Bawany/Thaakat Foundation/Executive Director
We arrived at Alameda Nursing Home in Perthamboy, NJ with our small group of volunteers ready to get to work. When we reached, there were just a few residents waiting for us at each table, B4U drumming beats on their big screen and some of the residents eager with questions.
As the minutes passed, much to our delight, volunteers started pouring in. As the excitement grew Alameda’s Indian floor recreational director, Mr. Bhatt wanted to make sure he gathered all of the residents so he could to show them a great time.
Farhan Zaidi didn’t let a moment of silence pass, as a member on our PR team at RU Thaakat he was proud to take the mic and share jokes, laughter and an introduction of our team in his native urdu tongue. The elderly loved that we had held on to our culture and were able to communicate with them. In no time, RU Dhol Effect’s talented Emil Parikh took to the mic and sang a classic favorite “Yeh Dosti Hai” as well as a few others.
The residents clapped with joy and sang along, some danced, all smiled and we knew the next few hours would be an eye opening experience.
Volunteers began to pass out sketch paper and sit with the residents, as each resident was ornamented with a paint pallete and crayons, volunteers tried to promote them to proliferate their hidden artistry.
Some drew the homes they lived in, some said their homes didn’t have good memories and instead drew flowers. One women who had been crafty in sewing in her youth, immediately started to drift off and color onto the paper some of her favorite sewing patterns.
One woman slyishly smiled when the volunteer drew a young girl in a sari, “Bot Pasand Hai,” she said.
The recreational director was thrilled, he admitted that he tried to get the residents to color all of the time but they refused, we told him we brought with us magic!
Soon it was time for us to go but the volunteers had enjoyed so much they wanted to leave their residents a token of appreciation for the time they shared. In groups and partners they took to the stage to sing for them some of their favorite hindi songs.
The residents were thrilled and were no longer shy themselves. Some of the women did garba, some sang, some rang their bells with happiness.
One man, who claimed he was 92 years young, took the mic and told us that we reminded him of his good days when he was young- he was so thankful so have us there to spend time with them.
Those two hours we spent with the residents were such a rewarding experience, they valued our time so much and were so sad to see us leave. We hope that the opportunity was fulfilling for all of our volunteers and that we will see you all again- with many more friends and family in hand for next time.
The elderly in our society have given us so much over the generations, let us not forget where we come from and to who we owe our thanks!
Peace and Love to Alameda, Our volunteers and all of our supporters!
RU Thaakat
President- Syed Murad Ali
Vice President- Nabiha Ahmed
Treasurer/PR- Farhan Zaidi
Secretary- Amna Ali
PR Captain- Ridah Mannan
PR Team- Irfan Zaidi, Owais Farooqi, Faizan Zaidi, Sana Ali
The road to here hasn’t been easy for Thaakat. Our board continues to work on a 100% voluntary basis to make charity a priority for youngsters in campus and school communities.
In the past few years I’ve contacted hundreds of Pakistani Student associations, Indian Student Associations, South Asian Networking Associations and all sorts of places I felt I could reach out to that had the potential to help. It was very often that after multiple tries I would get no response or that the response would be “We need the money to promote our culture.”
I let out a sigh and just let it go. On days that I was feeling adventurous I would share with them that there was no better way to promote culture than to empower the people of those traditions back home. Really , without these people we would have no culture.
Not that it impacted the group any to change their decision but I thought a few words of exchange were worth the share. Who knows if one day they would give a cross to my barter once again.
Essentially the barter is this. As an organization, you prepare and throw the events that you usually do to promote your culture and have a good time etc. etc. except that instead of gathering the funds to put towards buying trophees and setting up bigger parties, you set aside one event where the proceeds
go to charity. What do we give you? Happy feelings of jitterbugs knowing that you helped humanity.
I’m not vouching for Thaakat Foundation, I am vouching for good will in general. I’ve been on student boards and I know many times Universities also allow you a budget. What can you lose by donating a percentage of that? Donate it where you wish, but do reach out and use your potential to put your “cents” to work.
I am so proud of the organizations that have come forward to take the initiative and show what cultural fervor really is. To be proud of your country and have faith in humanity- means to take a social responsibility. In these two weeks of March 2010, Lane tech Muslim Club(Chicago, IL) and Baruch University Pakistani Student’s association(New York,NY)- are working their tails off to bring the crowd an event that stands up to empower people.
A group of students at Rutgers University in New Jersey also petitioned to have a school chapter of Thaakat recognized and in their success launched a wonderously successful kick off event. Congratulations!
Upcoming Event Details: March 19, Chicago . IL-Lane Tech Muslim Club’s annual dinner is in sponsor of Thaakat Foundation this year so please come out and support young students with a cause -Only 100 seats available. Reserve your seat(s) by e-mailing ltmuslimclub@yahoo.com with your full name. You will be able to donate at the door for your ticket.
*Thaakat Foundation gathers its support mainly from school and university organizations, without your help we cannot meet our goals. If you are on the board of a organization and decide you want to take charge for change please contact us at thaakat@gmail.com!
Friday, February 26th, 2009
