Message from the Chairman
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King
This quote rings so true in my ears. It is surreal to realise that the Persistent Foundation has completed 15 years of dedicated service to society. We are so blessed to have been given this opportunity to be a part of the community for the last decade and a half. Giving back, being in a position of privilege and having the means to help make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people, have been the most fulfilling part of our journey.
“We learned about gratitude and humility — that so many people had a hand in our success.” — Michelle Obama
Ms. Anu Aga taught us the privilege of education. Dr. Anil Awachat advised us on the importance of de-addiction in the youth. Dr. D. R. Mehta exemplifies the aspect of philanthropy. Dr. Ravindra Kolhe showed us the path of empathy towards tribal communities. Dr. Abhay Bang pioneered healthcare in rural India. Mr. Shridhar Venkat explained the philosophy behind Akshaya Patra. Dr. Praveen Bhagwat inspired us to pursue courage and afforestation. Mr. Satyajit Bhatkal shared his wisdom on solving drinking water problems in villages.
Mr. Dileep Ranjekar guided us on the best practices for CSR. Dr. Girish Sohoni directed us to do more agro-based work along with animal husbandry. Dr. Prakash Amte taught us the importance of empathy towards animals along with providing healthcare to tribal communities.
“In ordinary life, we hardly realise that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Persistent employees have generously donated INR 9 crore and have contributed a total of 56,000 volunteering hours to various activities like tree plantation, mentoring our Kiran scholars, assembling school kits, painting lamps and piggy banks, making seed balls, rice plantation and several others. We are truly grateful for their wholehearted participation in various programmes.
“Giving back, being in a position of privilege and having the means to help make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people, have been the most fulfilling part of our journey.”
Over 15 years, having spent INR one hundred crores, boggles the mind. Having touched the lives of over one and a half lakh individuals makes us wonder. Did we really accomplish all of this? This realisation makes our hearts swell with pride, our heads bow in humility and our hands folded in gratitude.
Over the years, our esteemed Chief Guests have taught us important lessons that we continue to follow today.
“Help others without any reason and give without the expectation of receiving anything in return.” — Roy T Bennett
All of our esteemed guests embody this emotion.
We have been able to touch the lives of four and a half lakh people through various initiatives. These include our participation in initiatives in Health, Education, Community Development and Preservation of Heritage and Wildlife.
What have we accomplished in these 15 years?
Over 15 years, our health projects have improved healthcare for many. We funded cleft surgeries on 4,700 children and 3,000 pediatric surgeries. We also provided nutrition programmes for nearly 7,000 babies and conducted over 12,500 cataract surgeries for senior citizens. Our initiatives include cochlear implants, squint corrections, spinal surgeries, mental health support, and more. Additionally, our mobile medical van, support for old age homes, and physiotherapy centre have helped 22,000 senior citizens. We've also assisted almost 2,000 individuals with the Jaipur Foot artificial limb project.
In the Education vertical, the Kiran programme has empowered 500 young women to become engineers and find jobs. We've supported 65,500 students in completing their school education and helped 10,000 students improve their academic performance. 1,700 individuals received vocational training, and more than 12,000 have gained employment through this programme. Toilet construction in 110 schools has benefited 21,000 children, and we've assisted over 700 specially-abled children. In total, 160,000 students have used our services through various initiatives.
In Community Development, we cultivated 10,000 hectares of land, provided fodder for over 3,000 animals, and facilitated the birth of 1,000+ female calves through artificial insemination. We also planted 120,000+ trees, constructed 55 wells, and completed 16,000 km of desilting of rivers and canals. We collaborated with Rama Purushottam Foundation to construct hostels for schoolgirls and working women and residences for police constables. We also installed 12 solar rooftop plants, resulting in significant power bill savings of INR 3.5 crore.
Through our newest vertical, Preservation of Heritage and Wildlife, we've supported the rescue of injured animals in forests by donating 4 ambulances. We've also helped print 2,000 books to preserve the tribal Kolami language, benefiting 20 schools and local community members.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, we contributed nearly INR 17 crore to various schemes. We provided meals and ration kits to 25,000 families, facilitated vaccinations for 43,000 people in 160 villages, supported 20,000 school children with education, helped nearly 600 individuals with livelihood support,
We are indebted to the Board Members and the Trustees for their unwavering support and guidance throughout our journey and for recognising and appreciating our accomplishments and successes.
The Foundation team deserves all the applause and commendations for being extremely passionate and dedicated in all they do. I am so proud of their integrity and commitment to the cause of service.
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” — Lionel Hampton
set up 5 COVID Care Centres, and provided medical equipment to hospitals, including 32 ventilators, 2 Bipap machines, 130 oxygen concentrators, 2 oxygen plants, 80 ICU beds, and 20,000 PPE kits.
With Best Regards,
Sonali Deshpande
Chairperson, Persistent Foundation, Persistent India Foundation
34th Annual Report 2024
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FY24 Performance Highlights
Our Future-Ready Global Workforce
Persistent University
Environmental, Social and Governance
Persistent Foundation
Client Resilience and Success
FY24 Awards and Analyst Recognitions
Innovation for Resilience and Excellence
Partnering for Future-Ready Solutions
The Persistent Way Forward
34th Annual Report 2024
Download Report
Back
Home
FY24 Performance Highlights
Our Future-Ready Global Workforce
Persistent University
Environmental, Social and Governance
Persistent Foundation
Client Resilience and Success
FY24 Awards and Analyst Recognitions
Innovation for Resilience and Excellence
Partnering for Future-Ready Solutions
The Persistent Way Forward
34th Annual Report 2024
Download Report