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TNF Summer Educational & Service Internship
A special opportunity for our high schoolers to experience schools in Tamil Nadu firsthand and make unforgettable memories
Apply now!
Watch info session
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Dear TNF Supporters and Friends,
The time has come for me to say goodbye and express my heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters and patrons of the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF). After 25 years of dedicated involvement — beginning as Chairman of the Chicago Chapter for over 16 years and serving on the National Board for more than 6 years — this journey has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
During this time, I was privileged to play key roles in organizing four national conventions, each focused on supporting impactful projects in Tamil Nadu.
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I also promoted and supported several individual initiatives through TNF, working consistently to enhance the TNF brand, spread awareness of our mission, and expand our reach beyond North America. A major focus of mine has been ensuring the financial strength of the organization, promoting self-sustainability, and mentoring future leaders to secure TNF’s long-term success — all while staying true to its core values and my own principles.
Although I am stepping down from formal roles, I will continue to support individual projects through TNF and remain committed to making a difference in people’s lives — whether in Tamil Nadu or anywhere in the world.
My father taught me to speak less, work hard, and serve others — to offer timely help without personal expectations or agendas, and to be inclusive while holding positions in public organizations. I’ve always strived to follow that principle. I could not have done this without the unwavering support of my family, friends, and fellow board members. I am deeply grateful to each one of you.
I leave TNF in the hands of capable and committed individuals, and I am confident that the future is bright. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me over the years, especially the current TNF Board. I wish the future leadership continued success in carrying TNF’s mission forward.
With warmest regards and sincere appreciation,
Veera Venugopal
President, TNF USA
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Dr. C. Sylendra Babu is a retired Indian Police Service officer of the 1987 batch from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He served with distinction for 36 years, ultimately rising to the position of Director General of Police and Head of the Tamil Nadu Police Force. Throughout his career, he held various key roles including Superintendent of Police, Deputy Inspector General, Joint Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of
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Police, Inspector General, and Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order). Known for his unwavering integrity, he was instrumental in securing the President's Colour for the Tamil Nadu Police—one of the highest honors bestowed upon a police force in India.
In addition to his policing career, Dr. Sylendra Babu is a mentor to civil service aspirants, a motivational speaker, and an accomplished endurance athlete.
Following his retirement, he has continued to contribute to society by supporting the college education of students from government schools. He also offers free coaching for competitive exams in his hometown of Kuzhithurai, Kanyakumari District. Demonstrating his commitment to youth development and education, he converted his 100-year-old ancestral home into a public library to encourage reading among the local community.
Dr. Sylendra Babu was appointed as a trustee of the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) in November 2024 and currently serves as its Chairman since March 2025.
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TNF crosses ₹1 Crore in Educational Scholarships
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Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) reached a remarkable milestone during its Golden Jubliee year by distributing educational scholarships worth over ₹1 crore during the 2024–25 academic year—its highest ever in a single year. This initiative benefited a total of 1,019 students across Tamil Nadu, reaffirming TNF’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth through education.
This year, TNF proudly introduced two new educational scholarship projects:
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Sakunthala Nagappan Educational Scholarship Project: Selvi R. Bavani, a second-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.) student from Pudukkottai district, was awarded ₹1,00,000 to support her education for the academic years 2024–25 and 2025–26.
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Kandaswamy and Subbayammal Educational Helping Hands Project: A total of ₹57,400 was granted to five students from Government Boys Higher Secondary School and Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Tiruttani, to assist them in continuing their education.
These initiatives reflect TNF’s continued expansion and deepened impact in promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged students across Tamil Nadu.
You can learn more about educational scholarship project & beneficiaries at https://tnfindia.org/cause/tnf-pre-and-post-matric-scholarships/
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Queen Mary's college computer lab gets an upgrade
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The P.G. Computer Lab at Queen Mary’s College has been successfully upgraded, and a model lab has been established for the benefit of postgraduate students. This initiative was made possible through a generous local donation, which was formally handed over to the Principal of Queen Mary’s College on 24th March 2025.
The donation of ₹30 lakhs was extended by Selvi S. Kamala of Coimbatore, a retired Principal of a Polytechnic College and former faculty member of Queen Mary’s College. Her contribution has been instrumental in the repair, renovation, and upgradation of the computer lab, significantly enhancing the learning infrastructure for postgraduate students.
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Volunteers & Patrons of TNF Austin Chapter ran the 2nd Austin Cap10k on April 6th 2025. A total of 91 members of the TNF running club were amongst 20,000 runners. Thanks to Coach AK for training the runners. Congratulations to all the runners! Go TNF Austin!
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🌱 When TNF Volunteers are Also Plant Lovers, Something Beautiful Takes Root!
Our passionate volunteers from the Wisconsin chapter combined their love for service and gardening to launch a blooming new fundraising idea. This spring, they sowed 90 plants as part of a pilot project—each one reserved in advance by generous donors.
As these plants grow, so does their impact: every leaf and bloom helps support an underprivileged life. It’s fundraising rooted in compassion, nurtured with purpose, and blossoming with hope.
The team is excited to nurture this initiative further and expand its reach in the coming years. 🌸
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Welcome new life members!
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Thank you & welcome new members to TNF's 50 year Legacy!
(In honor of each new TNF member, college prep books will be donated to a student in need)
Krishnan & Latha, Sammamish, WA
Lakshmanan & Kavitha, Parkland, FL
Mahesh & Kavitha, Ashburn, VA
Muthappan & Sudha, Plain City, OH
Sasikumar & Lathaa Sri, Aurora, IL
Shanti & Natarajan, Fremont, CA
Srinivasan & Sangeetha, Cary, NC
Sureshbabu & Anu, Sykesville, MD
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Summer Internship applications open
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Each summer, many high school students visiting India take the opportunity to serve as interns at TNF's ABC schools. This year, we plan to expand this offering beyond the ABC schools, where possible. Applications for the 2025 summer internship are now open.
For more information about the internship, please visit the TNF Internship Overview and apply through the TNF Summer Internship 2025 Application. We often receive requests to customize the program, and while we understand the logistical challenges of planning a trip to India, we kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility, as there are also logistical challenges on the facilitator's end.
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Click on the flyer to visit website for details
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Click on the image to know more details
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