Sep 30, 2025
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In this edition...

President's Remarks 
VCC serves flavors at TNF Chapters
Art workshop for special needs children
Sweaters for Tribal students distributed
Talking pens distributed
Teacher's Training Program offered
Educational Scholarships - Sep 2025 Update
Boston pledges support for 145 kids
Congratulations to Essay Contest Winners
Youth Power shines at Michigan

Welcome new life members
Upcoming Chapter Events
Thanks to our partners

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President's Remarks

Dear TNF Family,

Village Cooking Channel (VCC) and TNF

What a way to celebrate TNF’s mission of giving and spread its message through the Village Cooking Channel (VCC)! This unique idea, which began with their very first visit to the USA during our TNF50 celebration, has now blossomed into something truly remarkable.

VCC is visiting 10 TNF chapters across the U.S. — and every single event is sold out. Their journey shows us that when you operate on strong principles consistently and sustainably, the world notices and celebrates you. The VCC team stands as a powerful testament to this truth.

This collaboration between TNF and VCC is more than an event — it is an ideal partnership that magnifies our shared vision of serving the underprivileged and uplifting communities.

TNF Chennai Corpus Funds Initiative

The TNF Chennai office has long been the nerve center for our initiatives serving underprivileged communities. With the building aging and damaged by floods, renovation and ongoing upkeep have become urgent needs. To address this sustainably, TNF is launching a Corpus Fund of at least ₹1 crore, dedicated solely to the maintenance and administration of the Chennai office. While we encourage donors to contribute ₹1 lakh, every gift — big or small — will make a lasting difference.

The principal will remain untouched, with only the interest income used for expenses such as administration, property taxes, utilities, and upkeep. This ensures long-term financial security for the Chennai office and strengthens TNF’s mission for generations to come. I am personally contributing to this initiative, and I invite you to join me. For more details and to contribute, please see our appeal letter.

With gratitude,
Mani Periakaruppan
President, Tamil Nadu Foundation USA

VCC serves flavors at TNF Chapters

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ARdkYBMkM/

 The beloved Village Cooking Channel team—known for winning millions of hearts with their grand-scale cooking, stunning visuals, and unwavering commitment to giving back—has been on a flavorful journey across the U.S., visiting TNF chapters and delighting supporters with their signature dishes.

From Raleigh to Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, and San Antonio, TNF patrons, families, and guests have savored the team’s mouthwatering creations while learning more about TNF’s impactful work. The response has been nothing short of phenomenal—sold-out events in every city, with some chapters even having to turn away walk-ins due to overwhelming demand.

Now, the excitement continues as the Village Cooking Channel team prepares to bring their culinary magic to Phoenix, Bay Area, and Miami in the coming weeks.

If you’re near one of these chapters, don’t miss this unique opportunity to enjoy delicious food and support a meaningful cause—all in one unforgettable evening!

Phoenix, AZ Oct 4th – arizona.tnfusa.org

Bay Area, CA Oct 5th – bay-area.tnfusa.org

Miami, FL Oct 11th & 12th – south-florida.tnfusa.org

Watch VCC team cook Big size Crab @ Chicago!
Watch VCC team cook Raspberry/Blueberry Kesari @ Atlanta!

Art workshop for special needs children

As part of its ongoing support for children's development, the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) has launched a recurring art workshop at the Government Special Home in Chennai. The initiative, funded by the TNF Dallas Chapter, aims to provide creative engagement and skill development for the children housed at the facility.

The first sessions of the workshop were held on August 26th, 28th, and 29th, 2025, featuring training in Lippon Art, Buddha Clay Art, and Yarn Art. The programme is scheduled to be conducted monthly, offering the children a consistent platform to explore their creativity and stay positively engaged.

Staff at the Special Home noted the enthusiastic participation of the children, emphasizing how the art sessions have helped channel their energy into constructive and therapeutic activities.

Sweaters for Tribal Students distributed

In a heartwarming gesture aimed at supporting tribal students in the chilly Pachaimalai hills in Salem district, sweaters were distributed to 182 students of the Government Tribal Residential Higher Secondary School, Arunoothumalai. The initiative was supported by the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF), South Florida Chapter.

Situated in a hilly and cold region, the school has adopted sweaters as part of its uniform to help students cope with the cold climate. The distribution, costing ₹63,700, was met with joy and gratitude from the students, who said the sweaters would help them stay warm and attend school more regularly, despite the cold breeze.

The initiative highlights the ongoing efforts to support education and well-being in tribal and remote areas through targeted community and diaspora involvement.

Talking pens distributed

In a major step towards inclusive education, Braille Talking Pens were distributed to visually impaired students in select government schools across Tamil Nadu with the support of Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) chapters in the U.S.

A total of 27 Braille Talking Pen sets were provided to Government Girls Higher Secondary School for the Visually Impaired in Trichy (11 sets) and Government Higher Secondary School for the Visually Impaired in Thanjavur (16 sets), funded by the TNF Austin Chapter at a cost of ₹3,60,460.

Additionally, five talking pens were distributed to students at Government High School, Serurthur in Nagapattinam district, as part of the ABC Project. This initiative was supported by TNF Central Ohio Chapter, with funding of ₹1,06,480.

The initiative aims to enhance learning accessibility and independence for visually impaired students across the state.

Teacher's Training Program offered

As part of the ABC Project, a two-day refresher training was held in August 2025 for teachers and project coordinators across Salem and Trichy zones. A total of 84 teachers and 8 coordinators from 16 districts participated in two batches held at Rasipuram and other zonal centers.

The sessions, led by master trainers from the School Education Department, focused on strategies to support slow learners under the Government’s THIRAN scheme. Key areas included foundational teaching in English, Tamil, and Mathematics.

TNF Chennai Trustee Thiru. V. Varadharaju, I.P.S (Retd.), attended the final day, commending the dedication of teachers and coordinators in driving the project forward.

Educational Scholarships - September 2025 update

During the month, 468 students received scholarships totaling an amount of ₹ 35,63,000/-.
 

Description # of Beneficiaries Scholarship Amount
(in Rupees)

 
Dr Ramadas Abboy Memorial Educational Scholarship 125 ₹ 16,56,000.00
Dr. Anandavalli Krishnamoorthy Endowment Fund 2 ₹ 40,000.00
Support to Government Aided School Educational Scholarship (SC Gurukulam) 49 ₹ 3,77,000.00
Diamond Jubilee Educational Scholarship 7 ₹ 10,500.00
TNF COVID Educational Scholarship 28 ₹ 1,28,000.00
Mr. Subramanian Krishnamoorthy Scholarship Fund 6 ₹ 24,000.00
Adopt a Student Project - Thoothukudi 1 ₹ 12,000.00
Uplift - TNF Educational Scholarship  1 ₹ 2,00,500.00
Swathantra and Radhakrishnan Abboy Educational Scholarship for students with disabilities. 1 ₹ 65,000.00
Skanda Educational Scholarship 1 ₹ 50,000.00
Dhana Rengachary Educational Scholarship 2 ₹ 65,000.00
TNF Golden Jubilee Educational Scholarship 25 ₹ 1,71,000.00
Scholarship Project to single parent students (Mann Vaasanai Corpus Fund interest - Ariyalur, Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Karur & Tiruvallur) 220 ₹ 7,64,500.00
  468 ₹ 35,63,000.00

Boston pledges support for 145 kids

TNF supporters at Greater Boston gathered to walk for supporting the education of students at the ABC schools in Injambakkam, Narathpettai and Kaliyampoondi. The attendees pledged to support a total 145 kids.

Youth Power shines at Michigan

When music, innovation, and powerful insights from industry leaders come together, it sets the stage for a truly unforgettable experience—and that’s exactly what unfolded at the NxGen Youth Conference, hosted by the TNF Michigan Chapter’s Youth LOVES Team on September 7, 2025.

Spearheaded by Youth Coordinator Inbarasan Annamalai, the event was a vibrant celebration of youth potential, creativity, and leadership, laying the foundation for what promises to be a flagship initiative in the region.

Highlights of the Afternoon:

  • Youth Innovation Challenge: Young participants pitched impactful solutions to real-world social challenges, competing for cash prizes and recognition.

  • Inspiring Speakers: Attendees were treated to thought-provoking talks by leading professionals, including

    • Dr. Rakesh Nahta, Ph.D., Sr. Manager at Ford Ion Park, Ford Motor Co.

    • Dr. Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar, Ph.D., Principal Scientist at Nissan

    • Mr. Deepak Sugumaran Sebastian, Program Director at the Institute of Therapeutic Sciences

    • Ms. Shaili Annadurai, TNF Young Adult and emerging leader

  • Musical Brilliance: A special performance by young instrumentalists mesmerized the audience, filling the auditorium with music, talent, and energy. Their orchestral performance was a true highlight, showcasing the artistic excellence of the next generation.
     
  • A Young Author’s Big Heart: Rising author Roshan Sundar presented a ₹1,000 donation to TNF, received by Chapter Chair Annadurai Murugesan and committee members. The donation represents all proceeds from Roshan’s debut book, Quest for Honor. He pledged to continue donating future sales. Support his cause by purchasing the book at: michigan.tnfusa.org/book-sale.
  • TNF Youth LOVES Overview: Mannar Dhandapani, TNF Director of Youth, shared insights into the Youth LOVES program and highlighted the long-term benefits for student participants.

With energy, talent, and purpose all under one roof, the NxGen Youth Conference set a high bar for future events—proving that when young minds are empowered, the possibilities are endless.

Congratulations to Summer Essay Contest Winners

The TNF Young Adults & Emerging Professionals Committee is thrilled to unveil the winners of the highly anticipated 2025 Summer Youth Essay Contest!

As in previous years, the competition drew outstanding submissions from talented young writers, and the committee dedicated significant time and effort to carefully read, evaluate, and appreciate each essay. The passion, creativity, and thoughtfulness reflected in the entries were truly inspiring—making the selection process both challenging and rewarding.

A special shoutout to our dynamic Young Adult, Ishita Mannar, who originally conceived the idea for the Summer Youth Essay Contest and led this year’s edition with outstanding dedication as the Chair. A big thank you as well to her incredible team — Anu Suppiah, Shanthi Bhaskar, Shreya Ramesh, Siddarth Mohan, and Hrishi Kousik — for their commitment and efficiency in ensuring timely evaluations and helping finalize the results. 

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for showcasing the power of youth voices and thoughtful expression! What sets the TNF Summer Essay Contest apart is the personalized feedback each contestant receives—crafted from a college essay preparation perspective. This valuable feedback will be shared with all participants by the end of November.

Welcome new life members!

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)


Arivudainambi & Jeyanthi, Cary, NC
Balaji & Balageetha, NAPERVILLE, IL
Kamaraj & Malarkodi, AURORA, IL
Karthikeyan, Naperville, IL
Sithanathan & Vadivukkarasi, Johns Creek, GA
Sivasankari & Minesh, Concord, NC
Thulasi Rajan & Pradeepa, Doral, FL
Velayutham & Nachammai, Plainfield, IL
I want to become a TNF member!

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