By Lalit K JhaWashington, Dec 8 (PTI) The Sikh community here hasraised USD 2,10,000 for underprivileged youth pursuing highereducation in Punjab.
The fund was raised at an event this week by the SikhHuman Development Foundation (SHDF), featuring Bollywood actorand Punjabi comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi.
"The SHDF has so far given more than 5,000 scholarshipsto students. Out of them, 2,700 have already graduated andfound jobs of doctors, engineers, scientists and others. Someof them are now helping other needy children," said GajinderSingh Ahuja, chairman of the SHDF.
The SHDF provides scholarships to bright but poorstudents in Punjab and surrounding areas, he said.
Based in Washington, it has been giving scholarships tostudents since 2001 and over the years USD 2 million inscholarship money has been provided.
Jasdeep Singh Juneja, an IT professional from Dallas inTexas, has been one of the recipient of the SHDF scholarshipprogramme. He now runs a major operation for ATT.
"If there was no SHDF, I would not have be in the US. Myfamily was not able to support me. It is only because offinancial assistance at a very crucial time that I was able tobecome a professional. Now I am able to support the educationof my own younger brother," Juneja said.
Similarly, Jasmeet Singh Bhatia, another scholarshiprecipient, shared his journey from an underprivileged familyto being a professional in Richmond, Virginia, at the event.
The participants donated funds for 420 scholarships witheach scholarship worth USD 510, a media release said. PTI LKJAQSAMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.