A Letter from Sandeep Junnarkar, SAJA President
Dear SAJAers and Friends of SAJA:
During this season of giving, I ask you to support the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), which represents journalists of South Asian origin in North America. Your year-end donation would not only help you reduce how much taxes you pay for 2009, but it would also help support the invaluable work the organization does.
SAJA—now in its 15th year—has established many important programs. Here is a short list:
1. Our scholarships support students interested in studying journalism.
2. Our fellowship program allows journalists to cover issues about South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora that have not received attention in the mainstream press.
3. We provide skills workshops to journalists at various stages of their careers.
4. We have panels and discussions (and a Web radio show) with newsmakers whose work is related South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.
5. We monitor coverage of South Asians in the U.S. and Canada - and of South Asia - in the U.S. and Canadian press.
6. We work with chapters all over the country, including groups in the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto, and others.
7. We provide journalists of South Asian backgrounds and journalists with an interest in South Asia with opportunities to network and search for employment opportunities, which will be even more important to maintain in today's struggling economy.
I know how tough these economic times are, so I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think this is an important cause.
You might ask why you should support us since you are not a journalist? The answer is simple: apart from the great work listed, SAJA plays a critical role as the world increasingly focuses on events in South Asia. News organizations across North America and world turn to SAJA for contacts and guidance on covering the region. I am sure you would agree that this role is of critical importance today. During the Mumbai attacks in 2008, SAJA received scores of requests from major news organizations like NPR and CBS asking for help. We also covered the attacks by interviewing experts via the Web. The New York Times noted this excellent coverage.
In a year in which South Asian countries garnered increased coverage, SAJA devoted resources to helping journalists cover ongoing crises in Pakistan, as well as the end and aftermath of Sri Lanka's 26-year war.
Furthermore, as the political and economic presence of South Asians increases in North America, SAJA plays an important role guiding that domestic coverage.
One last point that might surprise you: SAJA has accomplished all of this without a single full-time employee. SAJA’s all-volunteer broad members direct and implement all its plans. This allows SAJA to plow the donations it receives back into scholarships, programs and services.
I do hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to SAJA Group, Inc. during this calendar year.
Donating is easy. (please see below)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sandeep [at] saja.org.
Best regards,
Sandeep Junnarkar
SAJA President
Two quick ways to make a contribution:
1. VIA CREDIT CARD (you do NOT need a Paypal account):
2. VIA CHECK: If you'd like to pay by check, please mail a check payable to
"SAJA Group Inc" ("Challenge Grant" in the memo line) to SAJA Group, Inc, c/o
John Laxmi, Treasurer, 19 Einsehower Road, Closter, NJ 07624; e-mail:
johnlaxmisaja [at] gmail.com.
SAJA Group, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation under Section 501(c) (3) of
the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to SAJA Group, Inc., net of any
consideration received are deductible as charitable contributions. Please
consult your financial or tax adviser concerning tax-deductibility of your
contributions and payments. SAJA Group, Inc.'s EIN Number is 55-0844632 and New
York State ID Number is 20-70-28. For information on SAJA Group, Inc., an
affiliate of SAJA, please see: http://saja.org/sajagroup.html