Our Mission
Volunteers of Shanti Fund are committed to promote peace and enlightenment through education. VOSF have reached out to many like minded organizations and local schools to promote peace education and building bridges since 1994. Yearlong efforts culminate during two days celebrations of UN International Day of Nonviolence (October 2 – Gandhi’s Birthday). Dozen or so faiths unite every year to pray together on January 30, Gandhi Punya Tithi..
"Shanti Fund volunteers are successful professionals who have given many hours of their personal time to the mission of promoting the Gandhi quest for peace through the acquisition of knowledge"
— Dr. Kishore Kuncham, Freeport School District
In 2017, Punya Tithi was observed by reciting multi faith peace prayers by different faith participants. Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated as a two days event- one by school students on Saturday before October 2. On Gandhi Jayanti event was graced by a prominent Gandhian Shri Prasad Gollanapalli from India and laid out plans for a year long Gandhi -150 celebrations from October 2, 2018 to October 2, 2019. [Peace and UN Sustainable Goals-17 of them]
In 2016, Punya Tithi was observed by youths of different faiths reciting peace prayers of their faith traditions. Gandhi Jayanti events as in the past were two days celebrations. School students made peace presentations on Saturday before October 2 while on actual birthday everyone participated. A unique book, MAHATMA, Gandhi’s Life in Color was released in India by Prime minister Narendra Modi and simultaneously released here on October 2 celebration. The book has almost 1300 color photographs, weighs @ 14 lbs. with 700 pages. Volunteers of Shanti Fund with contributions made possible its publication [Peace and Wisdom].
In 2015, Punya Tithi was observed by dozen faiths by reciting peace prayers from different faith traditions. Two special guests came from India to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti. Swami Nikhileswarananda, a monk of Ramakrishna order of India and Ms. Arunima Sinha, the first amputee woman to climb the Mount Everest. Her book “Born Again on the Mountain” was released by the prime minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and received too many awards including Padma Shri from the president of India [Peace and Security].
In 2014, for the first time in the modern history, someone secured admission in all eight Ivy League Colleges. Kwasi Enin, a senior at William Floyd High School and son of an immigrant parents from Ghana; made a front-page news all over USA. Volunteers of Shanti Fund were honored to host a dignified event at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge and presented him Exceptional Education Excellence Award witnessed by diplomats from Ghana, local dignitaries, educators and prominent citizens
Observance of Gandhi Punya Tithi & celebrations of Gandhi Jayanti as well as International Day of Peace were organized by Volunteers of Shanti Fund or in association with other organizations [Youth for Peace].
In 2013, Constructions activities precluded holding Gandhi Punya Tithi at the Dennison Building. As such it was observed with even greater attendance at the nearby Hyatt Hotel. At the initiative
of the Prof. Andali Raghunath GUN BUY BACK Program was launched to promote peace.
As in the past several years Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated on two days, Saturday before the October 2, with peace presentations by the local schools’ students. This year will be a memorable one since on October2; the announcement was made to launch the Gandhi Memorial Project because of the generosity of the two donors who gave impetus to the project by each donating low six figures donations. A keepsake invitation was sent to all previous donors of Gandhi Project and Volunteers of Shanti Fund. [Peace and Harmony]
A check of $5000 was presented on October 2, 2013 as part of the Gandhi Birthday celebration to the Suffolk County police official for the GUN BUY BACK program that was launched on January 30, 2013 (Gandhi Punya Tithi).