My dear friends,
In my mail earlier this month, I had referred to our funds challenge and said that I was not overly concerned about it going by my past experience of God’s interventions at the right moments. And guess what, the very next day our long-time benefactor and co-traveller of BRIDGE right from its inception, Bala Malladi sir, the affable CEO of ACT, ensured that Rs 5 lakh was credited into our account. I recall his words to me years ago that funds should never be a reason for stress for me as he would always stand with a genuine cause like BRIDGE. Thank you so much Bala sir for your support and concern year after year.
A couple of others also stepped in with extra contributions, and others promised to rope in more donors as one of them said, “a genuine platform like BRIDGE, where I can see the positive difference it makes, should never be short of resources”.
All of you, dear co-builders of BRIDGE, please accept my gratitude on behalf of over180 families of BRIDGE across the country.
Now, as we complete seven years (on 1 August) on this beautiful journey, I wish to present a summary of our annual report for 2022-23. As I have always said, BRIDGE does not aim to reach out to too many people, rather our focus is to get involved with only a limited number of families as our resources of time, people and funds permit and work towards leading them out of troubled waters to self-reliance. We get involved with our families, stay in touch, counsel them when required, advise children on choosing the right course/career, share their happiness and sorrows, lend them an ear whenever required… That’s ‘the BRIDGE Way’.
The numbers shown below are those of April 2022 to March 2023 only, and do not include the details before and after. Not all these funds have passed through BRIDGE accounts as I have often encouraged our benefactors to also directly deposit money in the accounts of our beneficiaries. However, I take a note of these contributions just to understand and appreciate the difference our donors make.
Total Contributions: Rs 28,26,610.00
Break-up:
Arjun Rama 3,000.00
Raju Pullan 20,000.00
Anita Francis 22,000.00
Rakesh Bedi 25,000.00
Prakash Pillai 25,000.00
Mala Bhojwani 50,000.00
Geetanjali Kapoor 60,000.00
Shajan Jose Anithottam 1,50,000.00
Shaji Thomas 1,80,000.00
Michelle Mendonca 3,97,610.00
Wonder Biz Technologies 5,00,000.00
Shibu Joseph 14,94,000.00
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Total Rs 28,26,610.00
Total Outgo Rs 26,25,763.00
Breakup:
Livelihood outgo………………………..Rs 13,40,000.00
Education aid………………………….. Rs 5,80,000.00
Medical aid…………………………….. Rs 2,15,763.00
One-time outgo……………………….. Rs 4,90,000.00
(One-time outgo includes house repair help, wedding expenses help and school uniform purchase assistance for students)
Balance in our bank account as of March 31, 2023: Rs 2,00,847.00
While on this, I wish to register our special gratitude to our auditors BOCO LLP which has been taking care of our finances since our inception in 1996, without charging us a pie. What’s more, Om sir, who heads the firm, is directly funding the college fees of one of our students from Bihar who is studying law in Bangalore.
I take this opportunity to thank each of our benefactors, those contributing through funds and those supporting us through their valuable advice and prayers. Without you on my side, I would not be able to imagine the distance we have covered. There’s a plaque on my table that reads: Want to go fast, go alone, want to go far, go together. Yes, in team-work there is strength, and let’s continue to travel the distance. Together.
Thank you and take care
Shibu