CA donates over Rs. 1 crore to HOPE foundation

MUMBAI, INDIA: CA Inc, a provider in IT management software, today announced that it has donated a sum of Rs. 1,50,51,000 crore to HOPE foundation towards the construction of a permanent building for the CA HOPE School in Habsiguda, Hyderabad.

The donation was presented at the graduation day ceremony for Standards Four and Five students who are moving on from CA HOPE School to IICT ZM High School, a mainstream school in Habsiguda, Hyderabad, said a press release.

The CA HOPE School has completed five years of service to the local community, after employees at CA India Technology Center (ITC) in Hyderabad established the partnership with HOPE foundation in the summer of 2004, the release added.

The school provides free English-based education, along with free books, uniforms, breakfast and mid-day meals for the school’s 200 Lower Kindergarten to class V students.

William Bauman, senior vice president and general manager of ITC, CA said, “CA is committed to giving back to the community and ourinvestment in the CA HOPE School represents a long-term contribution to the betterment of these children and serves as a model for other companies to emulate.”

In addition to donating computers and educational CDs to the school, CA employees get involved in a wide range of HOPE school activities such as medical camps, counseling, sports, cultural functions and serving as part-time teachers.

Mark Templer, chief executive officer, HOPE foundation, said: “CA HOPE School is an example of how a corporation in collaboration with a non-governmental organization can transform the lives of disadvantaged children by giving them the gift of education.”

He added that the generous donation they received today would enable them to construct a permanent building for the CA HOPE School and would ensure that underprivileged children in the Habsiguda area would continue to have access to high quality education at no cost.

CA HOPE School has grown steadily over the last five years. One of the primary challenges has been the lack of proper building infrastructure to house the school resulting in cramped classrooms in leased facilities. The INR 1,50,51,000 ($300,000) donation would be used to construct a permanent building for the school, the release added.