Origins
Purposes
Funding
Officers
Programs
Contact
	Site constructed and maintained by: Douglas W. Shrader / Shradedw@Oneonta.edu
	September 7, 2001

Origins

The Ninash Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, formed in 1996 in memory of Nina J. Malhotra. Nina was a pre-kindergarten teacher, a social worker, and a counselor. She taught Hindi at the State University of New York at Oneonta and  helped found and direct the SUNY Intersession and Semester in India Programs.

Nina's professional life at SUNY as well as her personal life in Oneonta was dedicated to cultural interchange between diverse groups, especially between India and the USA. She assisted people of India by bringing them to the USA, educating them in the ways of America, and finding proper employment for them.

Finding ways to educate the poor and forgotten children of India held a special place in Nina's heart. Since her own life was cut tragically short by cancer, her family created the Ninash Foundation to perpetuate Nina's goals and values, especially her passionate support for the performing arts and literacy throughout the world.

Purposes

• To mitigate suffering for the socially and economically disadvantaged within the US and abroad;
• To provide educational funding for individuals within US and abroad;
• To contribute to the advancement of medical and scientific research within US and abroad; and
• To assist the cultural community within US and abroad by providing monies for operating and capital expenditure.

Initial funding for the Ninash Foundation came from the Malhotra family. Beginning in 1999, the Ninash Foundation has been actively soliciting contributions from individuals and organizations. Contributions are fully tax deductible.

Officers

Ashok Malhotra, President
Ashwinpaul Sondhi, Vice President
Raj K. Malhotra, Secretary
Linda Drake, Treasurer

Members
Christina Malhotra
Ravi K. Malhotra

Programs

1. East-West Philosophy Awards.
Two awards are given each year to two students participating in the SUNY Oneonta Undergraduate Philosophy Conference.

2. Music and Drama Scholarships at Center Street Elementary School in Oneonta.
One award is given to a student who has shown a dramatic development in music at the elementary school. A second award is given to a student who has contributed to dramatic performances at the elementary school. The students are selected by the drama and the music departments at the Center Street School.

3. Music and Drama Scholarships at Oneonta High School.
One award is given to a student who has made substantial improvement in the field of Dramatics. A second award is given to a student who has shown a dramatic improvement in the field of music. Students are selected by the Music and the Drama Departments of the High School.

4. Band Instruments for Elementary Students.
As part of a broad commitment to the arts and education, the Ninash Foundation helps purchase instruments for students at Center Street Elementary School who could not otherwise afford to participate in the band. When students graduate, the instruments are retained by the school for other needy students.

5. Indo-International Schools.
In 1996 the foundation created the first Indo-International elementary school in the Town of Dundlod, Rajasthan, India. The school, originally designed for 50 impoverished students who could not get an education elsewhere, has more than tripled its enrollment in four short years. In 2001, a new library and a computer center were added to the school.
The second Indo-International School in Kuran, Gujarat was constructed and inaugurated on June 26, 2001.
Plans for 2002 include a new library and a playground for the Indo-International School in Kuran and the construction of a new Indo-International Art Restoration School in Jaipur, Rajasthan.