Health
Education
Communities
Our Ethos
We are a family run and funded not-for-profit organization with a key focus on India. The spirit of the P.A.N.I Foundation is "Giving Hope a Chance" by helping the vulnerable overcome inequity through education, vocational training, and improving health outcomes.
We established the P.A.N.I Foundation in 2008 with the basic objective of doing our part to help disadvantaged individuals achieve their full potential in life. We accomplish this by improving access to education and vocational training, assisting programs that empower individuals in impoverished communities, and supporting initiatives that improve specific health outcomes.
Growing up in different parts of the world made us acutely aware of the inequities of life. We were fortunate to grow up in nurturing, fortunate families and in environments that presented us with opportunities that we could avail of through hard work and determination.
Sadly, not everyone has such opportunities for a variety of reasons – broken families, limited access to education, economic deprivation, poor health, lack of adequate healthcare, and traditional, deep-rooted societal attitudes or mores.
Every individual has dreams and aspirations for a better life for themselves and their families. Our Foundation strives to give some of those who lack the means a chance of turning their dreams into reality - giving hope a chance.
The P.A.N.I Foundation is registered with the IRS as a 501c (3) charitable organization. We work with select NGO (non-governmental organizations) partners in India to help achieve our goals.
Key Accomplishments
HEALTH
Cover operating expenses for one center for child cancer patients.
Provide speech therapy and orthodontic follow-up for post-operative cleft lip/palate patients.
EDUCATION
40+ original titles in 5 languages developed. 580,000+ books distributed across 21 states.
700+ women trained to work in the beauty industry.
COMMUNITIES
Help house, nourish, and educate street children in Goa and Dehradun.
Fund various self-help programs and an award winning sanitary napkin program.
Areas of Impact
Health
There are a number of medical conditions that, while relatively inexpensive and easy to address, often go untreated. Unfortunately, this results in the individual being compromised for life - thereby denying them the possibility of achieving their potential. Such conditions include cleft palate and lip defects (typically congenital), and corneal blindness (typically due to accidents). India suffers from a high incidence of both these conditions.
We support programs that provide orthodontic treatment and speech therapy following cleft palate and lip surgery. We also support the development of eye banks to store corneal tissue for transplants necessary to restore vision.
Cancer treatment for needy children in India is typically free of charge, however, most cancer treatment centres are located in major metro areas where the cost of accommodation can be an obstacle. This is a real barrier that often results in cancer treatment being abandoned prior to completion.
We support programs that provide cost-free accommodation and holistic support for child cancer patients and their families throughout their course of treatment.
In each instance, once a child is treated successfully, they can participate in normal educational or work activities - giving them a chance of leading a normal life.
Education
We believe that education makes a person - education provides the opportunity for acquiring knowledge and skills that enable individuals develop their full potential and become regular members of society. While primary education is mandatory in India, many children for a variety of reasons fall outside of the system. Underprivileged children often have limited or no access to teachers, class rooms or reading materials resulting in many dropping out of formal education at a very early age.
This is a reality that is especially true for girls. Our goal is to support programs that provide tools such as low-cost books and libraries that help improve literacy among children. We also support vocational training activities for young women that ultimately enable them to become self-sufficient.
Communities
There are many rural communities that fall outside of governmental schemes or safety nets. From an early age, children of such families are typically required to contribute economically – often through begging and rag picking on streets.
Our goal is to help such communities improve their lives with dignity through education and self-reliance. Additionally, we educate parents to understand the importance of their children escaping the cycle of child labor.
Who We Are
The P.A.N.I Foundation was established in 2008 by Poonam Mittal, Ajai Puri and their children, Nitya and Isha. It continues to be wholly funded and supported by the family.