Many of our fellow Nepalese perished from the devastating Earthquake of April 2015, many were injured and dead, and there was also huge damage and loss of properties. Nepali American Center reached out to fellow Nepalese and friends of Nepal asking for donations to help the victims for immediate relief and reconstruction. Many individuals and organizations from the Chicagoland area and also from across the USA and some even from European countries trusted NAC and donated for this cause. US senator from Illinois Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky also attended and helped to raise the funds. With an overwhelming outpouring of support, NAC was able to raise over $55,000 in contributions. Our donors wanted to use the fund for Earthquake victims through NRNA ICC. NAC used about $3000 for immediate relief purposes through NRN ground volunteers in Nepal. It transferred $15,000 for intermediate relief plan work to NRNA NCC USA. NAC vice president Mr. Ramakant Kharel handovered remaining fund of $36,000 by presenting a check to NRNA ICC president Mr. Shesh Ghale during the 9th NRNA Regional Conference in New Jersey USA on Saturday August 27, 2016. NRNA ICC had assured NAC to  use this fund and all other funds it collected in a transparent manner and with minimal  administrative costs. NAC likes to thank all the donors for their trusts and assures them that the fund is in the hands of our own philanthropic president Mr. Shesh Ghale.

During Nepali American Center (NAC) year end annual meeting held on November 25, 2018, the executive committee discussed how to enable communication between community members to fulfil their needs directly without going through NAC email and telephone calls. Given the capability of internet services and the availability of IT talent in the community, NAC started offering a public portal “NAC Classified” through its website nepaliamericancenter.org (see picture). Currently, this service covers: Need for Nanny or offer to help nanny service Finding a place to live or roommate or paying guest Nepali language translation service Volunteers need or interest to volunteer Address or relation verification for visiting parents and relatives Suggestions, comments, and feedback to NAC, etc. NAC has enhanced this service more effectively since the launch of the newly designed website.

Logo and newsletter title appearing in the first issue of the newsletter Logo used in the later issues of the newsletter The first issue of this newsletter was published in April 2009 and it has been published monthly since then. Initially it was called Temple Times and later renamed as ‘Chicago Chautari Times’. ‘Chautari’ is a common resting place for foot travelers and also a gathering place for various events in Nepal. In most Chautaris there are a few planted trees and a stone platform for people to rest on. Farmers spend their time at the Chautaris when they tend their cattles, resting place after a long journey and a gathering place for small chit chats. Initiated by some socially active members of the Nepali American Center, the goals of the newsletter are to bring regular community updates and useful information to the Nepali-American community, establish a platform to attract and encourage younger generations to build their skills in writing and communicate personal information to the masses. NAC believes that this activity is a valuable feature for our community in many ways. For example, it is helping us to be informed and united, an essential element for community growth culturally. This newsletter is currently published both in prints and on-line. Children who publish their writing are awarded gifts and certificates in appreciation of their contributions and to encourage others to participate. First issue of Newsletter – Front page First issue of Newsletter – last page Current issue of Newsletter – Front page Current issue of Newsletter – last page

One of the objectives of Nepali American Center is to unite Nepalese people living in the Chicagoland area to participate in charitable works in Nepal. NAC members have participated in this effort to provide monetary help during natural calamities such as flooding, earthquake and helping orphans. One notable such NAC’s participation was to help pay tuition fees to the orphans residing at the ‘Joint Disabled Unity Awaz Center’ in Nepal. This center was established and run by a lifelong panhandler Til Bahadur Karki, who himself is a handicap. Currently there are 45 children between the ages of 3 and 16. NAC sent over $2500 to pay children’s tuition fees and other expenses of the center. Some NAC members when in Nepal also visited and helped the center on a personal basis. We appreciate all NAC donors who contributed to this fund. NAC also has some additional funds to help the center in the future on a continuous basis for shelter, health and education of these children.

One of the sacred duties of humans is to think and act for the welfare of all the sentient beings. Our ancestors taught us that ‘अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसां उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकं’, that is ‘Only small men discriminate saying: one is a relative; the other is a stranger. For those who live magnanimously the entire world constitutes but a family.’ While being preoccupied to live for oneself and for the welfare of our own family, we humans must find some time to see beyond this limited periphery. Only with that we find ourselves to be getting into territory to be more complete and can find happiness beyond the sensory pleasure. Some benevolent fellow Nepalese in the USA established Blood Donors of America (BDA) in 2009. There are more than 400 life members of this organization and they are from all across USA. BDA members regularly organize blood donation events in different cities and motivate fellow Nepalese to do their civic duty towards the society. Nepali American Center (NAC) is aligned with BDA and has supported the initiatives of the BDA by organizinged several community wide blood donation events in Chicago since the last several years. The first community wide blood donation was started in on July 21 2013. Even during the Covid19 pandemic, several of its volunteers have are donateding blood in individual manner and supported the BDA.