The Share and Care Foundation®, born 1982 in New Jersey, is the brainchild of a small group of Indian-Americans. Share and Care began with a very simple idea: Convert what is considered “waste” in the Western world into much needed help in the East.
The idea became a reality when good quality used clothes and equipment—considered obsolete in the West but a huge leap forward in remote areas of the East—were soon being included in shipments. These supplies dramatically improved the quality of care in charitable hospitals.
From its infancy, we realized the benefits of volunteerism. Share and Care volunteers see ourselves as catalysts, promoting low-cost, high-return programs at the grass-roots level, which have grown exponentially in last several years.
Share and Care has been successful and instrumental in rebuilding lives in the rural communities of India where the government or the big nonprofits had little success. Our collaborative attitude and deep understanding of the rural issues helped overcome many challenges.
Our success can be attributed to millions of volunteer hours, passionate donors and the singular vision of Share and Care to improve the standard of living in rural India.
1983
It all began
Share and Care volunteers sent 2,000 lbs. of donated used clothing to India; first fundraising program raised $15,000.
1984
The Bhopal Disaster
The gas leak in Bhopal occurs in the fall. Relief efforts are extraordinary–including Share and Care’s first comprehensive crisis response.
1985
Used Medical Equipment Initiative
Share and Care helps bring this lifesaving action to several Indian villages.
1986
“Sponsor a Student”
Share and Care makes mass appeal to patrons in an early initiative to provide educational opportunities to India’s disadvantaged youth.
1987
Gujarat Province drought
The province experiences a significant drought, Share and Care is there with supplies.
1988
Rural villages adoptions
Share and Care adopts four rural villages and integrates support in health, education and welfare for these remote sites.
1989
Sewa Rural Training Center
Established under the Share and Care auspices.
Jhagadia healthcare learning center
The learning center provides a student new resource for acquiring basic knowledge about effective patient care.
1990
U.S. Scholarships
1991
Maharastra Foundation
Share and Care establishes partnership with the Maharastra Foundation.
Anjali Hospital
Share and Care builds its first 30-bed hospital in Ranasan.
1992
English-language program
Share and Care supports an English-language learning program for new U.S. immigrants from India.
“Experiment in Self-Help”
Share and Care establishes “experiment in self-help” in West Bengal.
1993
Dharamshila Cancer Foundation
Share and Care facilitates the Dharamshila Cancer Foundation’s installation of a new cancer treatment unit in New Delhi.
Maharastra Earthquake
Measuring 6.4, the Latur earthquake was the largest to be felt in India since its independence. Share and Care volunteers provide immediate relief with distribution of food and medicine.
1994
“School on Wheels”
Share and Care establishes the traveling “School on Wheels,” and donates it to the Sister Nivedita School in Rajkot.
1995
Narayan Seea Sanstha
Share and Care provides medical ambulance to Rajasthan organization.
1996
Scholarship Program milestone
Share and Care’s India scholarship program gets its first medical student.
1997
Hemodialysis machines
Share and Care sends 106 kidney hemodialysis machines to India.
1998
Kutch cyclone
A Western India cyclone touches down for the second time in just two years, with resulting 25-foot tidal waves for the town of Kutch. Share and Care quickly responds with blankets, food and clothing.
1999
Lucent Technologies Foundation awards $500,000 corporate grant
The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation (formerly Lucent Technologies Foundation) provides grant for far-reach youth development projects.
2000
Agilent Technologies Foundation awards $63,000 grant
Grant to institute Mother and Child Care Centre project at the Dr. M.L. Dhawale Memorial Trust in Delhi.
2001
Gujarat Earthquake
Share and Care, acting on behalf of concerned donors, sends over $5,000,000 to the survivors of a 7.9 earthquake that hit Gujarat on January 26.
2002
Yale University/Share and Care Internship Program
An internship program is established at Yale University for students to volunteer their services to Share and Care’s non-governmental organization affiliates in India.
2003
Cardiac care unit grant
A $239,000 grant is provided to build a fully equipped cardiac care unit in Cambay, Gujarat.
2004
Indian Tsunami
Share and Care contributes toward shelter, sustenance, and restoring livelihoods and hope, to 3,000,000 in Southern India and Sri Lanka.
2005
Hurricane Katrina
Share and Care provides U.S. humanitarian donations following this disaster that inspired remarkable support among supporters.
2006
Women’s Empowerment and Youth Development programs
Share and Care focuses on long-term change for the future of women and youth in India, and defines banner initiatives going forward.
2007
Share and Care 25th Anniversary
Celebration reinforces Share and Care’s commitment to the support and education of women and children in India, and as keys to improving the future of the country.
2011
Share and Care 30th Anniversary
2013
Share and Care Launches New Web Presence
2014
Share and Care Launches New Signature Program: Inspiring Change-Women Empowerment (WE)
Kashmir Valley Disaster
Share and Care Foundation steps up support for those affected by record monsoon rains across northern India.
2015
Share and Care Launches New Signature Program: Nirmal Village, a program designed to create awareness of sanitation & hygiene practices in rural India (NVP)
Nepal Earthquake
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurs on April 25. Share and Care Foundation provides funding for Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief programs
2016
Educate 2 Graduate celebrates 10 years of reaching out and helping 1,289 worthy scholars attend college.
The fifth Health and Wellness Fair is held in northern New Jersey
Through our Nirmal Village Program, we built indoor toilets and provided sanitation & hygiene training and education for 770 families living in remote villages of Gujarat
2017
Gujarat Flood
The flood occurs in July. Share and Care Foundation provides funding for Gujarat Flood Disaster Relief programs
Total grants exceed $72 million in cash and kind since inception
2018
Made commitment to bring leaders from younger generation on Board of Trustees and Management Committee.
Young members organized our first 5K walk/run to bring awareness about various projects and raised over $70,000.
Cooking for a Cause, a community fundraiser event to enhance awareness of women’s issues and to raise resources to support Women Empowerment program.
Celebrated Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba’s 150th birthday along with the 100th year of Sabarmati Ashram by building a project around their core values.
2019
Kids4kids Internship
Our youth generation – Kids4kids (13-18 years) launched in 2018, participated in a summer internship in India & experienced volunteering firsthand, spending 2 weeks working daily 7 am to 7 pm, teaching underprivileged students at partner NGO’s of SCF’s Educate 2 Success Program. Interaction of 2 groups of students from different “worlds” gave an invaluable perspective of life across the globe.
2020
Pandemic Relief
During Pandemic SCF provisioned meals to migrant workers, distributed Grain Kits, mask & sanitizing material. Set up 5 Saree libraries via community drive and shipped over 4000 saris valued at $320,000 to help over 12000 families in Gujarat. Set up Khakhara project and provided equipment and training to over 100 ladies.
2021
Pandemic Relief
Pandemic relief funding of $800K+ helped over 1million+ people in India. Provided meals to over 5000 families in New Jersey, and thousands of meals to first responders. Provision of Oxygen concentrators, vaccination awareness & rehabilitation program, across 15 states in India. Additional 7 sari libraries were set up, giving artisan work during covid by making dresses from sarees.
2022
Celebrating 40th anniversary
Implementing succession plan by bringing Next Generation of leaders and elected members from the young professional wing to serve on the Management Committee, Board of Trustees and as President. Our Total grants exceeded $80 million in cash and kind since inception.
2023
41st Annual Gala, “Harmony for Humanity” & 5k Event
We celebrated our 41st Annual Gala, “Harmony for Humanity” building a bridge of over 4 decades of service across generations in USA and India. Our Kids4Kids group raised over $50,000 at their 5K event to help educate high school kids in India.
Title: Share in the Joy of Caring
Artist: Hardini Gada
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 48″ x 36″
