Rebuilding Kurima update #5

Rebuilding Kurima update

Hi,

This very well may be the final update.

On Tuesday September 29, 2015 Da Ongchhu Sherpa visited my home in Lowville, NY. We hosted a tiny celebration in his honor. He spoke to the audience about his recent successful Denali climb.

On that occasion, he was handed over all the money collected for earthquake relief. The sum totaled a little over $7,000. 

An earlier attempt to send funds via Western Union was unsuccessful for reasons known only to Western Union.

Da Ongchhu Sherpa, as a representative of the people of Kurima, joins me in expressing our most sincere gratitude to all of you that made a contribution. We hope that your altruism brings you immense internal joy.

At the bottom are 3 separate links. The first one is to the article that appeared in print in our local newspaper. The other 2 links are video footage of the coverage that aired on our local TV stations. 

Let me end by thanking every one of you. 

Manoj Vora
5608 Ridgeview Terrace
Lowville, NY 13367
U.S.A.

Newspaper article

Time Warner Cable news coverage

Channel 7 news coverage

Rebuilding Kurima update #4

Hi,

Let me start with an apology. I am sorry for not having provided you with an update since May 3. Let me bring you up to date with what has happened since then.

On May 15th, a deposit of $2,800 was made to the specially set up Kurima subaccount at my bank. On May 29th, a deposit of $2,525 was made to the account. With additional pledges and cash to be deposited, the account stands at a total of $6,125.

https://www.facebook.com/dagelje.sherpa?fref=ts

Click the above link to be connected to Da Gelge's Facebook page where he is chronicling his charity work for the earthquake affected people of far flung and remote villages of Nepal.

Today, I have sent the first installment to Da Gelge Sherpa. Here is the proof:

Your tracking number (MTCN) is: 3504028458 Transaction Date: May 30, 2015 12:39:08 ET

Payment Method: Bank Name: NOT AVAILABLE Account ending in: 205 Routing Number: 221380936		Delivery Method: At any agent location in receiver's expected payout location.
Sender: Name: MANOJ VORA Address: 5608 RIDGEVIEW TERRACE City: LOWVILLE State: NY ZIP: 13367 Phone Number: (315) 778-3859		Receiver: Name: DA GELJE SHERPA Country: NEPAL Mobile Number: 9801025435 Expected Payout Location: NEPAL
Payment Information: Bank Name: NOT AVAILABLE Account ending in: 205 Routing Number: 221380936 Account type: CHECKING		Payout Information: Today's Date: May 30, 2015 Date available in receiver's country: June 05, 2015 Delivery Method: At any agent location in receiver's expected payout location.
Billing Summary: Transfer Amount: 2,500.00 USD Transfer Fees: + 0.00 USD Promotion Discount: - 0.00 USD Total: 2,500.00 USD		Transfer Summary: Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 100.7918 NPR Transfer Amount: 251,979.75 NPR Total to Receiver: 251,979.75 NPR

As I had said earlier, the need for help will be both, immediate and long-term. We are already reading about "donor fatigue." The only way to ensure that the lifeblood continues to flow is to have funds available for ongoing and continuous help. 

Let me remind you that it was Da Gelge Sherpa who was the architect of my success on Mt. Everest. All of you are joining hands with me in repaying a collective debt to him. I again will make an appeal to contribute to a worthwhile cause. Checks may be made out to "Manoj Vora" with "Rebuilding Kurima" on the memo line.

On May 12th, the Albany Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club gave me a $750 honorarium for my "7 Summits" presentation at their annual banquet held at The Desmond Hotel in Albany. My wife Sheree, my daughter Shamaa and my climbing friend Tom Lizzio helped me raise an additional $230. This amount went straight to the Kurima account. 

On May 19th, the fifth grade teachers at Beaver River Central School contributed $350 to the cause. Thank you Mrs. P. Batuyong, Mrs. L. Vigliotti and Ms. L. Moser. I shared my life journey with nearly 50 fifth grade students. The hope is to help them "Dream Big."

There are two presentations lined up this coming weekend, June 6 and June 7. The Edwards History and Genealogy Center has invited me to present my story on June 6 and the Watertown UU Church is taking up a special collection for the victims of the earthquake in Nepal on June 7.  

Let me end by thanking every one of you. To those who have contributed, a sincere thanks. And to those who are considering a contribution, a sincere thanks too, in advance.

Manoj Vora
5608 Ridgeview Terrace
Lowville, NY 13367
U.S.A.

Rebuilding Kurima update #3

Hi,

Thank you for your offer to help rebuild an earthquake ravaged village in Nepal.

You may send your money to "Rebuilding Kurima/Manoj Vora", 5608 Ridgeview Terrace, Lowville, NY 13367. A special account has been set up for this purpose at Northern Federal Credit Union.

I promise that I will provide you with updates on progress being made and how your money is being well spent to help the poor people of this devastated land.

If you would prefer to donate to a 501(c)3 and be able to take a tax deduction, I would suggest 

https://www.k2adventures.org/donate

I personally spoke with the foundation president  Kevin Cherilla and believe his goals are very much aligned to mine. Our point person in Nepal is the same, Da Gelge Sherpa, who helped both of us reach our goal of getting to the top of Everest.

 

Thanks again. 

Manoj.

Rebuilding Kurima update #2

Me too for Kurima, my two for Kurima

It will not take much to help rebuild an earthquake ravaged village in Nepal. I am asking that you consider donating $2 per member of your household for this cause, not exceeding $10. The way I figured is, the population of Lewis County, NY is 25,000. If we add up $2 per person, that is $50,000, enough to rebuild every home in Kurima. I am pledging 10% for every dollar raised. Simply put, up to a total of $100,000, I will match 10%, which is $10,000. 

A drop in the ocean or a cup in the bucket

You have a choice to donate to any of many charities. Why would you choose me over them? Or, why would you also give to me along with the others. Here are my reasons:

1. 100% of your donation will reach the ultimate beneficiary, the village of Kurima.

2. Dagelge Sherpa (Dawa) is 100% trustworthy. He is the point person in Nepal. He was the Sherpa Sirdar at Everest Basecamp in 2013 and directly responsible for my successful summit of Mt. Everest.

3. Yes, you will not be able to take a tax deduction, but there also will be no credit card processing fees, administrative expenses, employees, payroll, accountants, IRS filings; the list can go on and on.

4. We will bypass the all pervading government corruption in Nepal.

5. We are rebuilding a tiny village and leaving the nation building to the big guys, the U.N., USAID, American Red Cross, etc.

6. I will hold myself accountable for what happens with your donation. You will receive updates as to how it is being spent. You will see the village being rebuilt with your money. Something tangible rather than wondering whatever happened to your money given to some large charity, not to say that they do not do excellent work.

7. If the monies collected allow, we may even go ahead and build a small hospital in the village. We will also help to refurbish and restock the school.

8. The goal will also not be a short term one. We will be planning for sustainability. Rebuilt structures will have to be up to modern standards to withstand future calamities. So, if you give, plan on your money being spent piecemeal over a span of time and not at one shot.

9. If this venture proves to be successful, it may be the much needed platform for the formation of my "Dream Big" 501(c)3.

10. Finally, if I have touched your life somehow, if I have influenced you in a positive way somehow, if I have brought you some vicarious pleasure posting reports from Everest, I am requesting you to come forward now and acknowledge it by donating to this cause which has now taken on the form of my "Next Big Dream".

Please come along for this next adventure with me,

Manoj Vora.