The chairman and chief executive officer of Globetrotter Engineering Corporation, Niranjan Shah has been involved in the Indian community in Chicago, Illinois, for more than four decades. A committed member of several charitable organizations, Niranjan Shah serves on the board of directors of the LIFT Foundation.

1. By Niranjan Shah

2.  The chairman and chief executive officer of Globetrotter
Engineering Corporation, Niranjan Shah has been involved in
the Indian community in Chicago, Illinois, for more than four
decades. A committed member of several charitable
organizations, Niranjan Shah serves on the board of directors
of the LIFT Foundation.
Located in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India, the nonprofit LIFT
Foundation was founded more than 10 years ago and
maintains funding ties with donors in the United States.
Dedicated to helping members of the community escape
poverty through education, LIFT teaches about 70 students
each year, from primary through graduate school. The
organization also offers comfortable boarding facilities for
students, with trained adult supervision, transportation, and
nutrition.

3.  LIFT Foundation’s programs are focused on three main areas
to create well-educated students who are prepared for life
after school: education, community outreach, and leadership.
LIFT’s education programs serve students who are orphans or
come from homes significantly below the poverty line. Their
education extends beyond the classroom to the community at
large. Connected to the culture of South India, LIFT students
raise money and awareness for a number of programs,
including an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. Students
also present story and dance demonstrations for more than
10,000 people each year. The organization's leadership
programs encompass one-on-one mentorships with an adult
counselor and, for older students, a peer mentorship to help
guide younger students.