Senior technology executive Rao Chalasani determined that the most meaningful way to honor the memory of his late sister, Swarna Chalasani, was to establish a fund in her name for a cause to which she was committed. Among her interests, she was a volunteer with Sakhi, an organization that addresses the problems of South Asian women in New York who have survived domestic violence. Swarna Chalasani counseled many of the program’s clients, offering encouragement and support.

1. By Rao Chalasani

2. Senior technology executive Rao Chalasani
determined that the most meaningful way to
honor the memory of his late sister, Swarna
Chalasani, was to establish a fund in her
name for a cause to which she was
committed. Among her interests, she was a
volunteer with Sakhi, an organization that
addresses the problems of South Asian
women in New York who have survived
domestic violence. Swarna Chalasani
counseled many of the program’s clients,
offering encouragement and support.

3. After his sister’s death, Rao Chalasani donated funds
to Sakhi to begin the Swarna Chalasani Scholarship
Fund. This program helps those who have survived
acts of violence to pursue higher education.
Scholarships allow recipients to earn academic
degrees, vocational certificates, and licenses required
to make them eligible for employment opportunities.
The scholarships are awarded twice a year, and
recipients receive grants averaging $1,500. Over the
course of the past 11 years, these scholarships have
helped many women to overcome difficult challenges
and become self-sufficient. For more information about
Sakhi, visit www.sakhi.org.

4. In addition to his work with Sakhi, New
Jersey resident Rao Chalasani supports
charitable organizations such as Doctors
Without Borders, UNICEF, the Sankara
Eye Foundation, and other organizations
serving children. With a U.S. patent
pending, Mr. Chalasani is the inventor of
the Enterprise Risk Management System.