Maury and Leslie Lieberman have both led lives of service. Both worked for many years in public and nonprofit organizations focused on improving health, mental health and social justice.

For this humanitarian power couple, India will always hold a special place in their hearts.

Maury had a formative travel experience backpacking through India in 1974. At one point, he shared a crowded 3^rd-class train car for two days with people from the lowest classes of Indian society. He experienced first-hand a small sample of the deprivation and stresses with which Indians in poverty live. On another trip, he met and became friends with Indians who owned the first beach resort in the country. At times, he found these extreme contrasts overwhelming.

Years later, he introduced Leslie to the developing world. Together, they have visited dozens of developing countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Maury convinced Leslie to accompany him to India and they made their first trip there in 1994.

Once they left the hotel, Leslie immediately found herself immersed in the most fascinating culture she had ever experienced. Traveling by hired car and train, they visited many parts of India including Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, the shore temples of Mahabalipuram and many towns and villages in between.

They saw both rural and urban poverty, but also found warm and welcoming people eager to share their culture and the unique ways that they see life and the world.

“Now having visited India multiple times we are continually amazed by the extraordinary social and technological development of the country, though saddened to see that so many people – especially those in the rural areas – have not shared in these advances,” say Maury and Leslie. “For all these reasons, we are proud and happy to support the VFF.”

Maury and Leslie have returned to India several times since then, returning to favorite places and exploring new destinations like Mumbai, Cochin and the undeveloped areas of Kerala.

Through their travel experiences, Maury and Leslie have seen the stark needs of so many people, but also their resilience and determination to improve their lives.

“The people of rural India need so much, and VFF does great work,” they say. “Amid the vast ocean of need, we have tried to find small but potent opportunities to provide practical assistance that will leverage larger impact, for example by enabling people to be more independent, and to access education, health and other services. Bikes for Change is a perfect example, and we were delighted to participate in this project.”

VFF USA is lucky to have such committed donors who are dedicated to helping those most in need.