At VFF USA, we are lucky enough to work with true community champions and selfless leaders with a strong drive to help those in dire need. Prem Gangalakunta is one of these champions.

Prem helped us to share VFF USA and Rural Development Trust (RDT)’s story with his peers at CISCO/AppDynamics. As a result, we received very generous funding from CISCO/AppDynamics, which was matched by CISCO Systems Foundation. These funds helped bring oxygen supplies to our hospitals in Anantapur and support the most vulnerable communities in Andhra Pradesh.

But Prem didn’t stop there. Knowing how important it is to quickly deliver oxygen concentrators to people suffering from COVID-19, he helped VFF USA source 5L and 10L concentrators in Texas and arrange for their shipment to India. The first shipment has already arrived in Anantapur, and the others are on the way.

To support this effort, Prem started a crowdfunding effort to embrace every donor who wanted to help. Just two days after the campaign was launched, 52 donors helped us raise over $9,000!

We spoke with seven of these donors hailing from Texas, Louisiana and New York. Each of them knew someone who has been helped by RDT. Through their generosity and compassion, each of them helped us save more lives.

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be a small part of this effort,” said Prem. “Let’s do our little part in battling this pandemic.”

Text by VFF USA