January 3, 2008 — Next Generation Foundation, an Indian charity organization in the Boston area, has announced the appointment of Vidya Vasudevan to be executive director, as part of its current effort to grow and sustain itself long-term as a nonprofit.

Co-founder of SolveIT Inc., an IT services firm, Vasudevan currently serves as its president. She holds a master's in communication from the University of Madras, Chennai. In her role at Next Generation Foundation (NGF), she will bolster the support for the three major initiatives of NGF – the NIRC project, the Dharma Yuga project, and the Thrive project.

The National Integrity and Responsibility Complex (NIRC) is a residential educational facility for orphaned children in India. The project aims to enroll 50 children with academic potential each year, ultimately reaching 500 total. These children, who would otherwise be destined to receive very basic or no education, will be trained in various professional careers, as well as life skills. The project also hopes to build a "virtuous cycle," so that the children will give back to the project once they are established in careers.

The Dharma Yuga project is a self-sustaining program of "Kids Supporting Kids" in cities across several states in India. Through this program, privileged children would support one or more underprivileged children locally.

The Thrive project in Orissa works to provide access to primary education, basic healthcare, and sustainable economic development in rural villages in India.

In addition to hiring an executive director, NGF has also hired CPA services from an outside firm, as well as setting up a merchant banking account to support credit card processing and direct ACH transfers. The intent is to streamline accounting processes and bring transparency into the organization’s financial management.

"We have great confidence in Vasudevan's leadership," says Peo Nathan, co-founder and President/Chairman of the board at NGF. "Her talent and personal qualities, as well as her experience and knowledge in building a successful business will give NGF the opportunity to reach the next level, and her vision will set the stage for a strong future."

"NGF is committed to fostering a high level of diversity within the organization. To reflect that commitment, the management team now represents energetic people from diverse regional and religious backgrounds, representing a diverse India," says Peo Nathan.

The Next Generation Foundation works to foster a drive within people to make social changes to benefit the food, clothing, and educational needs of underprivileged children. Members of NGF believe that every child across the world should have equal and fair opportunity to choose their own destiny and build a better future. As a first step toward this goal, NGF has started with its founders' home, India.