AIF honors Bill Clinton by naming fellowship after him

Former President Bill Clinton with Dr Anji Reddy, Chairman of  Reddy Labs (2nd left), Rajat Gupta, (L) and Victor Manezes, Co Chair AIF (R) at a gala dinner held in NY May 11. Pic Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia

NEW YORK: The American India Foundation (AIF) honored former President Bill Clinton, its Honorary Chair, by renaming its Service Corps Fellowship, the William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India.

The Fellowship sends 25 young American professionals each year to serve with Indian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for 10 months.

The honor of renaming the program was bestowed upon President Clinton at AIF's annual spring gala held at The Hilton New York City, on May 11. Making the announcement, AIF's CEO, Dr. Sanjay Sinho said, "President Clinton has served as our honorary chair since our inception and was the guiding force behind AIF's formation. We could think of no better way to honor his service to India than to name this program that develops young American leaders with a focus on India."

President Clinton, who was the keynote speaker at the gala reiterated his love for India and reminded the gathering of his continuing healthcare work in that country. He praised India for the marvelous job it did of economic reconstruction following the 2004 Tsunami. President Clinton also touched upon the terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November last year stating that it was agonizing for him personally that he "hated it".

Of the Service Corps Fellowships the former President said, "Through the three classes who have graduated from the Clinton School of Public Service and the hundreds of college students who have attended the Clinton Global Initiative University's meetings, I have seen the great power this generation of young people holds to make a difference in the lives of others. I look forward to the continued success of AIF's Service Fellowship, which is helping shape the next generation of leaders to possess a strong passion for India and the innovation to find solutions for the problems we face."

The William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India is an exchange of technical skills and intellectual resources that aims to build the capacity of Indian NGOs while developing American leaders with a deep understanding of, and continued commitment to, India. Since 2001, almost 200 Fellows have worked with over 90 Indian NGOs.

Yael Gottlieb, a Service Fellow alumna, is currently the Associate Director for South Asia Outreach at Human Rights Watch. She served with a Delhi-based NGO, Action India, in 2006. According to her, "The opportunity to serve in India is invaluable. Living on the ground in a community setting, learning first-hand about the challenges that people face in their everyday lives, and learning about the innovative efforts being undertaken to solve these challenges is an experience that is unique. I carry these lessons with me everyday in my work to create an awareness of human rights in India."

The alumni of the Service Corps Fellowship have continued their engagement with India in various ways. Jessica Mayberry, a 2002 Fellow, was awarded the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship for her creation of Video Volunteers, an Ahmedabad-based organization that is providing solutions-based media for marginalized and poor communities around India.

David Fuente, a 2003 Fellow is the program head for infrastructure and governance at the Chennai-based Center for Development Finance.
Highlighting the accomplishments of the alumni of the Service Corps, Sridar Iyengar, Chair of the Fellowship Advisory Council and Operating Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners said, "With President Clinton's inspirational leadership, our hope is that more young Americans will commit to service in India. There are so many organizations there that can use the skilled assistance of young professionals. In less than a year, a Fellow can make a lasting contribution to a community."

At the gala, AIF also honored Dr Anji Reddy, founder and chairman of DR Reddy's Laboratories, and Henry R Kravis, founding partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Company, for their contributions toward philanthropy.

The AIF raised close to $1 million at the gala.