Photographic Industry Helping Others To Overcome, or P.H.O.T.O. is a recently established relief fund to help photographers who have fallen victim to the tragic natural and man-made calamities in the Gulf coast states of America. The fund has raised almost $50,000 so far.

To make your donation using your Mastercard or VISA, please click here. If you have a PayPal account, please click here.

While that is an impressive amount of money, I am jumping in the fray by saying that starting today I will donate 10% of all luxury package weddings I book for 2006. So, please help me spread the word.

I respectfully request that all discounts I have offered through magazines such as Shaadi Style or India New England be transferred to aid this worhty cause. Thank you!

From a dear family friend, Uncle Wijayanayake, in Colombo, Sri Lanka:

Dear Seshu,

The death toll now is over 18,000 and I guess the final count will be over 50000. The crying need is medical aid and providing clean water and sanitary facilities to obviate mass disease. Thank you for your concern.

Uncle Wije

Meanwhile, Satya Prabakar, CEO of Sulekha.com wrote in:

SULEKHA.COM-AID TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND: Your Contributions Matched Dollar-for-Dollar

Your tax-deductible online contribution to Tsunami Relief in India will be matched dollar for dollar from the Sulekha-AID matching fund. Please read on.

Sulekha.com has partnered with Association for India's Development (AID) and NuWay Advertising to raise money for the relief efforts in India following the devastating earthquake/tsunami that has claimed thousands of lives. Sulekha.com is the world's largest online Indian community. AID is a reputed social service organization run by volunteers all across the world; being a voluntary organization, and with strong grass roots presence in South India as well, AID is geared to maximize the impact of our contributions in India focused on development. All funds raised through this effort will go to AID specifically for Tsunami relief efforts. Nu Way Advertising, a leading US based advertising agency, is working on raising funds from its vast network of clients for the matching fund program.

Sulekha has created a large matching fund (currently at $20,000 and growing) with contributions from several magnanimous individuals and corporations. Individual contributions of less than $500 will be matched dollar-for-dollar from this matching fund. Contributions of $500 / Rs. 25,000 or more will automatically be recognized as a matching fund donation.

If you wish to pledge to the matching fund and pay via check or if you have any questions, please write to Arti Patel at arti@sulekha.net or call her at 214-616-2749.

Help those in dire need by making your tax-deductible contribution today. You can pay online at http://www.sulekha.com/aid. Contributions to AID are tax-deductible in the US. AID's federal tax-ID is 04-3652609.

Warm regards,
Satya Prabhakar
CEO, Sulekha.com
512-947-2231

Coast to coast, if this disaster has taught us anything at all it is this: we are each connected to one another in a sort of web. What affects me, will affect you and vice versa. While the need is great in setting things right again, let's also think of how much we need each other in this time of great need. Cast away for good silly notions of how different “they” are. Look within yourself to help at least one person this next year. While for many it will likely be a terribly unhappy new year, those of us who are capable of making things better, in whatever special way, should step up. Make that your new year resolution. Please!

The recent devastation in South and South East Asia has taken an emotional and financial toll on many of our brothers and sisters. While it may be impossible for all of us to go there to help people first-hand, it is possible for us to bring some relief to the troubled areas by making a small, but effective, financial contribution. Please donate liberally!

Every cent we receive through this campaign will be turned over to one the many NGO's on the ground. While the goal is $10,000, it is our deep desire that we can collect a lot more. Help us in this first campaign to directly impact people in their time of greatest need.