Venkat Raman
People with terminal illnesses or life-debilitating condition can have a wish fulfilled through the Ranchhod-Make-A-Wish, launched in Auckland with Indian Newslink.
The Charity Project is in memory businessman, community worker and philanthropist Raman Ranchhod, who passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 aged 79.
He was a New Zealand citizen for about 65 years.
Commencing his working life when he was 16 years old as fruits and vegetables vendor in Wellington, Mr Ranchhod launched into car business 16 years later, and over the next 35 years, expanded it to account for four dealerships with rental and finance divisions in the greater Wellington region.
Philanthropic Project
Mr Ranchhod’s son Mahesh and daughter-in-law Tejal announced the launch of the Ranchhod Foundation Make-A-Wish’ at the Seventh Annual Indian Newslink Sir Anand Satyanand Lecture held on Monday, August 7, 2017 at Alexandra Park in Greenlane.
Mahesh and Tejal said that they and their family were extremely privileged to honour the memory of their father through the establishment of the Ranchhod Foundation Make-A-Wish in conjunction with Indian Newslink.
Community Worker
“Dad was a dedicated family and community man, who gave his time effortlessly to help and guide those around him. The news of his illness was extremely hard to fathom for the family and for the wider community at large. He was a people’s person and the positive impact that he had on many lives, many of which were communicated to us after his passing, was overwhelming and encouraging,” Mahesh said.
Tejal said described ‘Make-A-Wish’ as a family effort in the service of the community.’
“Any person, of any age, with a terminal or life-debilitating medical condition, or even finding themselves in a situation beyond their control, are invited to apply. The Wishes received will be evaluated by a Board on behalf of the Ranchhod Foundation and Indian Newslink,” she said.
Continuous initiative
According to Tejal, this would be an ongoing initiative.
“We are positively anticipating to present the first recipient at the Tenth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards Presentation Ceremony to be held on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Sky City Convention Centre. This would be an emotional experience, in an environment of success and recognition at the Awards Ceremony. Applications are now open,” she said.
Mr Raman Ranchhod was one of the finest human beings that the world ever had – gentle, understanding, compassionate, ready-to-help anyone at any time and most important of all, a bearer of goodwill and love towards all.
Ranchhod Foundation
“The Ranchhod Foundation was established in 2011 with the vision of aiding in the betterment of humankind. We, as a family, have undertaken many charitable projects in New Zealand and overseas through the Foundation, including health and eye camps, donations of crucial medical equipment, providing shelter to elderly abuse victims and providing free-of-charge medical services through our Laduben Ranchhod Hospital in Navsari, India,” Mahesh and Tejal said.
Among the other beneficiaries are the Starship Children’s Hospital, At Heart New Zealand, CBM Foundation of New Zealand, a rural hospital in Tanzania and a number of villages in India.
Recognising his great work to the community, Queen Elizabeth II decorated him with a Queen’s Service Medal in 2015 recognising his services to the community.
Make-A-Wish Application Form can be downloaded from www.ranchhodfoundation.com
and www.indiannewslink.co.nz
Photo :
Mahesh and Tejal Ranchhod announcing the launch of the Ranchhod Foundation Make-A-Wish at the Seventh Annual Indian Newslink Sir Anand Satyanand Lecture on August 7, 2017 at Alexandra Park, Auckland Picture by Creative Eye Fotographics. Inset: Raman Ranchhod.
