LGC Foundation : A philanthropic organization
• Shahid Kamal
 









Formed by distinguished and known philanthropists from diverse backgrounds, based within and outside the city of Lucknow, this organization seems to have created a niche for itself by conducting successful need-based campaigns within six months of its formation.

Launched on *November 24, 2019* with a highly successful literary event organized in collaboration with Indian Muslim Welfare Association (IMWA), an established philanthropic group, the LGC Foundation has successfully undertaken various welfare campaigns especially aimed at mitigating the sufferings of the poorest of the poor in Lucknow and it's outskirts. 

 

The bitter winter cold that ensued the launch of LGC Foundation led to thinking in the LGC think tank to do something for the poor. Hence born the idea of 'Blanket distribution drive' in and around the Lucknow city. The campaign was successfully accomplished with the foundation reaching out to more than 500 needy people in places as far as Rahimabad, Amithiya Salimpur village, New Haiderganj and several slums and hutments that surrounds the Lucknow's posh colonies. 

 

As the life threatening COVID-19 came knocking at our doors, Govt of India took an urgent decision to lockdown the country to contain it's spread. This has had adverse effects on the economic activities in general especially on those employed in the informal sector in particular.

 

With this backdrop in mind, LGC core team discussed the idea of reaching out to poor to provide succour in these testing times with the distribution of 'Food Kits' comprising various daily food essentials. 

 

Under this programme, LGC has distributed nearly 10 tons (90+ quintals) of food items reaching out to effected families while primarily focussing on those whose bread earners have lost jobs due to lockdown. With planning and management experts like Shahid Hashmi and Tausif Alam Khan among it's trustees, LGC has meticulously planned preparation and distribution of kits. Well known philanthropist Syed Atiqur Rahman, Scientist Dr Wajahat Farooqui and Entrepreneur Sheikh Mohd Tariq have also pitched in with their valuable experience at the planning stage. 

 

As planned, while kits were prepared centrally at a 'Family Store' in Indira Nagar, distribution of Food kits was decentralized using a network of dedicated volunteers, acquaintances with Trustees themselves leading from the front. In this manner, LGC reached out to families in dire need of food items in various parts of Lucknow like Insaf Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Surendra Nagar, Panigaon, Mayawati Colony, Takrohi, Vasudev, Sai Temple, Mehndi Tola, Banarsi Tola Aliganj, Tatarpur, Janta Nagree, Slum area near City Station, Zanana Park,  Sarfarazgunj, Khurram Nagar and Panchavati colony, New Haiderganj. Needy were also reached out in various Lucknow outskirts like, Chandan Gaon, Faridinagar, Amarai Gaon, Amithiya Salimpur, Rasoolpur Sadat and places as far as Lolai village in Chinhat block. 

 

LGC Foundation is particularly thankful to its benevolent donors who came forward and made valuable contributions. Solemn presence of senior AMU Alumnus Dr. Suhail Farooqui as Patron has been a great source of strength for the LGC in this drive. Moreover, in this endeavor, members of GenX Saem Hashmi, Azhar Alam Khan,  Saad Hashmi and Jaziba Farooqui needs special mention who helped LGC in various ways like from fund generation to the transportation and distribution of kits. LGC is thankful and appreciates the efforts of Shahla Haq, Shaziya Farooqui, Tariq Kidwai, Mohd Shueb Khan, Zameer Khan, Lalit Lohani, Maulana Naseebuddin, Gyan Bhaskar and many others. 

 

Besides aforesaid campaigns, LGC's core value added educational projects and 'Scholarship for poor boys and girls' belonging to marginalized sections of the society are ready. Elaborate planning has been done for the implementation of the  projects. Once the situation comes to normal, initial activities pertaining to the said projects would be taken up on a priority basis.