NetIP Salutes Tanya Pinto, a South Asian that Inspires us to Create Believe and Achieve!
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She was born in Bombay. She is a South Asian woman that inspires not just adults but also children. She is a young woman with a mission to help street children, slum children, and orphans in India efficiently while investing in ways to provide these children with an education. Tanya Monalisa Pinto started Baal Dan, a US based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with no religious intent or bias, in early 2006. Baal Dan works with schools, orphanages, NGO’s and projects in India to help impoverished children. Since 2006, Baal Dan has provided aid to over 3,000 children all over India.Â
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NetIP was lucky to interview Tanya recently. “My main goal right now is to build a school in India with the right project partner. I want the school to be for very needy children, free of charge and also provide meals. If a clinic can be adjacent to the school, that would be wonderful. I hope to achieve this goal in the next 2 years!“
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How much of your personal time and effort is devoted entirely to Baal Dan?
I have been in the advertising brand management since 1999. My advertising job is very fast-paced and at times stressful since it is all about deadlines and clients. I don’t know how I have managed both my advertising career and Baal Dan since 2006! It has been a very intense but also rewarding time. I am not afraid of hard work, deadlines and giving 110%, that is how I have always been. Sometimes I have to sacrifice time with my friends and sleep though! I have a laptop that I take everywhere with me so I am always working on that. I also have not really had a vacation in 3 years! But it has all been worth it. To help so many kids – makes all the time and hours worthwhile!
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Did the popularity of Slumdog Millionaire in anyway support your charity?
When I first started Baal Dan I had to explain to people who had never been to India the concept of a “street child†or “slum child†– and explain that there are 18 million street children in India, which is why I started Baal Dan in the first place. Now, I reference the movie, Slumdog Millionaire and people grasp that concept. The movie helped with overall awareness of the cause.
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Give me a brief story about the most haunting needy child you have met so far. Were you able to help that child?
Since 2006, Baal Dan has provided aid to over 3,000 children, so it is hard for me to just name one child. These children are truly amazing.
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One child, Kuldeep who is now 11, lives in Jaipur. He comes from a large family in a village that was so poor that they could not afford to care for him. He was taken in by a guardian and is doing very well in school. I sponsor his education and I call him on the phone as much as I can. He is so funny. He loves to watch Discovery Channel and his favorite show is Man vs. Wild and Dirty Jobs. He also loves watching the news. I ask him about the news and he tells me about “Obama†and the latest with the Indian elections. He is so smart, so sweet and so funny and I hope that Baal Dan can sponsor his education right through to graduation!
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Tanya works full time in advertising at The Richards Group. In addition to a demanding job, her hard work at Baal Dan reaps rewards in the recognition and awards it has received. Tanya finances her travel, food, accommodation and expenses for India herself.
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At NetIP we applaud and support Tanya’s efforts at making a difference in the lives of children. Our Dallas chapter is a proud supporter of this charity, if you would like to make a difference, please make a donation at http://baaldan.com
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How much of your personal time and effort is devoted entirely to Baal Dan?
I have been in the advertising brand management since 1999. My advertising job is very fast-paced and at times stressful since it is all about deadlines and clients. I don’t know how I have managed both my advertising career and Baal Dan since 2006! It has been a very intense but also rewarding time. I am not afraid of hard work, deadlines and giving 110%, that is how I have always been. Sometimes I have to sacrifice time with my friends and sleep though! I have a laptop that I take everywhere with me so I am always working on that. I also have not really had a vacation in 3 years! But it has all been worth it. To help so many kids – makes all the time and hours worthwhile!
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Did the popularity of Slumdog Millionaire in anyway support your charity?
When I first started Baal Dan I had to explain to people who had never been to India the concept of a “street child†or “slum child†– and explain that there are 18 million street children in India, which is why I started Baal Dan in the first place. Now, I reference the movie, Slumdog Millionaire and people grasp that concept. The movie helped with overall awareness of the cause.
Â
Give me a brief story about the most haunting needy child you have met so far. Were you able to help that child?
Since 2006, Baal Dan has provided aid to over 3,000 children, so it is hard for me to just name one child. These children are truly amazing.
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One child, Kuldeep who is now 11, lives in Jaipur. He comes from a large family in a village that was so poor that they could not afford to care for him. He was taken in by a guardian and is doing very well in school. I sponsor his education and I call him on the phone as much as I can. He is so funny. He loves to watch Discovery Channel and his favorite show is Man vs. Wild and Dirty Jobs. He also loves watching the news. I ask him about the news and he tells me about “Obama†and the latest with the Indian elections. He is so smart, so sweet and so funny and I hope that Baal Dan can sponsor his education right through to graduation!
Â
Tanya works full time in advertising at The Richards Group. In addition to a demanding job, her hard work at Baal Dan reaps rewards in the recognition and awards it has received. Tanya finances her travel, food, accommodation and expenses for India herself.
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At NetIP we applaud and support Tanya’s efforts at making a difference in the lives of children. Our Dallas chapter is a proud supporter of this charity, if you would like to make a difference, please make a donation at http://baaldan.com
