Our Programs & Partnerships
Annual Academic Scholarship
The NGS foundation awards an annual academic scholarship to graduating seniors from Midland Park High School, Neil’s alma mater (1994). Our goal is to honor Neil’s memory and continue his legacy by providing a scholarship to a student who best embodies Neil’s outstanding character. Among the qualities, we look for in a student are a passion for life, a caring attitude for others, commitment to community service, and strong family values. Through the scholarship, we hope to promote higher education for high school students while easing the financial burden of college.
The Mirror Project
Through the Mirror Project we work in collaboration with author Sheetal Sheth, to coordinate author’s visits and donate and distribute inclusive books to schools in need to promote diversity and inclusion. As the greater vision, with this program We hope to contribute to a world where every child can see themselves in the pages of a book.
The NGS Youth Council
As the volunteer arm of the NGS foundation, we strive to fulfill Neil G. Shastri's legacy by organizing volunteer events in our community, focusing on, but not limited to, education, food insecurity, and overall support for youth in need. We consider it vital to support the community we've grown up in and assume a greater role as the next generation of supporting causes in Neil's memory.
The Doe Fund
Over the last 6 years, The NGS Foundation has contributed over $4000 to "The Doe Fund" (http://www.doe.org). This is a New York based organization that provides opportunities for homeless people to restore their lives through work and the principles of personal responsibility. If you have visited New York City or Jersey City recently, you may have seen these "Men in Blue" cleaning the streets. The Doe Fund's Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) Program offers these individuals a second chance to rebuild their lives through paid work opportunities and supportive services, as well as educational and vocational training programs.
Foundation for the Blind
For many years, people who are blind or visually impaired have had few options for accessing computers. Windows-based personal computers with very expensive screen reading or screen magnification software are still considered by most to be the only option. Recently, Apple developed a full-fledged screen reader and screen magnification package that they include as part of their Operating System on all of their computers. This is especially attractive to adults who are blind or visually impaired, over 70% of whom are unemployed/under-employed.
