A little more than a year ago, Ashok Babu Kolla moved to Summit County from California to work for GOJO Industries as a SAP Center of Excellence/ VISTEX Consultant. He was looking for a way to become involved in his new community. United Way’s Young Leaders Society “Stuff the Bus” volunteer project was just what he was looking for. While in California, Ashok donated 200 backpacks every year to the local schools there. Stuff the Bus offered him an opportunity to continue his tradition here. This month, Ashok donated 200 backpacks valued at $1,200 to the Stuff the Bus effort.
Said Ashok, “I grew up in small rural area in India where agriculture is the major source of income. As a child, my family had difficulty paying school fees. When I came to the US, I wanted to help the poor kids here in the community where I live in.
A long-time volunteer everywhere he has lived, Ashok is proud to be a member of TANA (Telugu Association of North America), the oldest and largest Indo-American nonprofit organization in the country. He is excited to give back to his new community and to do so through United Way. “I have always been inspired by the famous quote ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ by Mahatma Gandhi.” He hopes his actions will inspire others.
Thanks to Ashok and other generous donors like him, our Stuff the Bus effort was a great success! Missed participating in it this year? Visit our website next year in June to find out how to get involved.