Projects...

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at

Contact Persons :
Vandana R.V
Timothy J. Dworkin
Adv. Jeevalakshmi

PRD Memorial Education Fund

Education for Tribal Students

A humane society with equity is impossible without ensuring educational opportunities for all. In India, certain sections of society have been denied educational opportunities for hundreds of years. Most of them, lacking any collaterals, suffer from want of funds to pursue school and higher education. Mostly, school education does not cost much, but in some cases, the students have to stay in a hostel or are in need of living expenses, as the parents live in extreme poverty. In the case of higher education, from college fees to educational materials, the cost is prohibitive for many families belongings to these communities.

We are initiating a special drive to reach the needy among the excluded social classes to support them through school and higher education. Many students belonging to tribal communities and communities that were deployed for scavenging human excreta, for example, are not able to sustain school and higher education for want of funds.

The cost of education, which may include school uniforms, textbooks, and other educational materials, school and college fees, and so on, is not very expensive in India, but it is still unaffordable given the family's socio-economic background.

Joining hands with Valasai, we are initiating an effort to do our part. So far we've successfully enrolled students into prestigious courses like pharmacy, medicine, engineering, etc.

The support from you is sought in the spirit of solidarity. They are our fellow humans, and our moral responsibility is to help each other.

Co-Founder: Dr. Vandana Revathi Venkateswaran

Co-Founder: Timothy Dworkin

Fundraising Coordinator: Shelby Travis

Fundraising Coordinator: Vihangi Niyangoda

Timothy Dworkin and Vandana Revathi Venkateswaran meet at the University of Illinois in 2020. They quickly bonded over their passion for volunteering and community outreach. While researching new ways to make a positive impact on the world they first came up with the idea for the education fund. After starting Medical School at Michigan State University, Tim was randomly assigned to study group “POD 5” where he was introduced to Shelby Travis and Vihangi Niyangoda. They quickly learned about the education fund and offered to help in any way they could. The four of them and Pickle Rick the dog where able to create what is now known as the PRD Memorial Fund.

Unfortunately, Pickle developed cancer and although he was able to hang on for over a year, he sadly passed away in September of 2023. The Fund has been named in his honor. Pickle Rick Dworkin was found behind a restaurant in a dumpster in 2017. Timothy adopted him after seeing his picture online 5 days after animal control caught him.

“At the time I got him, I could never imagine how much of a positive impact he would make on my life. He was my best friend, my wingman, and my buddy. Every day for years he was excited to see me when I got home. He was there for me during the hardest times of my life and the best times of my life. He is the reason I met my wife. Everything that is wonderful in my life can all be traced back to the day I got him. Without him, I would have never left the military, graduated college, or started medical school. Without him, I would have never met my wonderful wife. I hope that this fund will be able to have the same positive impact on individual’s lives as Pickle had on mine” -Timothy Dworkin