Mission Statement:
Altruism has a plethora of goals, all centered around the common theme of spreading literacy:
- Distribute reading material to members of the underprivileged youth in our areas of operation.
- Organize reading seminars with students.
- Form partnerships with schools to continuosly donate to them.
Chapters
Volunteers
Supplies Donated
Countries
Our Model
Below are the steps we generally take to complete one project at Altruism:
Scouting
Look for a school in need of said books, preferably in a close proximity to one of our chapters, and consult them.
Collecting Books
We then proceed to accumulate books at book drives and other events of the sort, hosted in our areas of operation.
Verification
After reaching a sufficient amount of books, we check that they are all of quality and span across multiple reading levels.
About us
Altruism is a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organization that promotes literacy by distributing reading material to members of the underprivileged youth worldwide. Passionate about instilling a pattern of learning within individuals, we at Altruism strive to allow every young child to have books readily accessible to them. Schools, community centers, and other locations within close proximity to our several chapters are what primarily serve as “sites” for our interactive events. Here's how Altruism helps the wider community:
Clears up book caches
Helping schools and libraries get rid of older, less-used books, freeing up space for newer books to occupy shelves.
Increases literacy around the world
Reading is an integral skill, and to be able to help in the spread of literacy is a blessing in itself.
Forms connections
Forming connections with new people has the potential to increase awareness of problems that we may not necessarily be cognizant of.
The Problem
In less fortunate areas, many government-funded public schools simply just aren’t able to afford a sufficient amount of books and other school supplies in classrooms, generally taking away from the educational experience that children should experience. In a day and age where white-collar labor is ever-expanding, investing in low-income schools is absolutely imperative to ensure that every young child is granted with equal opportunity and is able to succeed in the professional world.
The Solution
At Altruism, we organize book drives and distribute books to low-income schools around the globe, and conduct seminars for students to encourage an interest for literacy. We also support these schools by organizing fundraisers and assisting in the supply of educational material. Through these actions, Altruism is carving the pathway for students to explore their passions without worrying about the inevitable issues existent within their school systems.
Testimonials
Growing up in a lower-income part of Taipei, as a child, I didn't have access to many books, toys, or really anything that some of my more affluent relatives had. It felt as if I had missed out on a part of my childhood, a part that every child should remember. In a world that overlooks and disregards the less fortunate, I believe Altruism has a great cause and will go on to accomplish great things.
Yi-Jen Kong
Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Puriya, a manufacturer of plant-rich skin creams
Education should be an essential, imperative, and fundamental right for every single child across the globe. I fully support the motive of Altruism, and hugely commend them in their tremendous progress and path to spreading education. Noble acts, such as the ones to be carried out by this nonprofit, restore my confidence in our society's future; it reassures me that somehow, someway, our forthcoming generations will continue to inspire, innovate, and think big to tackle the issues existent within the world.
Dr. Azka Nabi, M.D.
Physician
Education is something so crucial in the lives of people, and Altruism’s mission to help impoverished schools and spread literacy addresses the challenging problems many of our school systems are facing today. An excessive number of educational programs lack adequate funding to renovate their facilities/materials, and Altruism’s initiative addresses precisely that.
Asad Baig
Certified Public Accountant
Altruism has embarked on a journey with a strong foundation to a successful mission - quenching the thirst for knowledge through a supply chain of the books and tools required to deliver the basic needs for those who are our world’s future. This organization has the resources and have found innovative ways to fund a big pool of target students around the globe.
Mitul Shah
Product Manager at Bank of America
From the dedication I've seen so far from this group, I know Altruism has a bright future ahead. The teams they have assembled all portray a level of competence and coordination that we see present in many big organizations today! I fully support their mission and the impact they strive to make in our ever changing, ever evolving planet.
Anurag Avlash
Estee Lauder Companies Executive
Frequently Asked Questions
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What motivated you to start Altruism?
Our story started 3 years ago, when one of our founders, Anish Reddy, was visiting India, a life-changing visit. There, he took note of all the schools that lacked sufficient books, resources, and many other essential school supplies. Shocked to discover that there was no major initiative or organization to tackle this issue, he assembled a diverse team of passionate young individuals from across the globe, all with the same motive; to promote literacy and distribute books to those who don’t have them readily available to them.
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What can I get out of joining this nonprofit?
We distribute volunteer hours. Every hour you volunteer for Altruism is one volunteering hour. These hours are signed off and certified by a member of the Executive Team every 10 hours. Joining Altruism also clearly has a beneficial impact on the community. Ask any of our officers and they’ll agree that distributing literacy and books to those less fortunate has a deeply rewarding feeling. On top of all of this, although we remain in professional character, you’re guaranteed to have a great time. Once we return to a more normal lifestyle, post the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate taking our team to different neighborhoods across the United States for numerous fundraisers and book drives.
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How do I obtain a leadership role?
There is an application process for obtaining a leadership role at Altruism. When pressing the “Register” button on the navigation bar, you will be directed to a form to answer some questions. After reviewing your responses to the questions on the application form, we will call you for an interview to evaluate moral character. Typically, applicants with prior experience in volunteering or philanthropy will be favored for leadership roles. We look to recruit the best officers to ensure that our impact can be multiplied to the largest extent possible.
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Is Altruism an international organization?
Though Altruism is headquartered in the United States, we also have chapters in three other countries across the globe. To start a chapter in your area, fill out the appropriate “register” form at the bottom of this page. The link to it can also be found here:
Register
International Board
Anish Reddy
Co-President/Executive Director of the International Board, Head of all chapters
Saif Nabi
Co-President/Executive Director of the International Board, Head of the New York City Metropolitan Area Chapter
Andrew Hse
Vice-President/Associate Director of the International Board, Head of the Greater Los Angeles, California Chapter
Leona Alonso
Chief Operating Officer of the International Board, Head of the Houston, Texas Chapter
Fahmia Rahman
Program Coordinator of the International board, Head of the British Columbia, Canada Chapter.jpg)
Aaravsinh Solanki
Chief Technology Officer of the International Board, Head of the Princeton Junction, New Jersey Chapter
Riya Prakash
Director of Development of the International Board, Head of the Marlboro, New Jersey Chapter
Jasmine Foo
Director of Communications of the International Board, Head of the Ontario, Canada Chapter
Shweta Nadagouda
Director of Marketing & Outreach of the International Board, Head of the Westchester, New York ChapterChapters
New York City Metropolitan Area, United States
Greater Los Angeles, California, United States
Houston, Texas, United States
Harrison, New York, United States
Marlboro, New Jersey, United States
Princeton Junction, New Jersey, United States
London, United Kingdom
Ontario, Canada
British Columbia, Canada
Bangalore, India
