DD Puri Foundation

Our History | Biography of DD Puri

History of the DD Puri Foundation

The DD Puri Foundation was founded in 1998 by Prem Puri. Mr. Puri, president of a regional building company near Washington, DC, wished to contribute funds to the most unfortunate in India-those who were too poor to afford necessary medical care. He founded the Trust, a non-profit charitable organization (501 (c)(3)), that would allocate funds for hospitalization expenses, surgeries, essential medications, and more to those in need. Since then, the foundation has expanded to work in three different regions of the world - East Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific – on a multitude of projects.

1998

DD Puri Charitable Trust is founded by Prem Puri

1999 - 2002

Funds from the foundation were donated to those who could not afford the medical treatment necessary to save their lives. Several of them were patients with dual kidney failure, who could not afford dialysis, kidney transplants, and the necessary medications required after surgery to prevent infections.
DD Puri Foundation paid for several kidney transplants and medicines, and today those individuals are living healthy, normal lives.
The foundation also paid for other surgeries and medications to help the poor. Dr Ashok Marya, residing in Chandigarh, assisted the foundation by locating the patients and distributing the funds as needed.
Each year, Mr Puri visited the patients in India, most of them residing in north India and obtaining medical care at PG Hospital in Chandigarh. See the upcoming photo gallery for pictures of the patients who were helped.

A photo of the 21-year-old seriously ill kidney patient with his family, prior to surgery. The patient, Muhammad from Assam, is standing behind his sister in white and next to his mother and brother. On the far left is Dr. Ashok Marya and on the right is Mr. Prem Puri. D.D. Puri Foundation provided for all medical and care-taking expenses for Muhammad, and today he is in good health living with his mother's kidney.

2003

Program Director of DD Puri Foundation, Vicrum Puri, joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to a 2-year project in Samoa. There, Vicrum worked at a local second chance education center teaching computer skills to young adults.
DD Puri Foundation equipped the The Marist Centre for Special Learning Computer Lab with 5 brand new desktop computers, flat screen monitors, and various supporting equipment.
Young adults living in a rural area in the small country now have access to information technology education, and are using their new skills to find gainful employment and provide much needed income for their families.
Also in 2003, funds were donated to a school in Chandigarh for the children of impoverished families, whose parents are the town rickshaw drivers, maid servants, street cleaners, etc.
The funds of the foundation were used towards the building of a new school with proper facilities for a healthy and sound environment for the students and teachers.
The nearly 100 students had been studying in an open ground of a temple with no public facilities, no equipment or furniture, and no shelter. Severe weather conditions, i.e., rain storms and heat waves routinely disrupted and often terminated classes, further affecting the studies of the children.

2004

The construction of the Chandigarh school, named Puri Government School, was completed.
Today, the school is in full operation accommodating more than 100 local children from poverty-stricken families. One of the students from the school was recently awarded a Gold Medal in the region for excellence, beating thousands of other students in upper-class neighborhood schools.

2005

The foundation commenced the funding of a new school building for the deaf and blind in Punjab, India. The new facility will be able to educate and accommodate more than twice as many children than in the previous building, in a much more comfortable and learning-conducive environment.
Mr. Puri and his family are currently working together with the school board to complete the construction of the new school.

2006

The DD Puri foundation turned its attention to Africa, sponsoring education for those afflicted by war. The foundation directly supports four students studying at tertiary institutions in Africa, and works in partnership with a local Kenya organization to provide scholarships to eight other students.(see below).

2007

The DD Puri Foundation began a partnership with Windle Trust Kenya, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing education and training to refugees and needy Kenyans that will enhance the development of Africa and contribute peace, cross cultural understanding and prosperity in the continent. The Refugee scholarship program has been very successful, despite recent escalation of violence in the country.

2008

The Foundation continues its efforts in Africa and India, as the construction of the new building for Patiala school for the Deaf and Blind nears its end, and the DD Puri Scholarship Program takes off in Kenya.

Mr. Puri and the rest of the family are hoping to expand their efforts to serve more communities in need. In the near future, the Foundation will once again turn attention toward helping individuals obtain much needed medical care and services. To learn more about the Foundation's work, feel free to contact us at anytime.

There are no paid members of the organization, as it is entirely family operated. Mr. Puri, being the primary contributor to the organization, says
“I have acquired enough for my family to live on and I would now like the fruits of my labor to benefit others."

"I have acquired enough for my family to live on and I would now like the fruits of my labor to benefit others."

—Prem Puri, Founder