Project Name: Engage Jain Center of Greater Memphis into community service and into giving back to Local Community 

Your Name: Suren Ajmera

Team Members: All members of Jain Center of Greater Memphis

1. What Vision2020 Gap are you filling?

    Educate and expand the community service concept among 100% of the Jain families

2.  What problem are you solving?

·        To provide a platform to Jain community across all demographics in Memphis to get engaged in community service

·        Practice what is preached in the Jain religion through community involvement or through giving back to the local community/charitable or non-profit organizations

·        Expand the branding of Jain Center, and raise awareness about Jainism, and Jain Way of Like among local community

3.  Why are you solving it?

·        Passionate about it

·        Want to impart good values in younger generation/Teach by examples

·        Give more to the local community where we live/earn our living

4.  What is your solution?

·        Motivate local jain community to engage or increasingly participate in community service events by donating money and time to causes which are meant to improve lives of fellow human beings ( On April 28, Jain Center of Memphis participated in March of Dimes 4 miles walk and almost 14 people from the Jain community participated).

5.  Who is your target audience? Where is it applicable?

Primary Target: All Jains across all demographics (all age groups, male/female, people from all income groups etc.)

Secondary Target: Friends of jain members, and/or co-workers.

6.  Has a related  problem been solved? Where? By Who? Can you partner with someone?

Personally, have not seen the participation at the Jain community level in the past. We shall partner with all Jain Members.

7.  Resources Needed

nPeople / Volunteers:  

nVolunteers from local Jain community

nDonations from local Jain community

nConsultants / Suppliers / Services: (Example: Web, publishing, brochure, etc.)

n Lead the project to build a website for Jain Center of Memphis, decide the schedule of events at the beginning of the year where Jain Center would participate, get the schedule posted on the local jain center website

n Deliver presentations to local Jain community to encourage participation in community service events

n Engage young Jains to participate, take responsibility and get active in volunteering and charitable activities from early on so that the values stay with them when they grow up

nFinancial: How much $ you will require

Annual goal is to raise $3000 to 5,000 for the charitable cause. No funding is required from Jain Center itself as the money will be raised through Jain families or their friends/associates etc.

8. What type of talent do you need?  Do you have the right team?  Are you the right leader?

·        Need Jain members to actively take leadership role for the cause and help enlist jain members to participate in helping and giving back to community

9.  How will you create awareness and promote the project?

·        Presentations during Jain gatherings, personal discussion

·        Electronic channels: emails, Memphis Jain Center websites

·        Personal meetings

·        Recognition and appreciation at community level events

10.  How will get the funding?

·        Raise through contributions from Jains and their friends/relatives/co-workers

11.  What are the first 100 day, 200 day, 300 day milestones? How will the product be sustained?

·        Already participated in 4 miles March of Dimes walk organized by WalkAmerica organization in April 2007 and raised approx. $500 for March of Dimes

·        Engage in two more events within next 200 days. Goal is to organize 3 events in a year, i.e. one event/100 days.

Kellogg Leadership Conference Peer Comments