For the academic year 2006-07, the Foundation received 2,790 applications for scholarship assistance. Of these, 2,384 applications were approved for an amount of $645,530. Details of the scholarships by type, gender, course and state are shown in the following table

Various fund raising programs and activities are under development to meet the growing needs of the Scholarship Program. One of these programs: Sponsor/Adopt a Student is described below.

The Sponsor/Adopt a Student program provides an opportunity to donors to make contributions directed towards students with characteristics meeting the donor's preference. For example, the donor could indicate that the student to be sponsored be studying at a specified educational level, or be of a particular gender, or be studying for a particular course of study, or hail from a particular state/district/town in India. The Foundation will periodically provide donors with information on the students funded from out of the donor's contributions.

Sierra Atlantic Sponsors Students under the Adopt A Scholar Program

At the initiative of its CEO, Mr. Raju Reddy, Sierra Atlantic Inc., became the first corporate organization to adopt students under the Adopt A Scholar Program. Starting with academic year 2006-07, the company agreed to sponsor the education of 10 engineering/technology students from rural Andhra Pradesh. In addition to funding the scholarships of the 10 students, the company will mentor the students during their study period and consider them for employment upon completion of their studies.

The selected students were invited to Sierra Atlantic offices in Hyderabad, India for an orientation meeting on October 27, 2007. Senior company officials briefed the FFE scholars on the company background, its management philosophy, corporate culture and expectations. The scholars were introduced to their mentors and taken around the company premises.

A second meeting with the scholars was held on February 2, 2008 on the occasion of the celebration of Sierra Atlantic's Annual Day.

For further details, contact vinesh.nair@sierraatlantic.com

As part of the marketing, outreach and fundraising activities in India, it is planned to establish an FFE trust and an FFE Scholars Association.

Several FFE scholars who have completed their education and are in employment have indicated their desire to make a financial contribution to FFE. The trust will enable FFE to receive such financial contributions as well as to raise funds from other individual and corporate sources in India.

The objectives of establishing an FFE Scholars Association are to provide scholars a forum and network to interact with each other and with the Foundation's India and US offices. The Association, its members and activities will also form FFE's public image in India and help create a better awareness for the Foundation. The Association is also expected to provide support for the Scholarship Program and other matters.

Comments and suggestions are invited past and current FFE scholars on these proposals.

FFE would like to remain in touch with its scholars and to follow up with them as they progress in their chosen career paths. Scholars who have completed their education are requested to provide details of their careers following the completion of their education and information on their current contact particulars (postal and email addresses, telephone numbers, etc.).