As 2023 comes to an end, I want to express my gratitude for a highly successful year and excitement for a significant 2024 for the North Bay Hindu Center.

This past year would not be possible without:

• Elim Church opening their space for what is now Śrī Shakti Temple in Petaluma

• Donors - major donors, recurring donors and one time donors - we are indebted to each of you

• Our volunteers who have given their time to help with temple operations and festivals

Executing a successful plan does not happen without the temple team, who has worked tirelessly to achieve Phase 1 of the Temple and Community Center project - establishing a rental venue: 

• Hiring Pandit Viswanathan and opening our temple every Saturday / Sunday from 5 to 7:30 PM 

• Murthi installation of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Krishna and Rama

• Monthly Abhishekams and Sathyanarayana Pujas, and celebration of our major festivals

Our focus in 2024 will be expansion - more resources towards our existing activities, diversity in new quality programming you care about (e.g. bala vihar, language), while keeping a major focus on our next big step. 

The Śrī Shakti Temple is a much needed house of worship for our community. However, our goal is to ensure a larger temple and community center where we can have classes, weddings, cultural performances, meetings, seminars, and get-togethers. 

Now that we are in Phase 2, we have identified two main areas of fundraising focus:

1. Self Sustenance - funds to manage daily temple operations 

2. Permanent Site -  funds for a new temple and community center. 

Our goal is to raise $800,000 by the end of 2024, as part of a 5-year planning effort to ensure a proper transition from our current space to one that better serves our community. This requires massive community participation.

To date, we have raised funds through events (e.g. Sanskriti), temple service charges, but in reality, the predominant source of fundraising has been and will be our donors. We currently have enough funds to help us remain at our current location through 2024. In other words, now is the time to participate.

Our goal is:

• $100,000 raised by New Year’s Day (this Monday, January 1, 2024)

• 100% community participation by Friday, March 8 (Maha Shivaratri)

• To raise $800,000 by the end of 2024 

This is no small feat but it is critical as this will leave us in a confident position to continue with our project beyond 2024. Last year, gifts ranged from $10 to $25,000 and many gifts were matched by generous Corporate Matching dollars. We hope that you will join us in this journey and will open up your hearts and pockets to donate. 

As we kick off the 2023-24 Annual Fund, I ask you to do two things:

1. Participate and consider a position of leadership

2. Make a contribution that is meaningful for your family

On behalf of all who care deeply about NBHC, thank you for all that you do and all that you will be.

Radhika Sitaraman

President, NBHC