Promoting Higher Education by investing in our youth today and tomorrow.
About Us
Shantamboo Charity, Inc. a non-profit organization was formed October 1, 2010. When the Desai grandchildren asked Ambalal, a.k.a very dear Amboodada to all, to celebrate his 90th birthday, he agreed under one condition. He will not accept any boxed gifts, instead his desire was to donate to students wanting to pursue higher education. His birthday celebration was a huge success and with the gifts he received from friends and family, a charitable organization named Shantamboo Charity, Inc. was formed.
Ambalal Desai (Amboodada) was born on March 21, 1921 in Mahemdavad, small village in the state of Gujarat, India. He lost his mother at the age of 2 years old and was raised by an aunt until he was 6. His father then remarried, and he was then raised by his stepmother, Tara. From childhood, he was very interested in learning and education. He completed high school in 1939 and married his wife Shanta in February of 1941. Since his union, he penned the name “Shantamboo” as a signature for his letters, poems, and notes. This name has been very dear to him, so much so that he decided to name the charity after it, to represent his love, his wife Shanta, and himself.
In 1945, he received a double bachelor’s degree, and in 1958, he received his master’s degree in history. While working at the Central Telegraph office and then several colleges and educational institutes, he mentored and inspired many students to pursue a higher education beyond high school. He guided them and financially supported them to continue studying. He still is inspiring those to continue today. Shantamboo Charity, Inc is the object of his lifelong pursuit to help hard working and dedicated students obtain further education.
The purpose of “Shantamboo Charity, Inc.” is to promote higher education by investing in our youth today and tomorrow. It is our intent to invest in the future of graduating high school seniors who have shown a desire for higher learning and who have demonstrated that they hold a vision beyond their present circumstances. We want to help the students make their goals a reality.
“Promoting Academia One Student at a time”