Download the Congress2000Legacy Application Form
Click here to donate to the congress2000Legacy fund
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AN INTRODUCTION
AN INTRODUCTION
The congress 2000 legacy is an award program of the Zoroastrian Association of Houston
The Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) sincerely thanks you for your ongoing support. Your
generosity means a lot to us.
After the 2000 World Zarathusthi Congress, surplus funds were shared between FEZANA and ZAH. ZAH
decided to utilize its share to create a lasting legacy — scholarships for young Zoroastrians going to college.
The scholarship money was invested wisely. Over the past twenty plus years, we have given out awards, and
today the fund still has a substantial amount invested, with the assistance of the ZAH Investment Management
Team. Awards are only given from the fund’s earnings, not the principal amount. Historically, we have given 2
to 4 awards every year.
Each year, the 2000 Congress Legacy Awards go to young Zoroastrian students, who are ZAH members, and
entering or attending a university. The award recognizes excellence in academics, extracurricular activities,
service to the Zoroastrian community and the Houston community. All eligible students are encouraged to
apply.
Sadly, one of our community’s promising young members was unable to fulfill his dream of experiencing
college education. After his life was tragically cut short, his generous family supports an annual scholarship in
his honor, for a student entering college for the first time. This is known as the Cyrus Rohinton Desai
Scholarship Award and is given out each year in addition to the ZAH awards.
As the community grows, so do the needs of our young people going to college. That’s why we are reaching out
to you and other generous donors around the world for additional support. With your help, we can expand our
vision to offer need-based awards for Zoroastrian students in Houston.
Please consider supporting this scholarship program. With the help of generous donors like you, we can keep
this program going forever.
Thank you and best wishes.
Best wishes
Vispi Sagar, Chair
Darius Tamboli, Team Member
Jenisteen Davier, Team Member
Nerius Mehta, Team Member
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OUR APPEAL
Please review the introduction above with this letter and understand, where we began, what we have achieved
and where we aim to go! Where new contributions are concerned, we look for them in any amount, may it be
$50 to $100,000.
ZAH is a 501c.3 not-for-profit organization. We strongly recommend that the donor consult an accountant for
tax deduction limitations of their generous contribution.
Each large donor may have the privilege of naming an award to the memory of a loved one. The awards may be
in the following categories
- Individual Donor – An individual donor can send their donation as a check to the ZAH Treasurer and
marked for congress2000legacy scholarship fund.
Past-Winner Donor – A past Legacy scholarship awardee who wishes to give back and thus allow us to
contribute for the next in line.
In-Memorium Donation – A single sum donation & Award named according to donor’s wishes. The
Award to be given annually from interest earned, via our IMT team
Family Trust Donor – A single sum donation & Award named according to donor’s wishes. The Award
to be given annually from interest earned, via our IMT team
Corporate donor – A single sum donation & Award named with the Corporation’s name. The Award to
be given annually from interest earned, via our IMT team
For any discussion on setting up a memorial or corporate award, please contact Vispi Sagar and let us help you
set it up the award based on your wishes, and conforming with our guidelines.
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OUR VISION
The congress 2000 legacy funds are designated to be used to preserve the history of ZAH’s Congress 2000 and
to recognize the academic achievers in our community. A start-up-team was formed to organize, preserve/grow
and disburse these funds via the awards program.
The congress 2000 legacy Awards were implemented and now our goal is to draw upon individuals,
corporations, charitable institutions, trust funds, donors and past congress 2000 legacy awardees to contribute
additional funds for our plans over the next several decades.
We have identified that the way to attract additional funds for awards and loans is to offer the donor an
opportunity to name the award after a loved one and/or their institutions.
Our plans envision handing out academic loans. These loans would be based on the earnings derived from the
investment of our original funds and new donor infusions. They will be given to the student interest-free, with a
guarantor and a repayment period after receiving their under-graduate degree. The Legacy committee is
progressing this effort at a larger scale, to ensure this program is self-sustaining.
Finally, we are working on introducing a needs-based award which may be considered on an individual basis.
This will be dependent on the cash income generated from our investments, or with new donor designated
funds.
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PAST ZAH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
|
Year |
Congress2000Legacy Award |
Cyrus Rohinton Desai Award |
|
2007 |
Veera Sidhwa & Nikita Bhappu (Shared) |
— |
|
2008 |
Zarina Pundole & Darius Byramji (Shared) |
— |
|
2009 |
Naomi Bhappu |
Hormazd Minwalla |
|
2010 |
Zal Bhathena |
Bahrom Firozgary |
|
2011 |
Mitra Khumbatta & Viraf Nariman (Shared) |
Fram Haveliwala |
|
2012 |
— |
Cyra Byramji & Cyrus Byramji (Shared) |
|
2013 |
Shayan Bhathena |
Ervad Rayomand Katrak |
|
2014 |
Natalya Haveliwala |
Farzad Sunavala |
|
2015 |
Award#1 – Friyana Sidhwa |
Ervad Vispi Katrak |
|
2016 |
Rayhan Nariman |
Freya Daroga |
|
2017 |
Award#1 – Tanaya Behramsha |
Katie Master |
|
2018 |
— |
— |
|
2019 |
Award#1 – Ashish Chakraborty |
Award#1 – Zubin Master |
|
2020 |
Award#1 – Natalya Mehta |
Cyrus Mistry |
|
2021 |
Award#1 – Zara Italia |
Zara Italia |
|
2022 |
Award#1 –Isabella Irani |
Shanaya Vakil |
|
2023 |
Award#1 – Roshni Chikhliwala |
Freyaan Vimadalal |
|
2024 |
Award#1 – Neville Kanga |
Mahtab Dastoor |
|
2025 |
Award#1 – Natasha Dungor Award#3 – Dinshaw Adel Irani |
Natasha Dungor |