Dear friends,

Thank you so much to those who have reached out to me since Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka on Thanksgiving night. The cyclone caused severe flooding and landslides, resulting in a high death toll (350+ deaths and rising as many hundreds are still missing) and significant damage to infrastructure. Homes have been destroyed and transportation has been severely affected with roads closed, highways shut, and train services canceled in many areas. While the cyclone has moved away, heavy rains continue and damaged infrastructure is leading to food shortages in many areas.

There are many ways to support relief efforts. I have chosen to give directly to Sarvodaya, an organization which has been changing lives in rural Sri Lanka for decades. I personally know the family who started this organization in 1958, so I feel confident that all funds raised will go directly to those who need it the most. To support this effort and make a tax deductible donation go to the Sarvodaya USA affiliate at https://sarvodayausa.org/donate/

If you prefer to give in a different way, I have set up this GoFundMe to channel donations to Sarvodaya. The needs are great and rising quickly, so this campaign will last only until Monday, December 8th. Once it is completed, I will transfer all funds to Sarvodaya directly. Tax receipts will not be possible since this will be a one-time transfer from my personal account.

Every contribution—no matter the size—will make a real difference for families who have lost everything. Thank you for holding Sri Lanka in your heart.