Vikram Uppal Tumblr Blog

Vikram Uppal actively supports community development organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. A child of first-generation emigrants, he also lends his support to underserved populations in India through the Aid India Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded in 2002 to provide basic living supplies, medicine, and shelter.

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Becoming a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters

Becoming a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters

  Becoming a BigImage: bbbs.org Dedicated philanthropist Vikram Uppal provides food, housing, and medicine to families in India as a cofounder of Aid India. Beyond leading this San Francisco-based charity, Vikram (“Vik”) Uppal helps others through his support of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been pairing adult volunteers (Bigs) with children between the ages of 6 and 18…

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A Few Scenic Hiking Trails in San Francisco

  Land’s EndImage: 7×7.com Based in San Francisco, California, Vikram Uppal is a successful entrepreneur who has managed charitable activities at AID India since co-founding the organization in 2002. When he is not managing programs serving the food, clothing, and medical needs of India’s families in need, Vikram “Vik” Uppal enjoys hiking throughout the San Francisco region. San Francisco,…

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Serious Poverty Issues Confront India Despite Improvements

  Aid IndiaImage: aidindia.in A success-driven San Francisco entrepreneur, Vikram Uppal is a co-founder of Aid India, which focuses on providing basic goods, from medicine to food, to vulnerable families in India. Vik Uppal’s work in this area stems from visits to India as a child during which he witnessed the impact that poverty had on communities and developed a desire to give back. A recent…

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Vikram Uppal Leads a Foundation that Provides Aid to Families in India

As co-founder of the San Francisco, California-based Aid India Foundation, Vikram Uppal directs a philanthropic fund that supports the delivery of assistance services to disadvantaged communities in India. He coordinates the foundation’s fundraising efforts, as well as builds and supervises relationships with its partner organizations operating in India. Through investment in these partners,…

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Big Brothers Big Sisters - Workplace Mentoring in San Francisco

Aid India co-founder Vikram Uppal focuses his efforts on the nonprofit he helped to create. His efforts in planning and fundraising help improve outcomes for Indian families in underserved areas. Vikram Uppal's dedication to charity includes personal giving as well, and Vik Uppal supports the Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter in San Francisco. For more than a century, volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters have worked to change lives by befriending and caring for children who need a positive role model. In addition to the organization's traditional one-on-one partnerships, it operates a wealth of special programs for the students who need them most. The Bay Area chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters operates a new program meant to help students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Called Workplace Mentoring, the program is a partnership with local companies, giving them the chance to invest in the next generation of talent. Participating students are paired with a mentor, who provides one-on-one guidance. It is the mentor's goal to help his or her mentee develop a plan for their future career, and help cultivate the skills and habits required for success. A workplace coordinator plans each program day, creating a series of structured activities that guide and nurture San Francisco's students.

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Tips for Staying Safe on the Hiking Trail

Vikram “Vik” Uppal has managed virtually all aspects of Aid India in San Francisco, California, since cofounding the organization in 2002. When he is not overseeing the charity’s fundraising and awareness initiatives, Vikram Uppal enjoys staying active through hiking. Hiking alone can be a tranquil, meditative experience for some. However, hiking with one or more partners is the best way to stay safe and healthy during a hike. In fact, many park officials throughout the nation prefer to see people hiking in a large group. As a corollary, they recommend that hikers use the buddy system as an additional step they can take in order to ensure they have an enjoyable outdoor experience. Additionally, whether they are setting off on a solo trek or as part of a group outing, hikers should always inform at least one family member or friend of where they are going and when they plan to return. Solo hikers are especially encouraged to follow this practice, and to notify numerous people of their plans and even contact local park officials prior to departing. Staying on marked trails is another smart move every hiker should make. The promise of discovering a new pond or private hollow may be alluring, but hiking off a trail results at best in erosion and damage to local plant and animal life. In a worst-case scenario, leaving a trail can greatly increase a person’s odds of serious injury. Finally, every hiker or group of hikers should carry emergency supplies, food, and water. In addition to a first-aid kit, other useful items include flashlights and directional aids. Furthermore, a group should never assign one individual to carry one item for the whole group in order to avoid problems. For example, if a hiker tasked with carrying the group’s water supply becomes lost or loses the water, the entire group is left in the lurch. It is wiser to split resources up evenly among all hikers.

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Hiking San Francisco's Mount Davidson and Twin Peaks

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For nearly 15 years, Vikram “Vik” Uppal has led the charity Aid India in San Francisco, California, as one of its cofounders. In this position, he oversees fundraising and awareness campaigns designed to help India’s most indigent communities. Away from work, Vikram Uppal enjoys hiking in and around San Francisco. Hiking enthusiasts in San Francisco, California, have a variety of local trails and forests to choose from, not to mention nearby national parks such as Redwood National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Yosemite, and many more. San Francisco is known for its hilly city streets and suburbs, but Mount Davidson stands taller than all the other peaks. Ascending to the top of Mount Davidson involves hiking less than half a mile along either a sunny, exposed path or a shadier, eucalyptus-lined trail. The summit of the mountain overlooks San Francisco’s historic downtown and also supports a 103-foot cross, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Mount Davidson is located in Sherwood Forest, which can be accessed from Dalewood Way and Juanita Way. Twin Peaks, roughly five feet shorter than Mount Davidson, is arguably the most popular hike in the city for both visitors and longtime residents. The mountain’s two summits, Noe Peak and Eureka Peak, offer breathtaking, 360-degree vistas of the city and San Francisco Bay. A stairway from Crestline Drive provides access. Additional trails and summits can be found in McLaren Park, along Presidio Promenade, and at several additional locations throughout the city.

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The Junior Board of BBBSBA

Vikram “Vik” Uppal co-founded San Francisco, California’s Aid India in 2002. Over the last 15 years the charity has reached out to countless communities throughout undeveloped parts of India, providing importants goods such as food and medicine. Beyond his philanthropic work with Aid India, Vikram Uppal engages in activities with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBSBA) provides a number of services and opportunities that allow younger members of the organization to feel more involved with BBBSBA programs and events. The BBBSBA Junior Board, for instance, is comprised of some of the most talented, passionate young professionals in the San Francisco region. The Junior Board of BBBSBA is primarily involved in fundraising activities and promoting awareness regarding the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission. The Junior Board is also responsible for four key events throughout the year, such as Bowl for Kids’ Sake and Bid for Kids. Dedication is a key characteristic of all Junior Board members. The committee regularly sets fundraising goals and members must attend at least one meeting per month to ensure that these goals are met. To learn more about the BBBSBA Junior Board and their work, visit www.bbbsba.org.                            

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Eureka Schools Provides Rural Students a High-Quality Education

Eureka Schools Provides Rural Students a High-Quality Education

  Aid IndiaImage: aidindia.in Vikram (Vik) Uppal is an entrepreneur and cofounder of the Aid India Foundation, which supports the basic needs of India’s underserved rural families. Through partnerships with other like-minded charitable organizations, Vikram Uppal, working through Aid India, has established both nursery and primary schools in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu, a state in the south of…

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Important Aspects of the Scuba Buddy System

Important Aspects of the Scuba Buddy System

Scuba Buddy SystemImage: scubadiving.com Vikram Uppal has spent nearly 15 years overseeing activities at Aid India, a San Francisco-based charity that helps provide food, clothing, and medicine to developing parts of India. Vikram Uppal co-founded the organization in 2002. When he is not leading activities at Aid India, Vik Uppal stays physically active as an experienced scuba diver. The buddy…

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Eureka Schools Help Educate India's Underserved Children

Eureka Schools Help Educate India’s Underserved Children

Aid IndiaImage: aidindia.in An entrepreneur and philanthropist in San Francisco, Vikram “Vik” Uppal founded the nonprofit organization Aid India Foundation, where he oversees the foundation’s humanitarian efforts. Vikram Uppal’s vision is to bring high-quality and affordable education to underserved children in rural India. Aid India dedicates its resources toward providing schools and other…

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The Flagship Program Eureka SuperKidz

The Flagship Program Eureka SuperKidz

Eureka SuperKidzImage: educationinnovations.org Vikram “Vik” Uppal is a respected entrepreneur whose philanthropy led him to cofound the charitable organization Aid India Foundation, which helps provide basic essentials to underserved families in India. Working through the foundation, Vikram Uppal seeks out partnerships with other groups working to bring children in India’s rural communities…

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Three Tips to Avoid Getting Lost When Traveling to New Places

Three Tips to Avoid Getting Lost When Traveling to New Places

  Travel Vikram (Vik) Uppal cofounded the Aid India organization, which helps fund basic health and living needs for families in India. Outside of work, Vikram Uppal enjoys traveling to new places. While it is often fun and exciting to explore unfamiliar territory, it is also a lot easier to get lost. Use these three tips to help avoid getting lost in an unfamiliar location. 1. Photographs – Most…

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A Quick Look at Scuba Diving

A Quick Look at Scuba Diving

Scuba DivingImage: scuba.about.com An avid outdoorsman, Vikram “Vik” Uppal enjoys hiking and traveling in general. He has visited more than 20 countries in his sojourns. A sports enthusiast, Vikram Uppal names scuba diving as just one of his many hobbies. Scuba diving, a method of underwater diving, employs a self-contained breathing device to allow a diver to breath underwater. Unlike other…

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How Mentors Shape the Lives of Children and Young Adults

Entrepreneur Vikram (Vik) Uppal has established global philanthropies such as the Aid India Foundation. Vikram Uppal is also involved in his local community as a youth mentor. According to the website Mentor, young adults who have a caring adult figure to guide them through life are more likely to excel academically. Their educational success derives from their mentors holding them accountable to attend classes and to study. As a result, children gain a new and positive perspective on education. They value school and understand the importance of pursuing a college education. In the same respect, mentorship shapes how young adults choose their social settings. Nearly half are less likely to engage in illegal drug use and approximately a quarter of them will be less likely to consume alcoholic beverages in their lifetime. Mentored children instead focus their attention on playing sports and participating in extracurricular activities. Other benefits of mentorship include an increased likelihood of holding leadership positions in future careers and becoming more involved in their community. In addition, mentees express a greater interest in helping others gain the same level of success by becoming a mentor themselves.                            

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Expert Tips for Travel Packing

Expert Tips for Travel Packing

Travel   A community advocate, Vikram “Vik” Uppal cofounded the Aid India Foundation in 2002. In his spare time, Vikram Uppal enjoys traveling and has visited more than 20 countries. The following tips can help you pack for travel like a professional. 1. Pack things in resealable plastic bags. Resealable plastic bags are useful for organizing tech device cords and chargers as well as for storing…

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Use Your Skills Volunteering with Aid India

Use Your Skills Volunteering with Aid India

Aid IndiaImage: aidindia.in A committed philanthropist, Vikram Uppal draws on extensive experience as an entrepreneur and businessman. In 2002, Vikram Uppal co-founded Aid India to bring basic necessities such as food and medicine to people in India. A small non-governmental organization, Aid India relies on volunteers for its success. The organization also offers a child sponsor program and…

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