Malini Alles

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Malini Alles: Venture Capitalist and Social Activist

Malini Alles, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist and social activist who was here to interact with the ISBians on December 12, 2005, has broken the mould in more ways than one. She has already broken into the top league of real estate funds in the US which is predominantly a male dominated market, founded a non-profit organisation “Stree” that provides the means for poor impoverished women to access healthcare and preventive medicine, and has now launched “Maia” – a $ 100 million real estate fund that will invest in industrial, commercial and residential development, and re-developmental projects in India in the next few years. Alles’s is a rags-to-riches story that is both inspiring for its many achievements, and touching for the candour with which it is shared. As a spouse of a Stanford student, she attended lectures and interacted with investment bankers at academic gatherings. She invested the little money that she had in booming sectors like telecommunications, commodities and real estate, taking advantage of Silicon Valley’s hi-tech and stock market boom. Her speculations paid off, and made her into a billionaire. She could then afford to start “Stree” – a non-profit organisation to help battered women and young girls around the world that was launched in 2000 with Bill Clinton as the guest of honour. Alles’s multi-national exposure and multi-faceted interests have only added to her many strengths; she was born to Sri-Lankan parents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, grew up in Australia, and is a businesswoman in the US. She holds a doctorate in psychology, and has also been a staunch Democratic Party fund-raiser. Alles wishes to see her real estate venture in India move on be a success too, like her other ventures. She sees it as part of the process of building a competitive and cutting edge Indian economy. She expressed optimism about growth prospects in the emerging markets of India and China. According to her, “My vision is to be in India for the next 10 - 15 years because India is ‘virgin territory’. It is also about 5 years behind China, and will only learn from the mistakes that China has made.” Malini Alles: Venture Capitalist and Social Activist

Betting on real returns

“I love taking risks. If you see a possibility of growth anywhere, you have to take a risk,” says Malini Alles. The lady who loves India has been involved in charities but says this is the first time she is investing in the country. Malini is a 36-year-old Silicon Valley based venture capitalist who has just launched Maia Real Estate Fund that plans to invest millions in Indian real estate sector. It will undertake development and redevelopment projects of commercial and residential buildings and REITS (real estate investment trusts). With this, she becomes the first woman to lead such a high profile real estate fund. The fund enters a market shared by conglomerates like Morgan Stanley, Alpine and ING. According to her, the burgeoning outsourcing market and the growing interdependence among countries for a strong global economy are indicators of a boom in international real estate. Interestingly, over the past 10 years, real estate funds have seen a consistent 20-30 per cent interest yield. Malini is also a social activist who runs a global non-profit women’s organisation - Stree. She spoke to SHALINI K SHARMA of Deccan Herald , detailing about her plans for the Indian venture. Deccan Herald: What kind of investments are you looking at in India? Malini Alles: The entire fund, Maia, is focused on India. The initial investment is $250 million. The fund has been raised by government institutions and private individuals. We are looking to invest in commercial complexes, residential buildings and IT parks. We want to keep our operations as broad based as we can. DH: Which cities will you invest in? MA: As of today, we are investing in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Delhi. As these cities grow, our company will expand and we will also be able to make forays into smaller cities. India’s middle class population is growing rapidly and this creates huge demand for housing. This in turn would mean, a lot more people would go in for loans. All of this would expand the real estate market. DH: What returns do you expect from this investment? MA: We hope to make anything between 10 and 16 per cent from this investment. It is simple: the lower the risk, the lower the returns and the higher the risk, the higher the returns. DH: When does the project go operational? MA: The fund is already operational from January. We have raised some money and more is on the way. On the ground, operations will begin from June this year. We are still considering deals and getting the lay of the land. We have a local partner. We will have personnel from USA working with our partners here. DH: India opened up to FDI in real estate only recently. What do you think of policies regarding this? MA: Well, it's been a great start. Though, like any government, here too, it took a while. And it is only when more players come in that regulations are laid down and laws become lenient. India is ripe now, in terms of economy. There are more jobs. This will help bring in the expats back to India. And if these expats get everything they want right here, they would not think of going abroad. I am an optimist. And I think the future will only get brighter. DH: How does the Indian real estate market compare to the global market? MA: India will, I think, be more careful than others. It won’t go crazy building towers upon towers. The culture and the needs are different in this country and are changing everyday. There is a huge number of residential buildings coming up. Malls and multi-storeyed parking are becoming popular. India is catching up with the world. The tech boom has opened many doors. Betting on real returns

EGG Who we are

Who we are: Principals •A. Lawrence Chickering, Founder and President •Uzma Khaishgi, Executive Director of EGG •Upala Devi Banerjee EGG's Representative in India •Anjula Tyagi, Director of Project in Uttaranchal •Rocio Ribero, Director of Latin American Programs A. Lawrence Chickering, Founder and President EGG is the third policy institute Mr. Chickering has either founded or co-founded. In the 1970s he co-founded the Institute for Contemporary Studies, which focused on U.S. policy issues. In the1980s, he founded the International Center for Economic Growth (ICEG), which promoted major economic reforms in more than 50 countries. He has a long-time interest in conflict resolution; his 1993 book Beyond Left and Right has drawn praise from both conservatives and liberals. He is working on a new book on girls’ education. Mr. Chickering has been associated with the Council on Foreign Relations, Freedom House, and the Pacific Council for International Policy; he is a former Vice Chairman of the National Council on the Humanities. He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Yale Law School. back Uzma Khaishgi, Executive Director of EGG Khaishgi grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and earned her M.B.A. from Karachi's prestigious Institute for Business Administration. She specializes in project management and budgeting, and brings an invaluable knowledge of the principal region where EGG is beginning its work.Ms. Khaishgi has had a career in advertising, serving as a Media Supervisor for McCann Erickson (San Francisco), responsible for strategic planning for new product launches; and also as a media planner for Wunderman Cato Johnson - Young & Rubicam, Inc. (New York), executing print and interactive campaigns and responsible for account management. back Upala Devi Banerjee, EGG's Representative in India Banerjee is Coordinator of the Governance Support Fund and Child Development Fund of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in India, which is committed to protecting and promoting children and women's rights through institutional capacity development and access to education and other opportunities. She is also a consultant to the Solidarity Center, the international wing of AFL-CIO on issues pertaining to violence against women, trafficking and migration, and child labour in South and South-East Asia. Ms. Banerjee has been a Program Officer for the Asian Network of Women in Communication, and a Researcher/editor for the South-Asia Human Rights Documentation Center. She has been a consultant to many other international organizations, including NORAD and UNICEF. back Anjula Tyagi, Director of Uttaranchal Project back Rocio Ribero, Director of Latin American Programs back Board of Directors •A. Lawrence Chickering, USA •Asha Jadeja, USA •Chris Boskin, USA •David Fleishacker, USA •Dean Vincent Bordigioni, USA •Hafsat Abiola, USA and Nigeria •Lorene Arey, USA •Lynne Twist, USA •Maisa El-Gamal, Egypt •Malini Alles, USA •Nicolas Ardito-Barletta, Panama •Sarah Tinsley, USA •Tina Frank, USA A. Lawrence Chickering, USA Founder and President of EGG back Asha Jadeja, USA Founder and Managing Partner, Dot EDU Ventures, Palo Alto, CA. back Chris Boskin, USA Former publisher, marketer, manager and advertising manager for Worth Media, Hearst Magazines and The New Yorker. back David Fleishacker, USA Former Board Member, Nat'l Assoc. of Principals of Schools for Girls; Former Treasurer, California Association of Independent Schools; Co-Author, Afghans Learn English (text series); Peace Corps (1962 - 64) - English, Math and History teacher for Grades 1 - 8, Kabul University and Kabul Medical School; Former Headmaster, Burke's School for Girls. back Dean Vincent Bordigioni, USA Owner, President, Golden Gate Harley-Davidson Buell; Co-creator of the Bridge to a Cure Ride for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. back Hafsat Abiola, USA and Nigeria Executive Director of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Washington, D.C. and Nigeria. back Lorene Arey, USA Executive Director and founder of the Clara Fund; former Director of Corporate Communications at Cisco Systems. back Lynne Twist, USA Lynne Twist is an advocate and spokesperson for the end of hunger, the preservation of the world's rainforests and the emergence of women in cultures throughout the world. back Maisa El-Gamal, Egypt Regional Director of Middle East Programs, the International Center for Economic Growth; professor of political science and law, Cairo University. back Malini Alles, USA Venture Capitalist and President of STREE, an NGO promoting programs in preventive health for women in poor countries. back Nicolas Ardito-Barletta, Panama Former President of Panama (1984-1985), former Vice President of the World Bank for Latin America. back Sarah Tinsley, USA US Department of State, Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. back Tina Frank, USA Independent consultant to organizations producing conferences for the women's market. back Academic Advisory Board •Anne O. Krueger •Arnold C. Harberger •Douglass C. North •Duncan Thomas •Jeffrey Sachs •Lawrence J. Lau •Michael J. Boskin •Nancy Birdsall •Robert Evenson •T. Paul Schultz •Thomas Rohlen Anne O. Krueger Harold L. and Caroline L. Ritch Professor in Humanities and Sciences; Director, Center for Research and Economic Development Policy Reform, Stanford University. back Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics, University of California, Los Angeles. back Douglass C. North Spencer T. Olin Professor in Arts and Sciences, Department of Economics, Washington University, St. Louis; awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science in 1993. back Duncan Thomas Professor of Economics, UCLA; and fellow, RAND Corporation. back Jeffrey Sachs Professor of Economics, International and Public Affairs, Health Policy and Management; Director, Columbia University Earth Institute. back Lawrence J. Lau Kwoh-Ting Li Professor of Economic Development, Stanford University. back Michael J. Boskin Tully H. Friedman Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University. back Nancy Birdsall Senior Associate, Carnegie Center for International Peace. back Robert Evenson Professor of Economics, Yale University. back T. Paul Schultz Malcolm K. Brachman Professor of Economics and Demography, Yale University. back Thomas Rohlen Professor of Education, Asia Pacific Research Center, Stanford University. back EGG Who we are

Conference examines body image issues, women’s rights

March 3, 2003 By Ilena C. George Last Saturday, the Stanford chapter of alpha Kappa Delta Phi hosted “Encounters,” their fourth annual conference focusing on women’s empowerment issues. Attended by sorority members from Stanford and surrounding colleges, this year’s conference sought to go beyond the sorority’s Asian-American focus and broached issues that transcend race, such as body image and women’s rights. “In previous years, the conference was explicitly targeting issues affecting Asian American women, but this year we have broadened the focus to all women, while still making sure to address the unique position of women of color and Asian-American women” said junior Paloma Rosenbaum, vice president of service for aKDPhi. The event began with a keynote speech by Dr. Malini Alles, who described her ascent from a repressive childhood environment in Australia to becoming a highly successful psychologist and entrepreneur in the United States. “Today, women are not free around the world,” Alles said. “We are not free in India or Indiana. We are not free in Mexico or New Mexico. We are not free in Uganda and even in Utah.” She continued, “The kind of freedom that I’m talking about is great and small, it is large and it is petty, it is about doing the housework, being a wife, a mother, and a professional, about balancing society’s expectations of you and you yourself. It’s about negotiating a good deal at a car dealership.” Alles is the founder of Stree, an organization that provides health care for poor women throughout the world. In her speech, she called the audience to action, urging them to pursue their dreams with confidence in themselves. “As women, you are the future, you are the voice of this millennium,” she said. “You have the opportunity and the power to change the role of women globally — don’t ever, ever forget that. You can and will make history, but you need to believe in yourself. You need to want it as much as men want it.” She added, “Never endure sexism — challenge it. And never be afraid to ask for what you want and what you need.” Sophomore Cathy Nguyen found the speech inspiring. “It was empowering to be a minority woman and [recognize] the difference you can make,” Nguyen said. Alles was followed by a performance by Aya de Le?n, a spoken word artist who has taught at Stanford through the Institute for Diversity in the Arts. De Le?n called for empowerment and equality of women, particularly in the male- dominated field of hip-hop and for women to fight negative body images. “One of the first ways that we get taken off our path [as women] is we get bombarded with messages about our bodies and that we should be worried about it constantly,” she said. De Le?n cited some of her poetry, which read, “A sick society turns women’s bodies into, eww, problems to be solved, but anorexia ain’t sexier, and bulimia ain’t dreamier, so next time you’re counting calories, don’t forget to count the thousands of years that women’s suitors thought that cellulite was, mmm, quite alright, and were ready to embrace abundance.” After the opening speakers, there was a first round of workshops that touched on topics pertinent to women and Asian Americans. “Some issues we want to cover are women’s safety, body image, connecting with cultural heritage, Asian Americans in the media, the double identity inherent in being a woman of color, creating positive friendships between women and the role of women in religion,” Rosenbaum said. These workshops included a writing workshop headed by de Le?n that addressed body image and another entitled, “Finding Strength in the Past: discovering your heritage,” which was lead by Sau-ling Wong of UC-Berkeley. “[It] gave me some new perspectives on being Asian American” said sophomore Iesan Tsai of the heritage workshop. “There are some popular misconceptions that she cleared up for us . . . One thing I was really impressed by is that she talked about how there are some things that you might think are very annoying about your culture . . . A lot of it doesn’t have to do with race but with socioeconomic status.” Counterpoint, Alliance Streetdance, Stanford Steppers and Stanford WuShu performed during the lunch break between workshops. The afternoon featured a second round of workshops, followed by several panel discussions addressing current themes. These included “Asian Americans in the Media” and “Women of Color as a Double Minority.” The closing ceremony included a performance by the a cappella group Talisman. Conference examines body image issues, women’s rights

Clinton stars at gala benefit

Proceeds go toward local battered women's group By Julie O'Shea Los Altos Hills rolled out the red carpet for a few political heavyweights -- former President Bill Clinton, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown -- during a fund-raising dinner Sunday to benefit Mountain View's Support Network for Battered Women. The star-studded gala, which saw actor John Cusack mingling and shaking hands with delighted partygoers, was hosted by Stree: Global Investments in Women, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit dedicated to ending violence against women and girls. Sunday night's dinner and auction kicked off a year-long fund-raising campaign for domestic violence victims, and organizers say they hope to bring in $1 million by the start of 2005. A final total of funds raised at last weekend's event was not available at press time. "Domestic violence is a disease that effects our entire planet," Stree founder Malini Alles told the crowd of nearly 200 seated inside the tented dining area, blossoming with purple, white and pink orchids. "Every day four women die in this country because of domestic violence. Around the world, four million women are battered every year. "Let me put a face to these statistics -- my face," said Alles, dressed in an elegant white ball gown with a sparkling jeweled necklace. Ironically, it was her alcoholic, abusive father, who, Alles said, helped give her the strength to stand up and say enough is enough. "He caused me pain, but he gave me the vision to think big," she said, "Were it not for him, I wouldn't be standing here tonight, fighting for women's rights." Alles urged her guests to find a way to start fixing the problem at home, by helping local shelters, like the Support Network for Battered Women, set up programs to help abused women get back on their feet. "I feel like the proverbial fifth wheel," said Clinton, taking the stage to wild applause. "Everything that needed to be said has been said." Clinton, a longtime friend of Alles who signed the Violence Against Women Act shortly before leaving office in 2000, was careful not to offer any definitive opinions of the Bush administration, except to argue that the current president's tax policy may not be without its consequences. While taxpayers may find themselves with more cash in their wallets, Clinton said, local governments will be the ones forced to scale back on services people depend on. And those in the philanthropy community fear that these tax cuts, coupled with the bad economy, may cause charitable donations to plummet. "When the economy is bad, domestic violence goes up," Clinton said. "This is a big issue today." Finding a solution, he added, "is a noble cause. I know about it personally, too. "I, too, grew up in a home with a lot of domestic violence." Earlier in the evening, actor and songwriter Paul Hipp, scheduled after Tracy Chapman unexpectedly cancelled, made no apologies for his newly penned ballad, "There's a Lunatic in the House Next Door," which unabashedly took aim at George W. Bush. "A lunatic moved into the house next door/And now the whole neighborhood's gone to hell," Hipp sung, his melody drowned out by the crowd's laughter. "We've got to get him out on moving day." This performance, Hipp noted before taking his seat, was "fair and completely unbiased reporting from this songwriter." Later, Clinton quipped to the guitarist, "I couldn't give a political speech half as good as your song." E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com Clinton stars at gala benefit

Historical Bay Area Event

Historical Bay Area Event On Feb 20th 2005: A multicultural event, featuring entertainers, speakers and spiritual leaders raised more than $1.5 million to support tsunami relief efforts Sunday at the HP Pavillion. click here for more information... BAU continuous to receive funds and welcomes donors. For information about disbursement of funds, click here for more information... Former President, Bill Clinton made a special video appearance Who was at the event: Newage Guru and bestselling author, Deepak Chopra Football Hall of Fame, Steve Young Football Hall of Fame, Ronnie Lott Malini Alles is an active philanthropist. In 2001, she founded Stree: Global Investments in Women. Stree's goal is to empower disadvantaged women globally. more information on Dr. Alles... Lisa Loeb, Grammy nominated pop singer, became the first unsigned performer in history to top the Billboard Hot 100 when her "Stay," from the movie "Reality Bites," did the trick in 1994. more information on Lisa... Danica Sena "La Mora" artistic director of Andanza Spanish Arts has toured and performed all over Europe, Japan and the U.S. for over a decade, her choreographies and workshops receiving critical acclaim. more information on Danica... Shankar & Gingger are masters of a unique instrument, the double violin, which they employ as interstellar craft to explore the terrain of inner-space. more information on Shankar & Gingger... New perspectives on the songs of Bob Dylan By Tom Corwin & Tim Hockenberry. more information on 'Mostly Dylan'... Gamelan Sekar Jaya (GSJ) is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the study and presentation of traditional and contemporary Balinese performing arts. more information on 'GSJ'... Tina Sugandh is the next wave of global music. Fusing pop, rock and a little bit of Bollywood. more information on 'Tina'... Children of the World , a live performance by the Community School of Music and Arts - more information... Historical Bay Area Event

NetAid introduced World Schoolhouse, to offer access to education to the world's poorest children

Jordan's Queen Rania, Peru's President Alejandro Toledo, Quincy Jones, Cisco's John Chambers Join Development Experts to Address Corporate and Global Leaders Today, NetAid, the global nonprofit which informs and inspires action on extreme poverty, introduced the NetAid World Schoolhouse, an initiative designed to offer access to education to the world's poorest children, to a packed room of world leaders and top CEOs. "Education is a crucial step in ending the cycle of poverty," said NetAid President David Morrison. "Right now, over 125 million children age 6-11 lack access to a quality education. Millions more receive substandard education that does not prepare them to take their place in society." Flanked by prominent supporters from Quincy Jones and Jordan's Queen Rania to Peru's President Alejandro Toledo and Cisco's President and CEO John Chambers, Morrison described how NetAid World Schoolhouse is designed to identify and provide direct online links to successful projects throughout the developing world which offer new educational opportunities tailored to very poor children, their families and communities. "Since 9-11, people of goodwill the world over have been searching for new ways to combat grinding poverty," noted Quincy Jones. "The NetAid World Schoolhouse provides us with the opportunity to make simple, yet powerful connections in a complex world." Corporations, students, concerned citizens anywhere in the world can log on to the NetAid World Schoolhouse on the Internet (www.netaid.org) to volunteer their time, donate funds and learn more about projects by tracking their progress online. President Toledo received a standing ovation as he described the essential role played by education in his rise from shining shoes and selling newspapers to his current position. "I am fighter of poverty and a fanatic for education. Today I stand here, in front of you, as the President of Peru, because of access to education." "Too many children in developing countries have limited opportunities in life because they do not have the choice to go to school," said John Chambers, President and CEO of Cisco Systems. "The NetAid World Schoolhouse gives all of us the power to do something about this." He praised the initiative for bringing together what he called "the world's two great equalizers": education and the Internet. Lack of education remains the clearest, single obstacle to economic development. Fortunately, innovative, effective local groups, grounded in their cultures, exist and are poised to grow with the proper support. "Education can unlock the door to opportunity" said Don Listwin, NetAid's Board Chair and CEO of Openwave. "NetAid provides a unique opportunity for global companies and employees to become involved in fighting extreme poverty around the world. If we do our part," he urged his colleagues, "it's not hard to imagine future generations succeeding where we have fallen short." Speakers from Pakistan, Peru and Ghana introduced three of the first NetAid World Schoolhouse projects - all partnerships between corporations and local development organizations. Developments in Literacy (DIL) works with local organizations in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, where female literacy is 17 percent, to teach girls from 5-12 in non-formal settings. DIL was launched in February, 1997 by expatriate Pakistanis in the United States and, to date, has enrolled over 6,000 youngsters in several rural areas of Pakistan in school. "By allowing people in developing and developed nations to interact, NetAid creates new opportunities for giving and learning," noted Dr. Malini Alles, who supports several NetAid World Schoolhouse projects, including DIL. Dr. Alles is the CEO of Stree, Global Investments in Women, a nonprofit focused on changing how underserved women view themselves and their role in society. Two-For-One - a partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Education, UNICEF and a local organization called Teatro Vivo - trains teen mentors to help over ten thousand children learn basic skills and stay in school. Two-For-One participants perform 30 percent higher on standardized tests after only eight weeks. After three years, seven out of eight children involved in the project are still in school. Soon Two-For-One will grow, noted Teatro Vivo's Olga B?rcenas, backed by Openwave Systems, whose CEO Don Listwin chairs NetAid's board. Ann Cotton introduced CamFed, the Campaign for Female Education, which operates in Ghana's Northern Region where most families rely on subsistence farming. Fewer than 40 percent of girls attend primary school in this Region and women's literacy levels are only 3.5 percent. "The cost of school clothes and stationery means many families have to choose which children go to school. Boys are favored because they are more likely to get paid work in the future," she explained. "The NetAid World Schoolhouse helps provide the uniforms, shoes and other supplies that allow children, especially girls, to attend school." Ms. Cotton spoke movingly of one child in Nothern Ghana, named Rabi, who told her, "When I learned that I could go to school, I was so happy, I felt I could jump and touch the sky." Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, noted "Through the NetAid World Schoolhouse, people everywhere can move from compassion to action in a matter of keystrokes." NetAid employs rigorous standards and criteria to look beyond the best-known organizations to find those who can do the best work in a particular location. NetAid's staff, with years of experience in international development, does extensive outreach and rigorous due diligence to select highly innovative and effective projects. Over 3,000 groups worldwide were invited to submit project overviews for the NetAid World Schoolhouse. Projects that met NetAid World Schoolhouse criteria were reviewed with potential funders whose objectives are the best match. Among the NetAid World Schoolhouse's initial funding partners are Cisco Systems, Reebok, Openwave Systems, SunGard, Dr. Malini Alles of Stree, and BidClix. NetAid World Schoolhouse local projects and partners must demonstrate a sound knowledge of local needs and conditions. They must show local ownership, participation and commitment to ensure sustainability and that children will learn to read, write and perform basic math after completing three to four years of primary school. NetAid establishes a regular reporting and disbursement schedule with each project, requiring regular updates and financial reports. In its "dollar-in = dollar-out" model, all individual contributions go directly to the projects. Companies adopt individual projects and challenge their employees to get involved. "Working with NetAid allows donors to give to specific projects and to follow progress online. They can make donation decision on the basis of detailed budgets that show exactly how their money will be spent." Morrison concluded, "We are encouraged by the new depth and urgency to people's concerns about extreme poverty and a new eagerness to learn about the link between poverty, stability and education." About NetAid NetAid (www.netaid.org) is an independent non-profit organization (501 c3) based in New York that educates, inspires and empowers young people to take action against global poverty. NetAid's innovative programs and initiatives directly support the international community's goal of significantly reducing extreme poverty and related ills by 2015. NetAid was founded in 1999 by the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems. NetAid introduced World Schoolhouse, to offer access to education to the world's poorest children

Malini Alles Connects Local Activism With Global Women

AsianWeek, May Chow, Jan 28, 2003 From remote tribes, tiny villages, urban centers — the women all come for help with the same fatigued look in their eyes. Scared, embarrassed, ashamed, often too poor to afford sufficient health care, often too abused to look for help earlier. Put them all in one room, and no one would understand anyone else. They live thousands of miles away from one another and are in different continents and time zones. The common denominator among these women? Need. Malini Alles, aware of this need, founded a nonprofit organization aimed at changing the way low-income and impoverished women worldwide see themselves and their roles in society, by providing the means for women to access healthcare and preventive medicine. Alles, 33, decided to borrow the Sanskrit word, stree, which means women, dignity, empowerment and strength, to name her organization. The main goals of Stree: Global Investments in Women are to promote women’s health, advocate prevention, connect grassroots movements with public policy and help at-risk women and girls. “I feel a woman deserves the same rights as a man, and the opportunities need to be available to her,” says Alles. “I really wanted to start an organization where I could work with policy makers and be involved in the decision-making or go out and do it on our own, you know, real grassroots.” “We’re About Global Change” To be able to help women this way has always been a dream of Alles. Growing up in Malaysia and Australia, Alles says no matter how educated the women around her were, they always took the passive role. Somehow, the Indian culture she was familiar with afforded an environment in which women were made second-class citizens. “They never spoke and I believe the culture made it so that the women were submissive,” says Alles, who was born in Kuala Lumpur and now makes her home in Palo Alto, Calif. “It made me angry to see how Indian women were placed in that position. But things change, with younger generations come new ideas about women’s role in society.” Take one look at Alles and her beauty captivates you. Sit down and have a conversation with her and her strength moves you. Her savvy investments during Silicon Valley’s hi-tech and stock market boom provided her with enough of a nest egg to start Stree in May 2001. She used her background in nursing and her doctorate in psychology to help construct the nonprofit. She was adamant about not having a program where money was siphoned off without any real change to the situations that caused the need for aid in the first place. “What I didn’t want to do was to reinvent the wheel,” she says. “We’re not about programs because we already have enough of them out there. We’re about global change, challenging policy makers to make sure the status of women everywhere is improved.” Although Alles was determined to create an organization that would help developing countries, she was aware that the nation she was living in — the United States — did not have an ideal healthcare model. “There’s a lot to be said about healthcare in the states and the saddest thing is that so many women out there are not receiving adequate care and follow-up services here in America,” Alles says. “Here, without insurance, you’re either told to go to a random clinic with an exhausted staff, or you go without medical attention.” But Alles stresses that not all communities share the same health problems and needs, and thus understands that every country needs different emphases on health. For example, in India, immunizations, gastric health and polluted waters are enervating those that can’t afford or have access to proper healthcare. In the United States, where there isn’t a strong sense of community medicine, the insurance programs only benefit a handful and patients get inadequate health screenings and don’t receive continuous care from one physician. “You can be in another country, lose your job, and still somehow receive healthcare, but here in the states, once you lose your job and COBRA in six months, you worry,” Alles says. Although critics may question Alles on why she doesn’t hone in on the local problems here in the United States if she’s aware of them, Alles believes her global initiatives benefit all countries, since they can learn from one another. “I think this aspect enhances Stree. We can take these communities and see what has been successful and what hasn’t and see if we can slowly introduce and adapt them into other ones,” says Alles. “Of course, throughout this whole process, you have to remain culturally sensitive and be aware that people and customs are different. We’d be ignorant if we were to say that the people in Asia don’t know proper healthcare because they have no money, which isn’t true.” Global Partners One illness that has traveled the world and decimated women, children and families is domestic abuse. Alles is passionate about this issue and is fighting hard to help women, raise awareness and begin the process of ending it. As violent as it is, domestic abuse is a silent killer — muting a woman’s voice, suffocating her freedom and sometimes or ending her life. It is also silent because many people, especially in communities overseas, don’t address the matter as a problem; rather, it is a part of a husband’s dutiful role of disciplining a wife. Whether it’s done in the name of being a good family or as a physical and violent reminder to the woman of who has the upper hand, domestic abuse reaches far into communities of all kinds worldwide. Part of Stree’s success is the partnerships and networks it forms with other healthcare organizations, hospitals and non-government organizations (NGOs). Here in the United States, Stree is partners with Count Me In, a New York-based micro-lending organization providing preventive health care education for women in poverty. Stree is also working with local healthcare centers in San Francisco to develop a comprehensive model for health access and preventive health services for low-income, women and young and old. Rita Ghatak, the chief operating officer of Stree, said the emergency care and medicine program is one of Stree’s most innovative and exciting projects. Working with Stanford University Medical Center, Stree sponsors emergency care physicians from developing countries to train at Stanford’s emergency department for 10 weeks under the tutelage of staff physicians. Murat Ibragimov traveled from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to become Stree’s first visiting physician. “The physicians who come to us must be from developing countries and be involved in the emergency care of women and children,” says Ghatak, a psychologist who specializes in gerontology. “We want them to take back what they learned from us and educate women and young girls in their home country about preventive health concerns and matters.” Stree has formed alliances with a diverse group of international organizations. Stree is working with Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), a volunteer-based development organization in Bombay, India to build a preventive health education center in Bombay. The center will provide free access to clinical health services and information. Hoping to reach the young girls in Togo, West Africa, Stree has teamed up with CARE International United Kingdom, to work on the Program for the Promotion of Educational and Employment Opportunities. This program promotes and provides literacy, life skills, a support system and health and human rights education. Stree has partnered with Netaid’s Campaign for Female Education in Ghana and Somalia which provide the necessary materials for girls to receive a proper education. Stree has just finished up a preventive healthcare project for women in rural Australia. Researchers focused on creating preventive strategies for cervical cancer, breast cancer, mental illness, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Malini Alles Connects Local Activism With Global Women

In the Bay Area's sociopolitical charity circuit, you can

In the more rarefied fund-raising circles, a $1,000-a-ticket party isn't anything to sniff at. But it also doesn't exactly entitle one to more than a brief brush with greatness. Or in this case, Bill Clinton. Every celebrity—even some socialites (the Duke of Windsor, for example, was once rumored to be available to attend your party if you purchased a certain number of Turnbull & Asser shirts)—has a price for appearances and how much he'll invest of himself. With that principle in mind, we learn that $1,000 affords you only a hit-and-run by Bill Clinton at a benefit dinner at venture capitalist turned philanthropist Malini Alles's Los Altos Hills home, while a Hollywood actor (John Cusack) is on hand to mingle with guests, even if somewhat uninterestedly. Both made appearances at Alles's benefit for the Mountain View Women's Shelter on account of their friendships with the bubbly host (she serves on the board of Clinton's foundation and met Cusack through Clinton on a delegation to Saudi Arabia). But while the cocktail hour promised Clinton, the former president remained camped out in the main house, hidden from the view of partygoers until the end of the cocktail hour. It was there that the Socialist, wandering in search of his seat at the elusive table 20 (you know the one, invariably behind a column), stumbled upon him, with Alles and Mayor Gavin Newsom at the real VIP cocktail hour, which included about a dozen people who ponied up $10,000 to $25,000 for a more intimate affair. "Mr. Mayor, I see you're off to quite a start," Clinton told Newsom upon their introduction, a sly reference to the national controversy Newsom ignited by allowing gays to marry in City Hall. Clinton then seamlessly moved on to cocktail chatter with an adjoining couple, telling them, "I'm just working on my little book" (a reference to his memoir) and exchanging details of his diet and exercise regimen. "I work out a lot these days," he said. Said Alles of Clinton, "They were all smitten. He's so charismatic, and he makes everybody feel comfortable." Newsom, for his part, was asked by another guest about his relationship with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; the guv had just called a press conference asking for a halt to the gay marriages. "He had to do what he did, but then right after that, he wants me to join him at a press conference having me support his bond measure," Newsom said incredulously. Meanwhile, it fell upon Cusack, as the resident celebrity—there was also John McGinley from the TV show Scrubs, but the guests apparently don't watch medical spoofs—to work the crowd. The crowd of Silicon Valley players, including Adobe cofounder John Warnock and his wife, Marva, and PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel, and the Indian community's more affluent members were out in full force with their own cameras, swarming around him for their photo ops. Others were content just to have snaps of themselves with a Zelig-like Clinton in the background. After his dinner speech, a couple of Secret Service agents promptly whisked him into a large SUV and off into the night. A couple of weeks earlier, John Cleese was the one being feted at a party at Steven and Mary Swig's Victorian mansion on California Street. There to lend support to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Cleese, who was in town to do a one-man show, was extremely affable. He actually seemed to enjoy mixing with the guests. Virtually everyone who got a chance to speak to him was charmed by his dry, absurdist wit. Was he even trying? Or did it just come naturally for the Monty Python alum and comic? After some effortless mingling, Cleese made a little speech. "[Esalen cofounder] Michael Murphy asked me to say a few words tonight. So I've prepared a few words: Lettuce. [Pause] Axe. [Pause] Antidisestablishment. [Pause]" The crowd roared. Two days after the Swigs' event, artist and director Robert Wilson was the draw at a cocktail reception at Stan and Christine Mattison's Presidio Heights home, in anticipation of the opening of Wilson's production The Black Rider and to generate fund-raising interest in A.C.T. Wilson held a crowd of rapt listeners including John and Frances Bowes and young-uns Robert Mailer Anderson and Nicola Miner, speaking about the origins of his collaboration with Tom Waits on The Black Rider (Waits wrote the music and lyrics) and his experiences with Allen Ginsberg. Sometimes, it turns out, you can't pay to play. Grumblings are developing over Trevor Traina's gala for the Art Deco show last month, dubbed "Trevor's private party at the Legion" by the uninvited. The party is being planned by the Fine Arts Museums' "junior committee," a group created specifically for this and future bashes. As word spread that this would be the "it" party of the season among the junior set (the invitation's cochair list reads like a local Who's Who), confusion set in over whether the party was open to the public. There's also talk that some trustees are concerned that the gala looks set to lose money. But the party's biggest conflict is with the museum's young professionals group. John Ramsbacher, the president of ArtPoint, fielded calls from angry and disappointed members who discovered their money wasn't good enough for Traina's gala. "People felt very slighted," Ramsbacher says. "What message does the museum send when there are two classes of membership—one for the young socialites, and the other for the rest?" To smooth out the situation, Traina invited Ramsbacher to his home to discuss the matter, but no changes or accommodation were forthcoming. "Our intent is not to be exclusionary," says Traina. "When we put our lists together, we're looking at 750 people. We want to make sure there's space for our friends first." He added that New York has similarly exclusive parties, citing the Frick Collection's Young Fellows benefit. "When I first moved to New York, I didn't know a lot of people, and I wasn't invited. But you get to know people over time." Still, the resentments remain. "I know my checkbook won't open up for them next year," Ramsbacher says. In the Bay Area's sociopolitical charity circuit, you can

The Heart of Growth

Investing in Lives The Campaign for Special Olympics not only supported the most ambitious growth campaign in Special Olympics history but it also created a new group of supporters and friends to the movement. The following individuals and organizations, through their generous support, have been instrumental in making sure that people with intellectual disabilities are not left behind. They have helped change the lives of 1,270,760 new athletes around the world. Their legacy has empowered Special Olympics to better the lives of as many people in the last five years as have been transformed in the last thirty. Steve and Jean Case Peter and Carolyn Lynch Joan Kroc Lions Club International A Very Special Christmas Michael and Jennifer Price Kim Samuel Johnson The Gang Family Foundation Myer Feldman Ray and Stephanie Lane John and Mary Manley Winnick Family Foundation Mark and Lauren Booth Ossie and Anna Kilkenny Stephen and Rosemarie Johnson Gert Boyle Michael J. Smurfit Malini Alles and Stree Foundation Paul Newman and Newman's Own John Stanton and Theresa Gillespie Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger UEFA Kim Elliott and Mark Rayford Microsoft Foundation The Heart of Growth

Stree: Global Investments in Women

Mission Statement: Dr. Malini Alles, age 31, was born in Malaysia and spent her early years in Australia before moving to the U.S at 19. She arrived in Silicon Valley with strong hope and not many resources. Through determination and hard work, she became a successful angel investor. Behind her investments has always been the desire to equip women to face the economic and cultural barriers that she has encountered. Her financial success has provided the platform to accomplish her life-long goal of revolutionizing the role of underserved women globally. Dr. Alles started her philanthropic efforts in the U.S. in order to demonstrate her gratitude to the country that gave her the opportunity. She next extended her efforts into developing nations where the barriers are far worse for millions of young girls who will never get opportunities to succeed. The combination of Dr. Alles' life experiences, her passion for underserved women along with her philanthropic efforts all gave rise to the creation of Stree. The name 'Stree' is a Sanskrit word signifying women, dignity, empowerment and strength. Dr. Alles founded Stree to target strategic areas that impact women and how they view themselves. Stree focuses on weaving together three critical components for elevating the status of underserved women globally: health, education and entrepreneurial skills. Stree: Global Investments in Women

Hills resident Alles donates $1 million to South Asian Heart Center at El Camino

El Camino Hospital announced last week that Los Altos Hills resident Malini Alles, founder of Stree: Global Investments in Women Foundation, has donated $1 million to the South Asian Heart Center, the first organization in the world to address the high incidence of coronary artery disease among South Asians. Alles' donation is the first major gift received by the center. The South Asian Heart Center is a pioneering wellness program that educates clients and physicians on research, tests and treatments unique to the South Asian community. The center will be located on the hospital's campus. Scheduled to be open in 2005, the center is currently seeking additional leadership gifts from the community. The rate of coronary artery disease (CAD) among South Asians - men and women who trace their origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka - is four times higher than the general population, both here and in India. Half of all heart attacks among South Asians occur under the age of 50, and a quarter occur under the age of 40, often with no prior symptoms. Traditional risk factors do not account for South Asians suffering heart attacks at a greater rate and at an earlier age: this population does not have a higher incidence of cigarette smoking, obesity, hypertension or high blood pressure, and nearly half are lifelong vegetarians who exercise regularly. Laboratory tests can detect several factors that are better predictors of CAD; unfortunately, few doctors routinely screen South Asian men and women for these factors, and even traditional screenings are seldom performed at the appropriate age for this population. The body of knowledge on CAD among South Asians draws largely from the pioneering research of Dr. Enas Enas, director of the Coronary Artery Disease among Asian Indians (CADI) Research Foundation, and a member of the South Asian Heart Center's advisory board. According to Enas, "The South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital in Silicon Valley will be the first organization in the world to address this critical problem. This center will demonstrate the importance of early screening and prevention education to avoid cardiac catastrophes, and its impact will be felt in countries around the globe." Initially, the South Asian Heart Center will provide cardiac screenings for the identified risk factors in addition to prevention education and referrals to wellness providers. The center's education program will also inform the medical community about the need to adopt cardiac screening guidelines tailored to South Asians with the goal to have doctors prescribe, and insurers cover, routine tests of South Asian patients at a younger age for the specific predictors of heart disease among this population. For more information about the South Asian Heart Center, contact Nivisha Mehta, interim executive director, at (408) 323-9275 or nivisha@sbcglobal.net. Hills resident Alles donates $1 million to South Asian Heart Center at El Camino

About UsAbout Relief International

Founded in 1990, Relief International provides emergency, rehabilitation and development services that empower beneficiaries in the process. RI’s programs include health, shelter construction, education, community development, agriculture, food, income-generation, and conflict resolution. RI employs an innovative approach to program design and a high quality of implementation performance in demonstrating deep and lasting impact in reducing human suffering worldwide. Philosophy RI dedicates itself to seeking and addressing the long-term developmental needs of its beneficiaries even while in the emergency phase. The agency recognizes that disasters have the most negative impact on the lives of the poor; yet disasters, and especially the movement of the populations, can also bring about unexpected, positive social change. This context can therefore serve as a window of opportunity for eradicating poverty and social injustice. RI focuses on serving people who typically have not received due attention, and in several large-scale crises RI has been the first US-based agency to provide high-impact development emergency programming to communities in need. RI believes that as a humanitarian agency one of its main functions is to communicate the pronounced needs of the vulnerable and affected populations to the international community. RI thus consults closely with the local communities it serves in order to ensure that its programs do not impose solutions from the outside but rather address their needs and requirements for the long term. This grassroots approach proves effective in fostering an environment of self-help and sustainability. Staff and Organization RI attributes its program success to the organizational philosophy and mission that guides its programming, management, and institutional development, and to the hard work and dedication of its staff and volunteers that exemplifies a value driven organizational culture. RI thus recognizes and encourages the professional development of staff members, especially through the inclusion of national staff in the decision making process at every phase of project conception, development, and implementation. RI maintains the highest professional standards in program delivery and accountability to donors and beneficiaries. RI is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity with the US Federal Government, an implementing partner of the United Nations, and is registered as a private voluntary organization with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). RI is also a member of InterAction (the American Council for Voluntary International Action) and adheres to the operational guidelines set by this consortium. Board Members Name Role Organization Job Title Kamran Elahian Board Chairperson Global Catalyst Partners Chairperson Kitty Dukakis Board Member N/A Lecturer Zohre Elahian Board Member Global Catalyst Foundation Secretary John Gage Board Member Sun Microsystems Chief Researcher Steve Hansch Board Member Georgetown University Senior Associate James Moody Board Member Merrill Lynch Former US Congressman Farshad Rastegar Executive Director Relief International Executive Director Arthur F. Schneiderman Board Member Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati Senior Partner Bruce Tenenbaum Board Member Goldman, Sachs Private Client Services Malini Alles Board Member Street Foundation Founder Paul Costello Board Member Stanford University Executive Director About UsAbout Relief International

Benefit Concert Planned

Join prominent author and philosopher Dr. Deepak Chopra, Grammy-nominated singer Lisa Loeb, and philanthropist Dr. Malini Alles on February 20 for a major event benefiting the tsunami relief effort in south Asia. The event is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 20 at HP Pavilion in Downtown San Jose. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. Or, for more information about the event, Benefit Concert Planned

DCCC Launches Indian American Council

DCCC Launches Indian American Council New panel will work closely with Democratic leaders (Washington, D.C.) -- Today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced the formation of an Indian American Council to provide the party with valuable insight on a broad range of issues important to the Indian American community. Ro Khanna, appointed as chair of the Council by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, said “The creation of this council is a historic step for the Indian American Community, and attests to the party’s appreciation for what the community has contributed to this country. Leader Pelosi has once again demonstrated her extraordinary vision in harnessing the talent, passion, and energy of the community.” Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Chairman of the DCCC Business Council, said, “As the representative of one of the largest populations of Indian Americans in the United States and the former co-chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I am pleased that the DCCC shares my commitment to working with this important community. As we approach another critical election year, I feel confident that the partnership between the Indian American community and the DCCC will be essential to the victory of Democrats in key Congressional districts next November.” The Council will be sponsoring an inaugural issues conference entitled “Innovate America: A Vision for the 21st Century.” The conference will initiate a dialogue between leaders of the community and the Congressional leadership about ensuring that our country remains competitive and generates high quality jobs and new opportunities throughout the 21st century. It will take place on October 1, 2005 in Fremont, California. Actively working alongside Ro Khanna will be important community leaders, including Malini Alles, Mike Amin, Hitesh Bhakta, Ram Bhojwani, Swadesh Chatterjee, Navneet Chugh, Lutfe Hassan, Rajat Gupta, Kamil Hasan, Talat Hasan, Sridar Iyengar, Kailash Joshi, Ramesh Kapur, Vinod Khosla, Subroto Kundu, Anmol Mahal, Kumar Malavalli, Sima Patel, Suhas Patil, Sunil Puri, Parag Saxena, Bipin Shah, Smita Shah, Rekhi Singh, and Deven Verma. DCCC Launches Indian American Council

Malini Alles connects local activism with global women through her young organization

By May Chow AsianWeek Staff Writer From remote tribes, tiny villages, urban centers — the women all come for help with the same fatigued look in their eyes. Scared, embarrassed, ashamed, often too poor to afford sufficient health care, often too abused to look for help earlier. Put them all in one room, and no one would understand anyone else. They live thousands of miles away from one another and are in different continents and time zones. The common denominator among these women? Need. Malini Alles connects local activism with global women through her young organization

Ghana - CAMFED

In Northern Ghana, only 35% of girls ever attend primary school because the benefits of educating girls are not widely known. And, due to the high costs of school and supplies, as well as the need to support their families, those girls are dropping out in ever-increasing numbers. CamFed, working with RAINS, a local organization, is enrolling more girls in school and keeping them in school. To realize these goals, they work to involve communities by heightening awareness and increasing local participation and helping families meet the costs of school. Project Partners CAMFED CamFed, working with RAINS, a local organization, is enrolling more girls in school and keeping them in school. To realize these goals, they work to involve communities by heightening awareness and increasing local participation and helping families meet the costs of school. http://www.camfed.org Stree: Global Investments in Women Dr. Malini Alles and STREE: Global Investments in Women; The NetAid World Schoolhouse and CamFed are helping poor families send their children to school by providing support for school fees. http://www.streegiw.com/ Ghana - CAMFED

BAY AREA UNITES – Tsunami Fund

Event Background Our hearts go out to the hundreds of thousands of tsunami survivors who have lost their loved ones and are left homeless and destitute. From all estimates, tens of billions of dollars are required to prevent health calamities like cholera and to provide survival level resources to the large, struggling population as well as the reconstruction of property and businesses. Large areas of agricultural land have been washed away and will require years of effort and substantial funds for restoration. BAY AREA UNITES – Tsunami Fund In their tradition of extending support to people in need, Bay Area communities and organizations have decided to bring people together like never before. Prominent author and philosopher Dr. Deepak Chopra, Grammy-nominated singer Lisa Loeb and philanthropist Dr. Malini Alles will be among the personalities headlining a major Tsunami Relief event, February 20 at the HP Pavilion, San Jose. Former President Bill Clinton will make a video appearance. The event will benefit the victims of the tsunami in seven of the hardest hit countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, the Maldives, Malaysia and Somalia. The organizing group, called “Bay Area Unites” (www.BayAreaUnites.org), is a coalition of several business, civic, cultural and religious organizations. The Cities of San Jose, Milpitas Morgan Hill and Fremont are also co-sponsoring the event. “The Bay Area is a true melting pot of cultures from around the world, many from countries devastated by the tsunami,” said Vish Mishra, convener of the event. “Local groups are banding together to create an unprecedented event that will bring several thousand people together to continue the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of the recent Tsunami disaster,” said Mishra, Senior Venture Partner, Clearstone Venture Partners and a Director of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). Talat Hasan, Chairperson of India Community Center (ICC) said: “As a major participant of this event, we are extremely pleased with the enthusiastic response we are receiving from so many diverse Bay Area organizations who are actively engaged in producing and promoting this event.” Dr. Chopra will lead an Interfaith service, followed by a children’s program, music, entertainment, motivational speeches, and pledges for financial contributions to the Bay Area Unites – Tsunami Fund, said Hasan. The Mayor of Fremont Bob Wassermann said, “It is a great opportunity to be part of this multi-ethnic event that brings together a diverse population from the City, dedicated to providing relief for the millions of survivors of the tsunami.” The Vice-Mayor of San Jose, Cindy Chavez, added: “The City of San Jose is delighted to participate in this significant event that will draw together the Bay Area’s diverse cultures for such a worthy cause.” BAY AREA UNITES – Tsunami Fund

‘Bollywood/Hollywood’ Celebrates Double Vision

By Neela Banerjee AsianWeek In a relatively unpublicized U.S. premiere, acclaimed Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta’s latest film, Bollywood/Hollywood, opened at the Naz8 Cinemas in Fremont, Calif. The event was a fund-raiser sponsored by local nonprofit foundation Stree: Global Investments for Women, and benefited the San Mateo County Health Services’ program for at-risk teen mothers. A relatively new organization, Stree was founded in May 2001 by Dr. Malini Alles as a foundation dedicated to health care for women in poverty in the United States and internationally. “100 percent of the proceeds of this movie will go towards in-need teen mothers in San Mateo,” local journalist Hari Sreenivasan said in his introduction of Stree. “That’s a lot more good than if you went to see 8 Mile.” ‘Bollywood/Hollywood’ Celebrates Double Vision