Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta of Illinois

Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta, Illinois, started in 1973, is a not-for-profit organization catering to the needs of Kannadigas (persons from Karnataka State in India or those whose ancestors are from Karnataka state) of Illinois. The purpose of the organization is to organize meetings, promote cultural activities for adults as well as youth born and growing in USA, and support various humanitarian causes. Kannada Kuta organizes to celebrate three major festivals (Ugadi, Ganesha, and Deepavali) in addition to yearly picnic, and charitable trust fund raising events. It is a voluntary organization primarily run by memberships and donations from interested people. During the past 30 years Vidyaranya Kannada Kuta has organized numerous cultural activities and has actively participated in various community events. It has been instrumental in the promotion the language, culture, arts and literature of Karnataka. It has hosted "Midwest Kannadigara Sammilana" in 1987 and celebrated its 25 years of existence in 1997. Kannada Kuta started a charitable fund in 1993. Kannada Kuta Charitable Fund makes contributions to charitable organizations classifiable as non-sectarian, non-political and non-profit, catering to humanitarian needs, in India and to a small extent in U.S.A.