Kanchana and Jagadeesan Poola, residents of Old Westbury, Long Island, were recently honored by Federation of Tamils in North America (FeTNA) for their continued generous support of over four decades towards the empowerment of Tamils. On behalf of FeTNA, New York Tamil Sangam presented the award at Southern Spice, New Hyde Park, as the couple could not attend the FeTNA 2025 convention.
Kanchana and Jagadeesan Poola are well known for their altruistic contributions to several educational, health and religious organizations. Their notable support helped establish the Tamil Chair at Harvard University. A new campus building dedicated to their names at Xavier University, School of Medicine, Aruba; Hindu Temple Society; Shani Temple; Rotary Club of Hicksville South; A Lotus in Mud etc. are few of many dozen organizations that have benefited through their generosity.
The philanthropic duo were featured as The South Asian Times-Couple of the Decade in 2022. (Photo courtesy: TSAT File)
Poolas are actively engaged in social and cultural affairs and known as a community powerhouse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they contributed to relief efforts, including the provision of oxygen concentrators in India and the conversion of a school into a COVID-19 hospital in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. Their contributions to the Tamil community towards art, literature, culture, and language will be remembered for generations. Their children, Anusuya, Amudha, and Anand, are always supportive of their noble social endeavors.
In 2016, Rotary International Dist. 7255 and in 2019, Indo American Press Club honored them with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
With beautiful, golden hearts and helping hands, the Poolas are paragons of humanitarianism. The South Asian Times bestowed the Long Island-based couple with its highest accolade, declaring them The South Asian Times-Couple of the Decade in 2022.
