About Us
Vision:
Cents of Relief endeavors to allow vulnerable populations, particularly women in prostitution and their children, access to healthcare and prevention from human trafficking. Our projects are dedicated towards providing educational opportunities, improving healthcare, and stopping human trafficking in hopes of permitting these individuals to enjoy the basic necessities of life.
History:
Cents of Relief came into existence in 2003 endeavoring to reduce health problems and human trafficking in the red-light areas of India. Anup Patel and Rina Patel co-founded the 501(c)3 charity using their scholarship money from awards they had received as undergraduates. Shortly afterwards, NFL player Max Starks joined the organization and utilized his celebrity status for attracting awareness to HIV/AIDS victims in India. Dominique Vincent and Christy Garg, two attorneys, and Justin Watzka, an entrepreneur, joined Cents of Relief's board of directors lending their expertise in their respective fields. Together, with our donors and volunteers, we are rescuing and rehabilitating women and children in prostitution and striving to prevent the human trafficking.
The funds and supplies raised by Cents of Relief provide women in prostitution and their children healthcare access, educational and vocational opportunities, and nutritional support. More specifically, Cents of Relief sends children of women in prostitution to boarding schools, hires part-time doctors at local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and feeds the malnourished in the area. Yet, we require your help to alleviate the atrocities occurring in the red-light areas. Cents of Relief can utilize your contributions in its effort to reduce health problems and human trafficking.
Leadership:
Board of Directors
Anup Patel
Anup helped co-found Cents of Relief after volunteering with women in prostitution and their children in the red-light districts. He continues to work to improve the health within these areas by staging workshops supported by Cents of Relief. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and received his M.D. and M.B.A. from Yale University. He is currently a resident at Yale University in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Rina Patel
As a student at the University of Florida, Rina teamed with Anup in creating the web presence of Centsofrelief.org which became the International nonprofit, Cents of Relief. She obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science at the University of Florida. Rina is currently working in for a Software Company specializing in Product Development in Boston, Massachusetts.
Justin Watzka
Justin organizes and chairs Cents of Relief's fund-raising events including its annual golf tournament, silent auction, and rummage sale. With the help of his friends, Justin continues to create long-term campaigns helping Cents of Relief battle human trafficking and health problems globally. He graduated from Cornell University and currently works for Marriott International in Hong Kong.
Christy Brook Garg
Christy develops the educational and literacy programs of Cents of Relief. She has launched many of these initiatives in India including the eMentoring Project. Christy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.
Max Starks
Max's ties with the National Football League (NFL) help him assist Cents of Relief in disseminating knowledge about child prostitution. He continues to advocate for the termination of human trafficking speaking to various media outlets and corporations how it engenders child prostitution. Max graduated from the University of Florida and is currently the starting tackle for the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dominique Vincent
Dominique assists Cents of Relief in lobbying for women's and children's rights by representing the charity at various conferences and forums. Dominique obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is currently the Assistant Corporation Counsel for New York City.
Board of Advisors
Ruchira Gupta
Ms. Gupta is a leading expert in anti-trafficking lobbying with governments worldwide to prevent the trafficking of women and children. She has won an Emmy for her documentary "The Selling of Innocence" that details the trafficking of children from the Indo-Nepal Border. She is currently the director of a non-governmental organization that strives to end human prostitution.
Elleanor Starks
Ms. Starks is a leading advocate for women's healthcare rights. As a survivor of breast cancer, Mrs. Starks organizes galas to raise money and awareness about breast cancer. She is currently the President of the Steel City Football Moms, the Chunky Campbell Soup Team Mom of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Executive Director of the Max Starks Charitable Fund-Pittsburgh Foundation.
Achievements @ A Glance:
Cents of Relief would like to extend our appreciation to our donors and supporters for enabling the organization to provide women in prostitution and their children healthcare access, educational and vocational opportunities, and nutritional support.
Healthcare Access:
- Treated burn patients by releasing contractures (hypertrophic scarring) restoring hand, lower extremity, and neck function
- Paid for physicians including obstetric and gynecologists and pediatricians to allow women and children monthly check-ups and for the necessary medical interventions
Conducted health workshops in red-light areas to educating women in prostitution about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS
Distributed medicines for treating common illnesses (diarrhea, flu, anemia) and hygiene kits (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, and nailcutters)
Educational and Vocational Opportunities:
- Obtained admission for numerous children into boarding schools removing them from the high-risk red-light area
- Purchased school supplies for children including textbooks, notebooks, crayons, paint, paintbrushes and pencils
- Started teaching women in prostitution how to make incoming-generating handicrafts (purses, bags, ornaments, etc.) to empower them to leave behind prostitution
- Implemented English and computer classes for both women in prostitution and their children improving entering other vocations and school, respectively
Nutritional Support:
- Serve lunch and dinner for the malnourished
- Provide after-school snacks for children before
Contact CoR:
Cents of Relief
109 Church Street, #202
New Haven, CT 06510
email: cor(AT)centsofrelief.org
Nonprofit Documents:
Media:
Nicholas Kristof On the Ground: Sex Trafficking in India
June 29, 2007
Vision of Cents of Relief
September 22, 2005
University of Florida Spotlights Cents of Relief
May 2004
Florida Leader Magazine
April 17, 2004
Florida Leader Magazine
March 2004
Gainesville Sun
February 13, 2004
USA Today
February 11, 2004
University of Florida recognizes Cents of Relief
India Abroad
November 2003
UF Football assisting families in the Red-light
September 23, 2003
NCAA Exceptional Student Athlete starts International Non-profit with Friends
August 10, 2003
