Our Mission: To identify and address social, cultural and educational NEEDS of North American Telugu Community in particular and Telugu people in general.

Telugu Association of North America (or TANA, as it is well known) is the oldest and biggest Indo-American organization in North America. TANA was founded at a convention in New York in 1977 of Telugus from all over North America and was incorporated in 1978 as a not-for-profit organization. TANA’s mission is to identify and address social, cultural and educational needs of North American Telugu Community in particular and Telugu people in general. TANA aims to perpetuate, integrate, and assimilate the cultural heritage of the Telugu-speaking people into the mainstream of North America. Telugu and Indian ethnic organizations around the world look up to TANA as a pioneer and role model for its various innovations in promoting culture and serving the community.

During its 35-year history, TANA has distinguished itself through its various activities in pursuit of its mission in North America and India. It plays an important role in developing, nurturing, preserving, and propagating arts specific to the Telugu people. TANA invites eminent Telugu singers, musicians, dancers, actors, painters, sculptors, poets, and other eminent artists so that Telugu people across North America as well as the local connoisseurs can savor the brilliance of Telugu culture and arts. TANA conducts singing and dancing competitions for Telugu youngsters across North America and showcases their talents at the grand biannual conventions. TANA conventions, the gold standards for such ethnic events, gather thousands of Telugus at one place strengthening strong social bonds and creating an environment for the preservation and growth of Telugu culture. TANA’s pioneering sponsorship of Telugu Folk Arts Festivals over the last 15 years helped revive and sustain the dying traditional art forms. TANA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Telugus in various fields thru its Awards for Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

TANA takes pride in its efforts to preserve and propagate the Telugu language. TANA established and supported several teaching programs in Telugu at various US universities and instituted educational scholarships for needy students. TANA’s biannual novel and short story competitions and sponsorship of publications have acted as a catalyst for new trends in Telugu literature. In addition to publishing rare and important works in Telugu, TANA helped introduce modern Telugu poetry as well as the Telugu classics like Kanyasulkam to non-Telugu speakers thru its subvention of English translations.

TANA played an important strategic role in Telugu being recognized by the Government of India as a classical language. TANA recognizes people striving to promote and preserve Telugu language by honoring them with the Gidugu Ramamurty Pantulu Award. TANA’s support was crucial in the development of important information technology tools for Telugu ranging from the first set of Telugu fonts placed in the public domain in 1995 to the recent searchable Telugu dictionaries on line.

TANA Foundation, the charitable arm of TANA, spends millions of dollars each year in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India, home to Telugu people, in pursuit of useful and essential projects in literacy, education, sanitation, disease prevention, health promotion and rehabilitation. TANA Foundation’s Project Envision is well known for the help it provided in restoring eyesight of thousands of rural people. In 2005 and 2009, TANA helped build colonies of homes for people devastated by tsunamis and floods. TANA has founded and maintains a rehabilitation home for street children in Vijayawada. The many projects sponsored by TANA Foundation include the building of libraries, schools, temples, roads and protected water supply systems.

TANA is engaged in many social activities in North America as well. Many members volunteer their time, efforts and other resources to community service. Every year, TANA presents backpacks and other school supplies to children in low income school districts in various cities across North America. TANA members help conduct health camps and take part in disaster relief activities across the world. The many volunteers of TANA Emergency Assistance Management Team (TEAM Square) are well known for their tireless efforts in assisting distressed North American Telugus in times of catastrophe. Thru its Business Conferences, TANA nurtures and encourages entrepreneurship among Telugus.

Become a Life Member of TANA today and join a community of successful professionals and entrepreneurs working together to preserve their culture and serve the society!