Fundraising is going to be a very important activity throughout the course of the Culinary Institute Project, since it is such a large and expensive project, conservatively estimated to have a budget of some 50 million dollars. Since so much funding is required, we are hereby announcing the formation of the “Lakṣmīprasād Battalion,” a group of dedicated fundraisers. Regarding the name, the Goddess of Fortune was born out of the Churning of the Milk Ocean, and prasād is obviously at the forefront of this Project. Membership in the Lakṣmīprasād Battalion is based on an interest in fundraising for the Project, and would certainly be completely legitimate for any pickers, and for anyone who has some kind of fundraising scheme they would like to carry out. The arrangement is a 50-50 split of the fundraising revenues, in general accordance with the directions given by Srila Rūpa Gosvāmī. We will provide official Ocean of Milk Foundation IDs to Members of the Lakṣmīprasād Battalion.
This seems like a good time to mention just how seriously Srila Prabhupada took effective fundraising. Tamal Kṛṣṇa Goswami was the first to very effectively fundraise using Back to Godheads, raising $1500 in one month, and he was very shortly thereafter made the first ever GBC Member. Or there is Srila Prabhupada’s nickname for Gargamuni Prabhu, Garga-money. There are many other examples that could be given. Srila Prabhupada saw effective fundraising as very practical. So everyone reading this should take the fundraising very, very seriously, and play whatever part they can.
Sometimes we hear of fundraisers that claim they are fundraising to help feed hungry kids, and it is worth noting that fundraising for this Project would quite likely reach hungry kids in the end. As a factual matter, Food for Life training is a part of the proposed training program, and there are already many Food for Life programs being operated throughout the world, helping to feed hungry kids… and hungry adults too!
So we would encourage any pickers out there to get on board and join the Lakṣmīprasād Battalion, and we are sure that they will feel very wonderful about contributing in this way. Srila Prabhupada used to have his Temple Presidents swear an Oath of Allegiance, so we can do similarly here with an “Rupa Goswami Oath” to honestly split the proceeds 50-50, and we will get an official ID out to those who take the Oath. Just don’t get us in any trouble.
Any other kinds of fundraising ideas, like fundraising dinners, or anything else, are all certainly legitimate. We have a few ideas already in the Project, like with the Mystic Orders, and with the various art products that are available. For Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial celebration, there was the Kailash idea, with the water from 1008 sacred rivers. So there are many possibilities, and if you think you have a good fundraising scheme, we encourage you to expertly carry it out, and we will be happy to get you an official Lakṣmīprasād Battalion ID as well.
During the celebrations at the Grand Opening of the Culinary Institute there will be a special dinner hosted for the Members of the Lakṣmīprasād Battalion who have raised at least 10,008 dollars over the course of the Project. All of these will also be called up and recognized before all the guests in attendance at the Grand Opening Speech. Last but not least, the very top fundraiser will be honored with a special award, the “Lakṣmīprasād Award,” again in front of the assembled guests.
To those who are reading this, and considering joining up, we would ask that you think about these kinds of things. If we are going to hold artistic competitions, we must have funds to pay out prizes. If we are going to build a campus, we must first buy a large parcel of land somewhere, and it is going to cost a lot. So support the artists, and support buying a nice campus property for the Culinary Institute of the Kitchen Religion. How can you go wrong?
Those interested in being an Official Lakṣmīprasād Battalion Fundraiser please contact Project Commander Ṅeṅkaḥ devī at nenkah24@gmail.com, and she will get you all set up.