Our group began as an unofficial gathering of Gurung people in Los Angeles, meeting to celebrate traditional Gurung and Nepalese festivals and to support each other through culture shock in our new home in the United States. As time went on, we felt a responsibility to do more: In 2006 we incorporated in the State of California as a nonprofit public benefit corporation the Los Angeles Gurung (Tamu) Society, Inc. In 2007 we were granted tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit status as a private operating foundation (32-0187844). Our mission is to preserve, encourage and enhance social and cultural heritage, welfare, education and cooperation among Gurung (Tamu) people living in and outside of the United States. We aim to fulfill this purpose by, among other things, hosting educational and cultural activities in the US (such as art and dance performance events and workshops highlighting the history and culture of Gurung people), and raising funds to help restore and support schools in impoverished and remote Gurung villages in..