Official Website of PENN Radiology

Sridhar R. Charagundla Educational Fund

sridhar sridhar sridhar sridhar sridhar This past June our friend and colleague Sridhar R. Charagundla, MD PhD, passed away unexpectedly at age 35 and leaving behind his wonderful wife Jyothsna and his two beautiful daughters Mallika, age 4 years, and Tejasvi ,age 5 months.

Sridhar was a truly accomplished physician and scientist, with an excellence in teaching and commitment to the advancement of medicine. In addition, he was exceptionally kind and unfaltering in his loyalty to his family and friends. Sridhar embodied all that you could hope for in a friend, colleague and mentor.

There have been many who have expressed a desire to reach out to Sridhar’s young family in this time of tragedy and great loss. This is to inform you that a mechanism is now in place to contribute to two fund accounts created by Sridhar’s wife and dedicated to the education of their two daughters. The funds are in the form of two 529 accounts.

As a tribute to this remarkable individual who tragically has been taken from our community and his young family too soon, let us contribute to this educational fund. In this way we support his legacy, his two young daughters so that they may follow in the footsteps of their remarkable father.

Below are the answers to commonly asked questions regarding the process of donation:

What is a 529 Account?
A 529 is a financial mechanism created by the federal government to allow tax-free accrual of fund earnings for the purpose of educational-related expenses.

What is the target goal?
Based on calculations of projected educational-related expenses, a target goal of $100, 000 per child (total of $200, 000) has been set. There will be approximately 80 HUP Radiology faculty contacted to provide the opportunity to contribute to these funds.

How do I donate?

Split your donation between two checks each made out to CollegeAmerica.
In the memo section of the check write the name of Sridhar’s daughters, one check for Tejasvi Charagundla and the other for Mallika Charagundla.
Write your name on the return address area on the outside of your envelope.
Mail (or hand deliver) to:

Charagundla Educational Fund
c/o Howard Butowsky
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Radiology Administration
1 Silverstein Building
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

How does donation process work?
Your check in sealed envelope will be received by Howard Butowsky in the Department of Radiology and batch forwarded unopened to Sridhar’s financial manager. The financial manager will then deposit the checks into the 529 accounts for the girls.

How do I know that my check was received?
Your name will be recorded as a donator and a letter will be sent by the family thanking you for your contribution. Your cancelled check will also serve as a confirmation.

Still have questions?
Feel free to contact: Charagundla Educational Fund Committee at Sharyn.Katz@uphs.upenn.edu