President Dr. Abdul Kalam inaugurated the new facility of Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation (CCF), today, 10 June at Jubillee Hills Check post, and released the first Vision document of the foundation.

"Its like my climax shot of Rudraveena coming true" Founder and President of CCF, actor Chiranjeevi said "at that time when my director K.Balachandar narrated the scene I thought that it is was very unreal that the Prime Minister would come to felicitate a common man for his deeds. But today, when the President of India. Dr. Abdul Kalam has come in person to inaugurate this foundation; I feel that Balachandar was right in his vision. I started the blood bank when I realized how many people were dying due to the lack of blood donors. We should not wait for our leaders to take the first step. So I motivated my fans to participate in this honorable cause and today tanks to my fans and the government's co operation, I am glad to say that the CCT has won the 'Best Voluntary Blood Bank' award for three years in a row. The credit also goes to Allu Arvind, he is the back bone of this Trust".

He went on to narrate an incident about a small HIV infected girl he had met during an AIDS awareness program. The girl, who's HIV infected parents had died, was ignored by her own grandmother and family after they came to know that she was infected with the deadly virus. This incident, Chiranjeevi said, made him want to take an initiative to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS and motivate people to spread love and caring among the HIV affected population, especially kids. "I joined the HEROES PROJECT to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. I am so completely in awe of our President, Dr.Abdul Kalam who has done so much for our country. Still he is so humble despite his achievements, that although it is not protocol, I wanted and did take his blessings by touching his feet".

"I am happy that I visited the CCF today" Honorable President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam said "Chiranjeevi is doing excellent work by taking up such a social cause and motivating people to do the same. Now I would like to relate to you two incidents which speak of the true human spirit. Last year when I attended the Confederation of Indian Industries, I asked the people present to mail me their answers to two of my questions. What have I learnt so far? and What I will be remembered for?. Of all the answers that I received one reply made me very happy. It was from a lady, Asha Ramayya, who worked as an National Advocacy Officer that deals with spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

In reply to my first question she said 'the true learning of my life started after I came to know that I was HIV positive in 1995. My husband and family deserted me. But I did not lose heart. I started spreading awareness about AIDS and also counseled people on their personal problems. My parents became proud of me and the society accepted me. I married an HIV patient in 2003 and we waited for the right time to give birth to an AIDS free child and now I gladly take up the responsibility of planning the future of my kid. I would like all the HIV infected parents to know about this and follow it'. In reply to my second question she said that people will remember her for the courage with which she fought the disease. That is the indomitable human spirit.

Another incident was when a young Iranian boy, Mustafa, who had two artificial limbs, met me at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, on November 26th in 2003, when I interacted with some physically challenged children. He narrated a Persian poem, titled Courage and it went like this 'I don't have legs, but I have a great will power, I don't even bow in front of a king'. I would also like to tell, just like one great Tamil poet said about a Lilli flower that grows and blossoms despite the depth and murkiness of the water that surrounds it. People should not give in to the problems but face them and overcome them".

"The demand- supply for blood donors has minimized by 65% as opposed to 33% that was present before the CCF was started in 1997" Managing Trustee of CCF, Allu Arvind said "with the aggressive promotion that Chiranjreevi had undertaken for blood donation, the CCF has managed to bridge the gap between the demand and supply for blood to a large extent. To date the CCF has provided 67,000 units of blood to the needy and we are aiming for 1 lakh blood units by the end of 2007. Naga Babu and Swamy Naidu (Chiranjeevi fan's association president) have also contributed a lot towards the growth of CCF." Speaking of the CCF's eye donation facility he continued "1600 people are able to see again because of CCF and 3.5 Lakh people have pledged their eyes so far. CCF is working in collaboration with Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy (Maxi Vision) and Prasad Eye Institute for the eye donations." He also thanked President Dr. Abdul Kalam for inaugurating the new facility.

"Our President is a great source of inspiration to both adults and kids alike. It is Chiranjeevi's wish to see that CCF provides 1000 free cornea operations" Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy said "he is very much committed to the society and that commitment has only increased after he won the Padma Bhushan. We have performed 210 such operations so far. We will soon have state of the art eye donation facilities in our premises".

Along with family and friends of the megastar, prominent city doctors Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao and Dr. Soma Raju were also present on the occasion.