Welcome to Karuna Institute, an Illinois nonprofit that helps support orphanages in Ukraine and Russia, as well as providing support to other important foundations such as Ireland's Barretstown Camp and starting in 2010, Thailand's Blood Foundation and its efforts to help the refugee parents and children of the conflict in Burma and Northern Thailand.

Karuna is a Pali and Sanskrit word. It is translanted to mean any action that is taken to diminish the suffering of others and could also be translated as "compassionate action."  As we help others, all of us benefit. Because of the oneness of all beings, it is understood that karuna is not only extended to others out of compassion, but also because it is an entirely logical thing to do. In the same way that you would want to limit your own suffering, you would also want the suffering of others to end. It is also stated  that karuna must be accompanied by prajna, or wisdom, in order to have the right effect.