Fokana is an umbrella organization of Malayalee associations in North America and Canada. Since its inception in 1983, Fokana has earned its reputation and received global recognition. It seeks to preserve the North American Malayalee integrity and promotes the Kerala Cultural identity. Recently, it has emerged as the biggest socio-cultural organization of the Malayalees outside Kerala. The first recorded arrival of an Indian visitor to America (Salem, Massachusetts) was on December 29, 1790. Ever since, people from India have settled in United States. The immigration Act of 1960 gave an impetus to this. According to the latest census, there are 1.3 million Indian Americans in the U.S of which around 500,000 are Keralites. Several of these sons and daughters of Kerala have been recognized in American public life for their outstanding professional excellence.