Akshaya Patra raises $3 million, the highest ever, at tri-state gala to help end hunger in Indian classrooms

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The Tri-State Annual Gala hosted by renowned non-profit Akshaya Patra on October 12, 2024, at Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott, was an enormous success.

The event raised $3 million from the 500 attendees and through its silent auction, Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, who heads the tri-state chapter, told Desi Talk.

Headlined by high profile guests and performers, as well as video presentations about the experiences of beneficiaries from initiatives undertaken by the organization, comes in the wake of the United Nations recognizing Akshay Patra this April. The UN honored Akshay Patra for meeting the two major sustainability goals of the international body – eradicating hunger and expanding quality education.

At the New Jersey event, attendees and supporters got to explore how they could actively contribute to Akshaya Patra’s “mission of eradicating classroom hunger.” The event was billed as “A Night of Generosity: Help Us Feed the Future” in the publicity material circulated prior to the event.

The Keynote speaker at the event was Niren Chaudhary, chairman/CEO Panera Brands FMR. The Guest of Honor was India’s Consul General in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, who inaugurated the event with a lamp lighting ceremony. The emcee and entertainer for the evening’s proceedings was comedian Rajiv Satyal.

“The $3 million raised is the highest amount raised so far ever. People were so generous,” Dr. Rachana Kulkarni said. “And our recognition by the UN had a deep impression on people.”

Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, opened the event, welcoming guests. She dwelt on the mission of Akshaya Patra and shared a video about the organization’s achievements. “The history of modern civilization has shown us that education is the biggest determinant of societal progress. And educating and empowering girls certainly magnifies that effect,” she said in her speech. “By now cumulatively we have served 4 billion meals – & to put it in perspective that means so far we have fed ½ of the world once already,” she pointed out.

Keynote speaker Chaudhary shared his personal story about the loss of his daughter (also made into the film The Sky is Pink), and his journey to date. He showed it was possible to change a personal challenge to strive for success. But one does not have to suffer a tragedy to do good. “Try to do good because you don’t know what curve-balls life can throw at you,” Chaudhary  emphasized. Some of his memorable words included, “Focus on what you can do and not what’s happening to you.” and “If you can’t change your own life, there’s always someone else’s.”

Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, and Senior Advisor to Akshaya Patra Tri-State, told Desi Talk, the initiatives taken by this organization were admirable. “They feed 2.2 million children a hot meal every day. That brings children to school, where they get a quality education, and uplift the whole family,” Dr. Parikh said, adding “We encourage everyone to open hearts and wallets, and go to the site to donate. The goal is to reach 3 million children daily in the next 5 years.”

Other speakers included Dr. Anand Kulkarni and Biren Shah, co-organizers of the event. Dr. Anand Kulkarni spoke of the “Power of 20” explaining how a mere $20 could feed a child in school for a whole year. Biren Shah talked of how the tri-state Akshaya Patra chapter has become the leading one in the US. He thanked the family of volunteers who had made that possible, and turned the goals into a movement in the area.

At the event, big donors Adish and Asha Jain, Roopa and Subhash Makhija, Sanjeev and Sonal Bagaria, and Anju and Sanjiv Ahuja were felicitated for their philanthropy.

“The silent auction was also a success,” Dr. Rachana Kulkarni told Desi Talk, noting that fashion designer Anita Dongre had donated a lehnga for the auction, among the many other items that were auctioned.

Akshaya Patra began its work in the Year 2000, “with a simple vision that no child in India should be deprived of education because of hunger.” Its work soon showed high retention rates. Over the years, it began feeding 10,000 kids and then 100,000, and then a million, till today when 2.2 million children are beneficiaries in 23,000 schools in India across 75 locations.