Non-profit Akshay Patra raises nearly $3 million at virtual gala

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The Akshaya Patra Foundation raised $2.85 Million at the Philanthropy for Change virtual gala Aug. 29, 2020. The funds raised will provide COVID relief to migrant workers, including cooked meals, ration boxes for families and Happiness Boxes containing 30 days worth of food, hygiene products, and education supplies to the organization’s mid-day meal beneficiaries, a Sept. 2 press release from Akshay Patra said.

“This is an amazing example of how our supporters have come together more than ever before to provide relief from hunger,” Vandana Tilak, CEO of Akshaya Patra Foundation is quoted saying in the press release. “Children generally are unable to get a proper meal when schools are closed, but in these times, entire families are starving when their parents have lost jobs.”

Around 1,000 technology professionals and businesses, non-profits, government officials, and philanthropic leaders worldwide attended The Philanthropy of Change event, the organization said.

Ramamurthy Sivakumar, Co-Founder of Pragya Ventures, hosted the evening and led speakers through a discussion about giving back to vulnerable communities.

Philanthropist and social worker, Sudha Murthy held a conversation about how sharing and giving back is impactful, no matter how big or small.

Long-time Akshaya Patra supporters Chef Sanjeev Kapoor spoke of how he is inspired by Akshay Patra’s work with children in India.

Throughout the event, the famous musician and composer Shankar Mahadevan added to the conversation and performed several of his favorite songs.

The event celebrated the beneficiaries, volunteers, chapter teams from the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Portland, Las Vegas, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, and San Diego.

Established in 2000, Akshaya Patra says it is the world’s largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in more than 19,257 schools through 55 kitchens in 12 states and two Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year, it says.