Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Boston Chapter Announces 2026 Gala Featuring Vinita Gupta and Desh Deshpande
Annual Boston fundraiser spotlights school meal impact, community leadership, and a growing movement to end classroom hunger
BOSTON— The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Boston Chapter will host its annual fundraising gala on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The event will bring together civic leaders, philanthropists, and community advocates to advance the Foundation’s mission of improving access to education through school meal programs.
This year’s gala will feature distinguished guests Vinita Gupta, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, author, and journalist, and Desh Deshpande, Chairman Emeritus of The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA. Deshpande has been instrumental in introducing and expanding the Foundation’s work across the United States. The evening will also include a live musical performance by singer Shirish Nimgaonkar.
“Boston has always been a city that leads with heart and action,” said Rakesh Kamdar, Chapter Advisor for the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Boston Chapter. “This gala brings together leaders and changemakers committed to scaling a proven solution that ensures children have the nourishment they need to succeed.”
The event is powered by a network of dedicated volunteers and youth ambassadors who play a critical role in driving awareness, strengthening community engagement, and inspiring future leaders to address classroom hunger.
Event Highlights
Attendees can expect an evening centered on impact and collaboration, including:
- A program showcasing the measurable impact of school meal initiatives
- Opportunities for sponsorship and partnership with local businesses and community leaders
- A call to action for donors and advocates to support the fight against classroom hunger
- Keynote remarks from Vinita Gupta and Desh Deshpande
- A musical performance by Shirish Nimgaonkar
Recognizing Community Support
The Boston Chapter also expressed appreciation for the strong support received over the past year, particularly for the success of the 2025 Boston Golf Tournament. Special thanks were extended to Parina Deva and the Deva family for their leadership in organizing the event and advancing the chapter’s mission. Their contributions, along with those of corporate and community partners, continue to drive meaningful progress.
Acknowledging Leadership and Volunteers
The chapter recognized the dedication of its leadership team and volunteers, including:
- Dr. Manju Sheth, Boston Community Ambassador
- Rajeev Jain, Chapter Chair
- Samantha Ganglani, Chapter Chair
- Yoshika Sherring, Chapter Chair
- Ajita Bhat, Chapter Chair
- Nidhi Singhal, Chapter Chair
- Bela Chandhok, Chapter Chair
- Venkat Kolluri, Chapter Chair and Youth Coordinator
- Neena Grover, Executive Team and Youth Coordinator
- Rakesh Kamdar, Chapter Advisor
Event Details
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Time: 4:00 PM EST
- Venue: Burlington Marriott, 1 Burlington Mall Rd, Burlington, MA 01803
- Tickets and Sponsorships: https://give.apusa.org/event/akshaya-patra-usa-boston-gala-2026/e762454
The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA is a non-profit organization working to eliminate classroom hunger in India by providing free mid-day meals to over 2.35 million children across more than 24,000 government schools each day. With 78 centralized kitchens and over 5 billion meals served, it is the largest school meal program in the world. For more information, visit https://www.apusa.org.
