Pratham’s Fall Galas Across Six U.S. Cities Rally Support for Learning Without Limits
Featuring NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and performances by Jeffrey Iqbal, Suhani Shah and Daniel David, the fundraising events will help expand access to quality education for more than 530,000 children worldwide.
BOSTON— Pratham USA brought together supporters, community leaders and philanthropists across six U.S. cities this fall, raising awareness and mobilizing support for its mission to ensure that every child is in school and learning well.
Held in Austin, Seattle, Boston, the Mid-Atlantic region, New York City and Chicago, Pratham’s fall galas centered on the theme “Learning Without Limits,” celebrating the transformative power of education and its ability to expand opportunities for children and young people.
The events featured inspirational speakers, live performances and opportunities for supporters to engage with Pratham’s work in India and around the world. Proceeds from the fall gala season will help support more than 530,000 children through the organization’s education programs.
One of the highlights came at the New York City gala, where Sunita Williams, retired NASA astronaut, shared her remarkable journey from the classroom to space. Her story illustrated how education, perseverance and access to opportunity can help individuals overcome barriers and achieve ambitious goals.
Williams’ participation reinforced the gala’s central message that learning can open doors to possibilities that might otherwise seem out of reach. Her experience as an astronaut offered an inspiring example of how knowledge, determination and continued learning can shape extraordinary personal and professional journeys.
The celebrations also featured performances by Jeffrey Iqbal, Suhani Shah and Daniel David, adding entertainment to evenings dedicated to educational opportunity and social impact.
Beyond the festivities, the galas served a broader purpose: mobilizing resources to strengthen access to quality education for children and young people. Pratham said the support generated through this fall’s events will contribute to programs reaching more than 530,000 children in India and other parts of the world.
Founded on the belief that every child deserves to attend school and learn effectively, Pratham has expanded its work to reach more than 5 million children and young people annually. Its programs focus on improving foundational learning and helping students develop the skills they need to progress in school and beyond.
Among the organization’s best-known initiatives is Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), an approach that groups children according to their learning levels rather than relying solely on their age or grade. The method focuses on strengthening foundational reading and mathematics skills through targeted instruction.
Pratham’s TaRL approach was selected as one of five finalists for the MacArthur Foundation’s 2025 100&Change competition. It also received Academy Choice recognition in the 2026 HundrED Global Collection, earning the highest scores in impact and scalability, according to the organization.
Pratham’s work has received international recognition through awards including the WISE Prize for Education, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Yidan Prize for Education Development, the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award, the Henry R. Kravis Leadership Prize, the Asia Game Changer Award and the Lui Che Woo Prize.
In the United States, Pratham USA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with 14 chapters that raise awareness, build community engagement and mobilize financial support for its educational initiatives. The organization relies heavily on volunteers, chapter leaders, gala committees and donors to sustain its fundraising and outreach efforts.
Pratham USA also reports receiving a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, which recognizes nonprofit organizations for financial management and accountability.
As the six-city gala season concluded, the organization thanked its supporters, chapter leaders, organizing committees and volunteers for helping make the events possible. Their contributions, Pratham said, will help extend educational opportunities to children who need them most.
The fall galas underscored how community-driven philanthropy can support efforts to improve learning outcomes on a global scale. By bringing together supporters across the United States around a shared commitment to education, Pratham continues to advance its vision of a world where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential.
