BURLINGTON, MA – The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA, a global leader in providing hot, unlimited mid-day meals to over 2.2 million children every day, will honor LOCAL authors Shaleen Sheth, Dr. Deepa Jhaveri, Dr. Manju Sheth, and Dr. Kedar Gupta at its upcoming Akshaya Patra Boston Gala.
The event will be held on Sunday. April 28, 2024, at the Burlington Marriott hotel in Burlington, MA, and will be headlined by keynote speaker Dr. Neeli Bendapudi, President, Penn State University along with Akshaya Patra Board Member, entrepreneur and philanthropist Desh Deshpande, to celebrate the remarkable contributions of these authors and long-term supporters of Akshaya Patra and communities in Boston and beyond.
Shaleen Sheth, Dr. Jhaveri, and Dr. Sheth, co-authors of “Women Who Win: Real Stories, Real Women: Inspiration, Resilience, and Ambition from Women Around The World,” have been instrumental in amplifying the voices of diverse and inspiring women across the globe, Akshaya Patra said in a statement.
“Their work has created a platform for stories of success, resilience, and ambition, showcasing the powerful impact women have in various fields and communities,” the statement said.
Mr. Gupta, Ph D, the author of “Carving My Destiny: Lessons from My Entrepreneurial Ventures,” will also be honored for his captivating narrative on entrepreneurship and innovation. His journey from arriving in New York City with just $5 to founding a global leader in the solar industry is not only inspiring but a testament to the power of perseverance and vision, the statement said.
“We are delighted to honor these remarkable authors at our Boston Gala,” said Rakesh Kamdar, advisor for Akshaya Patra USA. “Their stories of resilience, ambition, and innovation align with Akshaya Patra’s mission of empowering communities and fostering positive change to accomplish ‘No child shall be deprived of education due to hunger’ mission. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and sharing their inspiring journeys with our guests.”
Throughout the years, hundreds have attended the Gala to help support the underserved children of India. Last year, thousands of dollars were raised resulting in the support of over 45,000 children for a full calendar year of school meals.
The event, coordinated by the Boston Chapter Co-Chairs Ajita Bhat, Bela Chandok, Rajeev Jain, Samantha Ganglani, Yoshika Sherring and Venkat Kolluri, with the support of Chapter Advisor, Rakesh Kamdar, Dr. Manju Sheth, Nidhi Singhal, Neena Grover, Dr. Smita Patel, Dr. Megha Joshi and many other committee members, aims to raise funds for the Foundation’s mission.
Since its establishment in 2000, Akshaya Patra has served over 3.5 billion meals to school children in India, with 72 kitchens operating in 16 States and 2 Union Territories. The organization’s innovative approach and commitment to making a positive impact have allowed it to serve over 2.2 million meals daily to government school children. In response to the COVID-19 lockdown in India, Akshaya Patra has served more than 240 million meals to migrant workers and vulnerable communities.
Akshaya Patra website: www.akshayapatrausa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akshayapatrausa/ Instagram: @akshayapatrausa Twitter: @AkshayaPatraUSA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AkshayaPatraUSA
