Satya Tiwari Named to Akshaya Patra Board

October 20, 2015  by in Community / Charitable Support, Industry, Special Events   

Akshaya Patra runs one of the world’s largest school meal programs, serving hot, nutritious lunches each day to 1.5 million children in rural India. The program encourages the children to attend school, giving them the opportunity for a better future.

In his role on the six-member advisory board, Tiwari will work to expand the reach of the school lunch program to serve the communities in northern India where more than 50,000 Surya artisans live. Through the addition of a new kitchen near Varanasi, India, Tiwari plans to provide the children of Surya’s weavers with access to the nutrition and education needed to help them lead successful lives and break free from poverty.

“Satya’s enthusiasm to build and serve the dreams of others through his support for Akshaya Patra is truly inspiring,” said Emily Rosenbaum, CEO of Akshaya Patra USA. “We are so honored that he has chosen to be part of the Akshaya Patra movement to eliminate childhood hunger and promote universal education.”

Tiwari grew up in a small village in northeastern India and experienced firsthand the health and educational challenges encountered in rural areas. In 2012, he set out to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and their families, pledging to make an annual financial contribution on Surya's behalf to Akshaya Patra. Surya’s “Miles for Meals” initiative was launched shortly after to raise additional funds for the organization via participation by Surya employees in an annual half marathon event. To date, Miles for Meals fundraising efforts have generated $140,000 in donations for the program.

“In the almost four years that Surya has partnered with Akshaya Patra, I’ve witnessed the amazing things that passion, diligence and purpose can accomplish, and that’s inspired me to do more,” Tiwari said. “Making financial contributions is important, but it’s even more important to roll up your sleeves to make sure that those contributions are achieving the best results possible. I’m honored to join the Akshaya Patra Advisory Board and look forward to working with this game-changing organization to help remove the barrier of hunger one meal at a time.”

Surya’s 2015 Miles for Meals campaign, which runs through Oct. 31, hopes to raise $75,000 for Akshaya Patra, which will feed 5,000 children for the entire year. Just $15 feeds a single child for a year. Donations to the campaign are tax-deductible and can be made online.