Indiaspora raises $1 million for COVID relief; partners for "Help India Breathe" May 1st

Indiaspora raises over $1 million for COVID relief from diaspora leaders in 48 hours

Aims to double the impact of relief efforts by providing matching funds Saturday, May 1st during the virtual event, “Help India Breathe”

San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC  — April 30, 2021  — Indiaspora, a nonprofit community of global Indian diaspora leaders, announced they raised USD $1 million toward COVID-19 relief efforts within the last 48 hours and will aim to double the impact of their donations by offering to match funds Saturday during the virtual event, “Help India Breathe.”“We are proud of our community’s response. The outpouring of support from the Indian diaspora has been immediate and overwhelming,” said Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director of Indiaspora. “We hope Saturday’s event will continue to raise awareness and provide another opportunity for all of us to give. This has the potential to serve as a launch pad for additional and much-needed help for relief efforts in India.”The $1 million will address three major areas of COVID-19 relief on the ground: the creation of urgently needed COVID care centers and makeshift hospitals through nonprofit WISH Foundation, direct cash transfer to families who have lost a primary earning member through nonprofit giving platform GiveIndia, and food relief and livelihood assistance for migrant workers and other underserved populations through nonprofits Goonj and Jan Sahas."I am heartbroken by the deepening COVID crisis in India. Urgent action is needed to help those suffering,” said Indiaspora Founders Circle member Reshma Kewalramani, Chief Executive Officer and President at Vertex, a global biotechnology company, who contributed toward the campaign. “Please join me in giving as generously as you can to support India in her time of need.”Indiaspora will use the money raised from its members to match donations during the virtual event,  “Help India Breathe,” which will take place from 1 PM-3 PM PT / 4 PM-6 PM ET and will bring together several powerful voices from the Indian and AAPI community, including Lilly Singh, Deepak Chopra, Dhar Mann, Payal Kadakia, Kunal Nayyar, Humble the Poet, Jay Sean, Radhanath Swami, Janina Gavankar, Vishen Lakhiani, Deepica Mutyala, and others.“We are devastated by the news of the rising tragedies in India. They urgently need our help, and we are so grateful to our friends, communities, and audiences that will participate in making a difference this weekend. We know you’ll show up,” said best-selling author, award winning storyteller & podcast host, and former monk Jay Shetty, who has put together the two-hour event, which will be livestreamed on his and Indiaspora’s Facebook and YouTube pages.Funds raised during the event will go toward GiveIndia, which launched India COVID Response Fund-1 in April 2020. With the second deadly wave currently hitting India, the organization launched ICRF-2 to support gaps in healthcare and other critical needs.Indiaspora (www.indiaspora.org) is a nonprofit community of powerful global Indian leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions who are committed to inspiring the diaspora to be a force for positive impact by providing a platform to collaborate, engage, and catalyze social change.

# # #

ChaloGive for COVID-19 initiative to fight hunger reaches its initial goal of $1 million in just ten days

FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020SEE INITIAL PRESS RELEASE ON CHALOGIVE CAMPAIGN APRIL 10, 2020 

Press Release

Indiaspora’s “ChaloGive for COVID-19” initiative to fight hunger reaches its initial goal of $1 million in just ten days from launch with an outpouring of support from the diaspora communityAtul Satija of GiveIndia and Raj and Aradhana (Anna) Asava of #HungerMitao partner with the campaignIndiaspora has reached a $1 million milestone in contributions from the diaspora community in just ten days after launching its ChaloGive for COVID-19 online giving campaign April 10 at ChaloGive.org to fight hunger. The donations are providing relief directly to vulnerable populations affected most by the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and India.The contributions given are sent to two partner organizations, Feeding America in the U.S. and Goonj in India. Feeding America has secured 4.7 million meals in the U.S. through the initiative, as each $1 contributed secures 10 meals through Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks.Goonj, which is using the funds to provide food, dry ration and hygiene kits to displaced migrant laborers in parts of eighteen states in India, has been able to provide sustenance for 106,000 migrants and their families through this giving campaign so far. Each $20 contributed to Goonj feeds a family of four for 7-10 days.“There was a huge desire in our community to help during this crisis, and we provided an easy way to give. The Indian diaspora stood up and rose to the occasion when the ultimate time of reckoning arrived,” said Indiaspora’s Executive Director, Sanjeev Joshipura. “We want to do everything we can to help our country of birth and our country of citizenship. It is not either or, it is US and India.”One of the donations that helped Indiaspora cross the $1 million threshold came from Bay-area based volunteer group Aram Sei, whose vision is to support grassroots charities worldwide in the areas of education and healthcare.“Our team of twelve members is proud to support the ChaloGive fundraiser initiative that helps us make a direct impact to those in need,” said Sangeetha Lakshminarayanan, President and Founder of Aram Sei. “We feel fortunate to be able to make a difference in our country of origin and the country we have embraced and made our home.”Indiaspora also added new partnerships for the ChaloGive campaign. In addition to former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, noted philanthropists Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and actor Nandita Das, all existing “ChaloGive for COVID-19” Ambassadors, Indiaspora is excited to announce the addition of GiveIndia CEO Atul Satija, and Raj and Aradhana (Anna) Asava, the pioneers of the “HungerMitao” (wipe out hunger) movement in America, who have helped rally the diaspora community to reach the $1 million mark."Having enabled over 10 million meals to-date, HungerMitao is proud to partner with Indiaspora to raise funds for the food challenged in this time of crisis,” said Raj and Anna Asava, who both have a successful track record of partnering with food banks across North America. “HungerMitao is a grassroots initiative engaging the Indian American community in the fight against hunger through the Feeding America network of food banks.""Just as India's social indices had begun to improve, coronavirus threatens to bring 80% of India's working population - the informal sector - to its knees,” said Atul Satija, CEO of India’s largest donation platform, and Indiaspora’s India partner for ChaloGive. “We appeal to the huge Indian diaspora to support the immediate needs of hunger and reviving livelihoods before they fall back into extreme poverty, and rebuilding the lives of the less fortunate in the longer term.”The campaign at ChaloGive.org continues, with a live Facebook ChaloGive rally planned May 4 at 9 pm EST / 6 pm PST on the eve of Giving Tuesday for COVID-19.ChaloGive for COVID-19 is the second online giving campaign by Indiaspora. Its inaugural ChaloGive campaign launched October 2, 2019 on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, from October 2-8, 2019, highlighting more than 20 organizations with successful track records in areas of poverty alleviation and empowerment, health, and education.Indiaspora (www.indiaspora.org) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization established to transform the success of the Indian diaspora into meaningful impact worldwide. Their members are a powerful network of diaspora leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions that work to build stronger communities at home and abroad.More about our partner nonprofits:Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org) is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, they provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.Goonj (goonj.org) uses the under-utilized and excess urban household material as a tool for rural development across 23 states in India. It thus aims to bring an equitable relationship of strength, sustenance and dignity between the cities and villages. Their Rahat Covid-19 initiative uses their need-based disaster relief and rehabilitation model to engage its network of grassroots leadership and urban stakeholders to reach the most ignored communities.

# # #

Contact: Mansi Patel

Senior Manager, Communications and Outreach

Cell: 772-486-0351

mansi@indiaspora.org

ChaloGive for COVID-19

FOR RELEASE FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020

UPDATED APRIL 16, 2020

ChaloGive for COVID-19

Indiaspora’s giving campaign to fight hunger raises an initial $500,000 for the most vulnerable during the pandemic

 Washington, DC, USA — Indiaspora has launched a ChaloGive for COVID-19 online giving campaign to fight hunger and provide relief directly to vulnerable populations affected most by the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and India.The giving campaign has raised USD $500,000 in contributions from Indiaspora’s leadership network this week. The campaign continues Friday as a grassroots initiative through Indiaspora’s online giving platform ChaloGive.org."We are facing an unprecedented situation due to Covid-19,” said Anand Rajaraman, a Silicon Valley-based serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, and an Indiaspora Founders Circle member who, along with his wife Kaushie Adiseshan, is a lead donor for the campaign. "The drastic measures necessary to control this pandemic have created special challenges for vulnerable sections of society across the world, particularly in India and the US. Indiaspora has the opportunity to unite the diaspora to quickly and decisively help in the midst of this crisis."There has been an outpouring of support from the Indian diaspora during this pandemic. Several community-based organizations are providing much-needed relief, with CEOs, entrepreneurs, professionals from different industries, and the entire community rallying to make contributions to various nonprofits.One of the most pressing and urgent challenges facing both the U.S. and India right now is hunger, which is a deciding factor in Indiaspora’s new ChaloGive campaign.In the U.S. more than 37 million people face food insecurity, with food banks struggling to meet a massive increase in need. In India, nearly 140 million migrant workers have been displaced and remain in dire need of food and other essentials."While all eyes are on frontline hospitals, millions in America and across the globe suffer silently from a growing and equally alarming epidemic of food insecurity as the COVID-19 crisis threatens to push already struggling families deeper into poverty,” said Sejal Hathi, an Indiaspora Board member and physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Now more than ever is the time for communities like Indiaspora's to come together and rise to this call to feed people in need. I'm so proud to witness exactly this commitment to seva."ChaloGive for COVID-19 provides an opportunity for the Indian diaspora to make a collective impact toward helping marginalized communities who have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis."This crisis has made it even harder for those who were already struggling to survive," said Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of Axilor Ventures and a founder of IT services company Infosys, who is also an Indiaspora Founders Circle member. "Given the increasingly global world we are living in, India and its diaspora are in a unique and powerful position to help each other."Partner nonprofits for ChaloGive for COVID-19Contributions to ChaloGive.org will meet demand on the ground through beneficiary nonprofits Feeding America and Goonj in the United States and India, respectively.Feeding America, which has been providing emergency food assistance to people facing hunger through its nationwide network of 200 food banks in America for more than 40 years, is responding to the new hunger crisis in the U.S.  Every dollar to Feeding America secures 10 meals through the food bank network.“The nation and our food bank network are facing challenges unlike anything we’ve seen in our organization’s history,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “We are truly grateful to Indiaspora for its support of Feeding America through the ChaloGive for COVID-19 campaign. During this time of uncertainty, the generous donations derived from this effort will help bring much-needed food and hope to countless families facing hunger across the U.S.”In India, Goonj provides disaster relief, rehabilitation and community development with dignity. Through their Rahat Covid-19 initiative, given their already pan-India network and presence, Goonj has already initiated relief work of reaching food, dry ration and hygiene kits to displaced migrants in parts of fourteen states of India.“Despite our extensive experience of working in disasters, the scale and still unfolding nature of this long-tailed disaster calls for massive resource mobilization for short-, mid- and long-term work,” said Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj and a Magsaysay Awardee.  We are delighted to partner with Indiaspora on this campaign as an opportunity to engage the Indian-American community and our well wishers from across the world in supporting their fellow citizens in this difficult hour."Contributions given at ChaloGive.org will go directly toward these charities’ relief funds, and are fully tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.The deadline to have an additional USD $100,000 matched online by Indiaspora’s members has been extended to April 22; thus, donors who give through the platform will have the opportunity to have their impact doubled.Ambassadors for ChaloGive for COVID-19High-profile ambassadors have endorsed the ongoing campaign, including former Pepsi Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who serve on Feeding America’s Food Security Council and Board of Directors, respectively.“This pandemic has exposed an already existing hunger crisis,” said Indra Nooyi. “Together, as a society we must rise to this moment and address this great need knowing our investment in people, in families, and in communities will reap untold benefits not only now but into the future.”“It is essential that individuals — especially vulnerable populations who are most at risk — maintain access to food during this public health emergency,” said Dr. Vivek Murthy. “I proudly support this campaign and trust its impact will go far to bring relief to those struggling with food insecurity.”In India, philanthropists Rohini and Nandan Nilekani, who are supporters of the work Goonj does, also have voiced their support for the campaign.“Goonj is just the kind of organisation we can rely on in this double crisis of health and livelihoods,” said Rohini Nilekani. “It has decades of experience serving the most vulnerable while striving to preserve the dignity of every stakeholder, and it has time and time again demonstrated a scaled up, rapid response in the aftermath of disasters. We have been supporters of Goonj for many years. They care, and they deliver. Thank you all for your generosity and your support.”The Bollywood actress, director and social activist Nandita Das, another ChaloGive Ambassador, also has been a long-time supporter of Goonj."I have known Anshu for many years now and have been an admirer and supporter of the work Goonj does," said Nandita Das. "Their work gives voice and agency to people and underlines dignity as an important and inherent part of development work. This is what makes it truly commendable. We all must support their Rahat Covid 19 work not only because they have extensive experience of working in disaster situations but more so because they have consistently prioritised the most neglected people and geographies."ChaloGive for COVID-19 is the second online giving campaign by Indiaspora. Its inaugural ChaloGive campaign launched October 2, 2019 on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, from October 2-8, 2019, highlighting more than 20 organizations with successful track records in areas of poverty alleviation and empowerment, health, and education.Indiaspora (www.indiaspora.org) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization established to transform the success of the Indian diaspora into meaningful impact worldwide. Their members are a powerful network of diaspora leaders from diverse backgrounds and professions that work to build stronger communities at home and abroad.

# # #