Top Indian-American Exes raise $600,000 for relief efforts
Washington, DC: A high-profile diaspora group of some of the top Indian American corporate executives and leaders have raised $600,000 to fight hunger and provide direct relief to vulnerable populations affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the US and India.
ChaloGive for COVID-19 launched by Indiaspora has raised $500,000 from its leadership network. Indiaspora also announced another $100,000 as matching donation for its online giving campaign starting Friday.
“This pandemic has exposed an already existing hunger crisis,” said Indra Nooyi, former Pepsico CEO.
Money raised by Indiaspora will meet demand on the ground through beneficiary non-profits Feeding America in the US and Goonj in India, a media release said.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“I proudly support this campaign and trust its impact will go far to bring relief to those struggling with food insecurity,” said former US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy.
In India, philanthropists Rohini and Nandan Nilekani and Bollywood actress Nandita Das also have voiced their support for the campaign.
