Prominent businessman Bhikhubhai Ukabhai Patel announces $10 million contribution to the Rebuild India Fund
Last week, he provided $50,000 in aid to families affected by the Bhote Koshi floods. Prior to this, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had supported Nepal by donating 65 oxygen concentrators worth approximately 30 million Nepali rupees.
LOS ANGELES:- Through the Tarsadia Foundation, the family of Indian-American BU Patel has pledged $10 million over five years to the Rebuild India Fund, supported by Dasra.
The fund provides flexible, multi-year support to grassroots organizations serving marginalized communities across India and emphasizes local knowledge in determining how the grants are utilized.
Southern California residents BU Patel and his family built their wealth through hospitality and investment. His philanthropic vision was shaped by the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat and the lessons learned about communities determining their own responses to local challenges.
Philanthropy has been leveraged as a means to build community among Indian Americans. The organization operates through chapters within Indian American communities, involving over 300 volunteer leaders and more than 7,000 donors, and raises approximately $30 million annually. Akshaya Patra has around 40,000 individual donors within the Indian American diaspora.
Bhikhubhai Ukabhai Patel, founder of ‘Tarsadia Hotels’ and chairman of the ‘Tarsadia Foundation,’ is an entrepreneur who later dedicated himself to philanthropy. After establishing a successful textile business in Zambia, he moved to the United States in 1976, where he founded one of the country’s leading hotel management companies.
As a leader in philanthropic endeavors, he established the ‘Tarsadia Foundation’ and the ‘Sanatan Dharma Mandir,’ and also helped found the ‘Asian American Hotel Owners Association.’
He is a trustee of the ‘American India Foundation’ and one of the individuals behind the concept of the ‘Vivekananda Yoga University.’ His work focuses on education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and community service in both India and the United States.
Last week, he provided $50,000 in aid to families affected by the Bhote Koshi floods. Prior to this, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had supported Nepal by donating 65 oxygen concentrators worth approximately 30 million Nepali rupees.
