HungerMitao co-founder Aradhana Asava joins North Texas Food Bank’s Board of Directors
By Tannistha Ganguly
Three diaspora organizations —HungerMitao, Taiwan Center Foundation and the Hindu Temple and Heritage Foundation (HTHF) — have joined hands to raise $50,000 for the Covid-19 crisis in India.
India’s coronavirus caseload of 30.91 million infections is the world’s second-highest behind the United States. A deadly second wave of infections in April and May has raised India’s death tally to over 400,000.
Dallas based philanthropists and founders of the HungerMitao (wipeout hunger) movement, Raj and Aradhana Asava, initiated a matching donation challenge on Facebook of $25,000 and raised $12,343.
The Taiwan Center Foundation of Greater Los Angeles raised $11,620.00 from the Los Angeles Taiwanese community. Pasadena-based non-profit Hindu Temple and Heritage Foundation (HTHF) raised another $1,037.
Raj and Aradhana Asava matched the $25,000 raised by the three organizations with a contribution of $25,000, bringing the total donations to $50,000.
READ: HungerMitao movement serves 10 million meals in North Texas (March 13, 2021)
Indiaspora, another leading community organization, is remitting the funds to India to assist with the establishment of Covid-19 Care Centres where 7,000 patients would be cared for over a period of three months.
In May, HTHF had raised $17,500 to supply 2,000 oxygen concentrators and assist in the establishment of an oxygen factory in India.
Meanwhile, in recognition of the passion, efforts and “giving” by the Indian Diaspora which calls the United States its home, the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) has invited HungerMitao cofounder Aradhana (Anna) Asava to join its Board of Directors.
“Anna has a track record of leading organization-wide transformational programs, and over 20 years of experience in the Global IT Industry,” NTFB said announcing Asava’s appointment.
In 2009, Anna left corporate America to engage in impactful philanthropy. She currently serves as President of Asava Consulting.
Read: NYuplift’s ‘Breathe for India’ campaign raises awareness, resources for Covid relief efforts (May 24, 2021)
“She has played an instrumental role at NTFB for many years in helping to collect food, raise funds, and promote awareness for the Food Bank through #HungerMitao: an affinity group for NTFB which encourages Indian Americans to ‘give where they live,’” it said.
“We are honored to have her on our hunger-fighting team and are excited to have her serve with us,” NTFB added.
As a full time, community volunteer, Anna is working on expanding the HungerMitao model to other immigrant communities and across the Feeding America network of food banks, it noted.