Tarsadia Foundation: Challenging Kids to Read

Pratham’s annual Readathon engages American children in reading books to raise money to help India’s children learn to read. (A $25 donation educates one child for a whole year through our literacy programs.) In 2015, Newport Beach resident Bhikhubhai Patel Tarsadia supported our Readathon with a generous $50,000 pledge through his family’s foundation.

The Tarsadia Foundation Freadom Express Matching Challenge inspired kids to hit the books by offering to match every dollar raised up to $50,000. And, guess what? We did it! Between June and November, Pratham raised more than $100,000 in Readathon funds. Add to that the Tarsadia Foundation’s matching grant, and we have over $150,000 to help realize the dream of a fully literate India.

Established in 1999, the Tarsadia Foundation gives back by financially supporting projects and nonprofits that provide educational and employment opportunities within the southern California community. Local organizations have included THINK Together, KidWorks and New Directions for Women.