On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Pratham SF Bay Area community gathered for an unforgettable evening of connection, inspiration, and impact at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. We came together to celebrate 30 years of Pratham and the transformative power of education to change lives.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone in the room, we raised enough to help over 36,450 children in India and beyond access quality education. That’s 36,450 futures changed, because of you!
The evening was filled with meaningful moments, including a thought-provoking fireside chat between Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, and Manisha Bharti, CEO of Pratham USA and Global Executive, which elevated the conversation around education and its power to create lasting change.
Neal shared: “If you want to impact one thousand people by impacting one person, the best way to do that is through education. What’s amazing about Pratham is that it does that person by person a million times over, because [Pratham] knows how to scale.”
We also heard the powerful story of Sarojni, a young girl in India who, through Pratham’s skilling program, overcame significant adversity to become a skilled mechanic, demonstrating the life-changing potential of opportunity paired with education.
On the night of, Bala Ramakrishnan, Co-President of the Pratham San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, remarked, “This evening, we celebrate the transformation that Pratham has brought in the last three decades and counting, creating pathways for communities around the world to learn, earn, and thrive.”
Ari Daman, Co-President of the Pratham San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, added, “Pratham’s mission continues to unlock potential at every stage of life, equipping individuals and communities to be future-ready in an ever-changing world.”
Chairs for the San Francisco Bay Area gala, Archana Vahalia and Aarthi Ramaswamy, shared, “We are thrilled to chair this momentous event celebrating Pratham’s three decades of transforming lives through education in India and beyond.”
We also thank our community sponsor, MulticoreWare, and we extend our sincere thanks to Google, Airbnb, Westbridge Capital, JP Morgan Chase, and Deloitte for their ongoing partnership and support.
To cap off the evening, the Bala Boys captivated the audience with a joyful performance that left everyone smiling as the night drew to a close.
Take a moment to look back at this incredible evening here.
We’re so grateful to our board, gala committee, and amazing volunteers who worked behind the scenes to bring it all together. And to each of you who showed up, gave generously, and stood with us. Together, we’re opening doors to brighter futures. And this is just the beginning.
Together we learn. Together we thrive. You can join us in making a difference for children, youths, and communities across India and beyond. Make a gift today.