Adya Kote leads youth philanthropy movement at TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2024 ~
~ 30+ companies have contributed Rs. 1.65 Crore and 150+ individual fundraisers have raised approximately Rs. 1.20 Crore ~
Bengaluru, 24th April 2024: The Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bengaluru with the support from 70+ NGOs, individual fundraisers, and corporates in just three months have collectively raised over INR 3 crores for social causes. Spearheaded by the philanthropy partner aidbees- the social kindness platform, the event continues to inspire Bangaloreans showcasing the power of collective action for the larger good #EndendiguBengaluru … Forever Bengaluru. The Philanthropy Pillar of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru has seen phenomenal growth over the years and today, the event stands unsurpassed as the single largest fundraising platform in South India having raised INR 53+ Crores for more than 400 NGOs over the years.
PHILANTHROPY IN 2024 This year has been about increased determination and the will to stay on course for social welfare. Corporate participation is on the rise, with teams eager to make a difference. Even first-time individual runners are going above and beyond, choosing to raise funds for multiple NGOs, giving way to an expansive impact on countless underprivileged lives! 30+ companies have contributed 1.65 Crore and 150+ individual fundraisers have raised approximately Rs. 1.20 Crores already showing the power of philanthropy. The fundraising goes on till the 10th of May 2024.The participating NGOs have engaged projects for various causes ranging from education to child welfare and environmental protection among others. Furthermore, the funds have also been utilised to build India’s first tennis wheelchair center for disabled individuals.
Rashmie Kumar, Founder Director, aidbees, commented, “30,000 runners, more than 150 fundraisers and over Rs. 3 Crores raised already- Bengaluru has shown the power of community and I am thrilled for aidbees to be facilitating social change through the Run.”
She further added, “TCS World 10K Bengaluru helps the NGOs in building their visibility in society and effectively maximizing their donor base. The NGOs working for various causes can showcase their efforts and raise funds. This year, 70+ NGOs have registered for the Run and they have various projects on causes that impact the underserved. Individuals and companies are super excited to run and support their chosen cause. aidbees is honored to be associated with the event, and we want to thank every donor who has contributed towards social welfare through us in this year’s edition!”
Highlighting the importance of the philanthropy pillar Vivek B Singh, Jt MD, Procam International, said, “The spirit of giving is what truly sets the TCS World 10K Bengaluru apart, and Bengaluru consistently demonstrates incredible generosity towards social causes. It’s not just about the numbers or the money raised; it’s about the lives touched, impacted and the futures changed. Our sincere gratitude to aidbees for steering this pillar to success and kudos to all our fundraisers for their monumental effort.
As a young fundraiser, 16-year-old Adya Kote from the Right to Live (Kote Foundation), who has raised INR 30 Lakhs, shared, “Growing up I had heard endless stories about my father’s and grandfather’s selflessness. This profoundly impacted me and drove me to act. A significant amount of the funds I’m raising will be dedicated to building washrooms and other basic facilities in government schools across Karnataka. I think the TCS World 10K Bengaluru is an opportunity for people of my generation to challenge stereotypes about our attitude towards giving back to the community.”
Speaking at the occasion, Sunil Kumar Jain, representing Astha NGO and Chairman of the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour said, “For disabled people there are so many barriers for their social engagement and their economical engagement through which their entire mobility gets curtailed. By empowering people with a disability through sports we started working on developing and promoting wheelchair tennis in India in 2016.”
He further added, “We have committed to set up India’s first wheelchair training center at Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru and construction is currently ongoing. This year we are participating in TCS World 10K Bengaluru hoping to create awareness about it in the running community and other people in the city to generate support and we aim to be operational by August 29th, 2024, which also happens to be National Sports Day.”Furthermore, Bhavana J, who is currently in the 10th grade and a beneficiary of the Reaching Hand foundation, spoke on the numerous ways she has been empowered by the initiative, “After coming to New Home, which is a part of the Reaching Hand foundation, it gave me the opportunity to read so many books and expand my knowledge. Not only that, I used to struggle with speaking English and using a laptop, but my teachers and friends and the foundation helped me a lot and gave me confidence and a sense of community.”