Houston Chapters of Pratham, Akshaya Patra, and Magic Bus came together for a first-of-its-kind collaborative Happy Hour, bringing together supporters, board members, community leaders, and friends for an evening of networking, awareness, and shared purpose.
Hosted at Le Tesserae in Houston, the event was created to unite organizations with complementary missions while fostering new relationships within Houston’s philanthropic community. Rather than focusing on fundraising, the evening celebrated collaboration and encouraged attendees to learn more about each organization’s impact.
The program opened with welcome remarks from Mili Shah, Co-President of Pratham Houston, who shared the vision behind the gathering.
“While each organization has its own unique approach, we share one vision: serving underserved communities in India and creating brighter futures,” Shah said, encouraging guests to find meaningful ways to get involved and support a cause that inspires them.
Representatives from each organization then shared brief remarks about their missions. Nidhi Turakhia, Co-Chair of Akshaya Patra Houston, spoke about the organization’s work providing nutritious school meals that help children stay in school and succeed academically. She also celebrated Akshaya Patra’s remarkable milestone of serving more than 5 billion meals over the past 25 years. She also encouraged attendees to join the Annual Gala on September 26, 2026 at Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria.
Representing Pratham, Madhu Maganti, Co-President of Pratham Houston, highlighted the organization’s focus on foundational literacy and numeracy while also supporting youth, women, and communities through evidence-based programs. He noted that Pratham’s proven learning approaches have been adapted in more than 30 countries and reached over 8 million children in the past year.
Marc Nicholson, Executive Director of Magic Bus USA, shared the organization’s mission of taking young people on a journey from childhood to livelihood through life-skills education, career readiness, and employability programs that help youth build confidence and pathways to economic independence.
The evening concluded with remarks from Vasant Garg, who thanked the speakers, attendees, and Roman Kapadia, owner of Le Tesserae, along with his entire team, for their generous hospitality and for helping make the event possible.
The gathering reflected the power of organizations coming together around a shared purpose. By building connections, raising awareness, and strengthening partnerships, the event reinforced a collective commitment to creating brighter futures for underserved communities in India. Organizers hope this collaborative event will become an annual tradition that continues to inspire community engagement and lasting impact.
Learn More
- Pratham USA: www.prathamusa.org
- Akshaya Patra USA: www.akshayapatrausa.org
- Magic Bus USA:www.magicbususa.org
