Inspired by their grandparents, KV Kamath & Rajalakshmi Kamath & Dr. Ram Pai & Raju Pai, Nandan (16), Lakshan (15) & Arya (10) have always been taught by their parents, Ajnya & Rakesh Pai, to strive for excellence and to do their part in making a difference! Nandan founded Pai Team Fundraising in January 2021 and roped in his younger siblings so that they could learn to give back. The team’s goal for 2021 is to raise funds for educational initiatives in India. Their first fundraiser was for Pratham India. Pratham has served over 75 million disadvantaged students in the poorest neighborhoods in India since 1995. Since March 2020, they have provided technological platforms to disadvantaged children enabling them to continue with their education during school closures.
Pai Team Fundraising’s second fundraiser is a partnership with the Konkani Charitable Fund to benefit the GSB Scholarship League in Mumbai, India. The GSB Scholarship League has been providing need-based scholarships to high achieving GSB and Saraswat students for the last 109 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of supporting our students as many GSB and Saraswat families are struggling with job insecurities, financial loss, homelessness and even death.
Nandan, a junior at East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan, is a member of his school’s Key Club, Student Council & National Honors Society chapter. He is also on the Youth Action Board of the Kids’ Food Basket, a nonprofit organization in West Michigan serving sack suppers to children facing food insecurity. He rows for the East Grand Rapids High School Men’s Crew team, which won the 2021 Michigan State Rowing Championships.
He is a candidate for the East Grand Rapids High School Class of 2022 IB Diploma program. Nandan prides himself on being a foodie and enjoys alpine skiing, adventure sports and traveling.
Lakshan is a freshman at East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan. He is a nationally ranked foil fencer and has been named to USA Fencing’s All-Academic FIRST team for excellence and achievement in fencing and academics . An accomplished alto saxophonist, Lakshan is a part of his school’s marching and concert bands. Lakshan enjoys jazz music, politics & traveling.
Arya has been raising awareness and funds as a youth ambassador for the American Heart Association since she was 6 years old! She is currently a 4th grader and enjoys dance, basketball, art and traveling.
At the end of the Fundraising campaign, an incredible $167,000 was raised from India ($57,000), the Middle East ($10,000) & the USA ($100,000) for a single charity in India, G S B scholarship League of, Mumbai.
