BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, November 6, 2025: Under the banner “Leading India to a Healthier Future,” the global public health nonprofit Arogya World celebrated its 15th anniversary with a magnificent gala held at the Atlanta History Center on September 12, 2025.
Amidst the venue’s elegant and inspiring backdrop, the event successfully gathered philanthropists and health leaders to rally support against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)—the world’s leading cause of death and an economic threat estimated to cost $47 trillion by 2030. The organization, whose name means “to live a life without disease” in Sanskrit, received a powerful boost from a major financial pledge and inspiring stories of grassroots impact.
The evening was framed by high-profile speakers, a thoughtfully curated, diabetes-friendly dinner by renowned Chef Asha Gomez, and a unanimous call for collaborative action to bring science-based prevention programs to the most vulnerable in India.
Gala Highlights and Philanthropy
The celebration was distinguished by a dynamic and powerful electric harp performance by Kiki Bello, whose music set an uplifting and sophisticated tone for the night’s philanthropic goals.
The spirit of giving was highly visible throughout the evening, particularly during the vibrant auction, which featured exclusive packages including an intimate, hands-on culinary and cocktail experience for eight with Chef Asha Gomez and Sommelier Joon Lim, the Porsche 718 Cayman Driving Experience at Atlanta’s renowned South Track, and a luxury getaway to India featuring a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, complete with a stay at the five-star Evolve Back Hampi Resort.
Keynote: Longevity Is Design, Not Destiny
The night’s keynote, delivered by Kimberly Porter, Transformations Director at Blue Zones, provided a foundational philosophy for the organization’s prevention work. Porter argued that a long, healthy life—or “more good years,” as she put it—is a product of daily habits and environmental design.
She congratulated the organization, stating she was “truly honored to be here tonight, celebrating 15 years. That is absolutely amazing. So congratulations for paving the way to improving the health of families across India.”
Drawing on research from global longevity hotspots, Porter emphasized that “reaching 100… is shaped by our daily habits and our choices. It’s based on the environment in which you live, either past or present.” She challenged the audience to look beyond gym routines and integrate natural movement and to prioritize social connection, noting, “isolation kills.”
Major Pledge: Ravi Saligram Commits $2 Million to Prevention
Putting his “money where [his] mouth is,” Ravi Saligram, former three-time public company CEO and husband of the organization’s founder, announced a landmark financial pledge to solidify Arogya World’s future.
Mr. Saligram began with a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Dr. Nalini Saligram, describing his current identity as “Nalini’s husband,” which “gives me a lot to live up to.” He praised the efficiency and dedication of the staff, stating: “I’m just amazed at how she and this mighty team of 20 people have reached 20 million people.”
He expressed his admiration for the Healthy Workplace initiative in India, admitting that as a former American CEO, he was blown away by the level of innovation. “I thought we in America were at the forefront of people management… And here the HR people are talking about how they’re doing some radical things in terms of employee well-being and health propelled by Arogya… I was blown away… My God, we should bring some of that here.”
As a testament to his belief in the American Dream and the power of philanthropy, Mr. Saligram announced a major commitment from his family trust: “So the Saligram, Nalini and Ravi Saligram Trust is going to give $2 million over the next five years, $2 million to give. Thank you.”
The funds are earmarked for Arogya World’s core programs, including diabetes prevention, student health habits, and the continuation of the street food vendor training.
Boots on the Ground: The India Team’s Personal Success Stories
A special panel segment introduced the Arogya World India Team, the on-the-ground leaders driving the organization’s impact. The team shared powerful examples of behavior change:
From Red Zone to Green Zone in Schools: Nandini, who has led the Healthy Schools program for 13 years, shared the emotional impact on children. “Children actually come rushing to me with their dabas or the midday meals and they say, ‘Ma’am, today I have got the green zone food in my tiffin,’ and they also show me their friends and say, ‘she has got the red zone food today.’” She also shared the incredible story of a child whose learning influenced her father: “I went for the monitoring visit, she said, ‘Today my father’s alcohol-free. Today he stopped substance abuse, and I want to credit Arogya World.’”
Transforming Street Food: Dr. Meghana Pasi, who heads the MyThali program, detailed how training 500 street food vendors in Bengaluru led to one vendor, Suresh, switching from cheap palm oil to healthier sunflower oil. He explained, “When he explained that to his consumers… the consumers were very happy with that, so they were ready to pay… five rupees more.”
These programs are making a critical impact in India. The country carries the largest burden of diabetes in the world. A large, under-regulated food market and diverse cultures make the problem complex to address. The problem is much bigger, but Arogya World’s fiercely scalable approach makes it realistic to make a meaningful impact.
A Collective Mission and the Next Generation
The evening concluded with a panel discussion featuring founder Dr. Nalini Saligram and the U.S. and India Trust Board members, who emphasized that Arogya World’s success is a collective effort.
The most poignant testimony came from Susheela Venkatraman (India Trust Board Chair), who shared a story illustrating the human cost of NCDs. She recounted how a young woman’s family was pulled back into poverty after her father required an amputation due to diabetes. “That was pretty much the end of this girl’s career… The whole family went back into poverty,” Ms. Venkatraman shared.
In a powerful look to the future, Dr. Saligram proudly announced a new, youth-led initiative in the Atlanta area: the Arogya Club. Led by local students Gowri Gowda and Spurti Kakaria, the club aims to engage young people and their parents on healthy living, proving that “it’s the next generation that has to lead healthy lives and we have to get that going.”
Arogya World’s cost-effective “doorstep health model” has achieved a proven track record: having reached over 12.5 million people by 2023, the organization is on an ambitious path to reach 50 million people in the coming years through scalable programs like Healthy Schools, mDiabetes, and Healthy Workplaces. The successful gala underscored the organization’s momentum, proving that the solution to the world’s NCD crisis lies in a passionate, collective commitment to prevention and education.
Arogya World extended its sincere gratitude to all the individuals, companies, and community organizations whose support made the 15th Anniversary Gala a success, including Gala Sponsors: Gold — Mesirow, Girish & Prameela Saligram, Katarya Family Foundation, Nalini & Ravi Saligram, Dr. Jayanthi & Bhaskar Srinivasiah; Silver — Quinnox, Simran Foundation; and Bronze — Peachtree Nephrology, Jaipur Living, Sheth Family Foundation, Gokare Law Firm, Goldman Sachs, Aon, Romica Raina, Pooja & Ketan Shah, Sonjui & Anil Kumar, Khatod Family Foundation, Anand Kalale Charitable Fund; the Gala Committee — Anupama Gowda, Tejal Bhandari, Nutan Ahuja, Anisa Daftari, Kashmira Date, Romica Raina, Shilpa Gokare, and Nalini Saligram; and Community Partners — Georgia Karnataka Doctors Association (GKDA), South Asian Heart Center, Consortium for South Asian Health, and TiE Atlanta Foundation.
