BY VEENA RAO
Atlanta, GA, October 21, 2026: Arogya World’s annual Atlanta gala raised nearly $275,000 on September 24, 2026, bringing together supporters at the Atlanta History Center for an evening of fashion, music and philanthropy in support of the nonprofit’s efforts to prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases.
The event highlighted the organization’s work to promote healthier lifestyles among millions of Indians through school, workplace and community-based initiatives, while also celebrating a new Atlanta program that brings its health education model to underserved children in Georgia.
The evening featured a fashion show by House of Jaya, with models walking in honor of individuals across India whose lives had been touched by Arogya World’s programs.
A musical highlight was a captivating performance by internationally acclaimed Carnatic violinist Mysore Nagaraj with Vidwan Sai Giridhar on the Mridangam and Giridhar Udupa on the Ghatam. Their beautiful performance left the audience spellbound.
Founded by Nalini Saligram, Arogya World focuses on preventing noncommunicable diseases through science-based programs that encourage healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco avoidance.
Addressing guests, Saligram emphasized the urgency of tackling diabetes, particularly among South Asians, who face a disproportionately high risk of developing the disease. She noted that research has shown that a substantial proportion of chronic diseases can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
“We go to schools, we go to workplaces,” Saligram said, describing the organization’s community-based approach. “We mobilize entire cities to become healthy cities.”
Arogya World has reached approximately 29.5 million people through its programs, Saligram said, and is working toward an ambitious goal of reaching 100 million people by 2030. The organization has also received recognition from the United Nations Interagency Task Force and the World Health Organization for its contributions to strengthening primary healthcare in India.
Citing a Stanford-led evaluation of Arogya World’s school-based programs, Saligram said students showed more than a 7.5 percent improvement in a composite healthy eating score, approximately 10 percent improvement in physical activity and gains in health knowledge.
In one community, she recalled, a mother reported that sales of junk food at a neighborhood shop had declined after a nearby school introduced Arogya World’s health education program.
“It’s really exciting to see on the ground impact like that,” Saligram said.
The organization is also expanding its reach through technology, including an AI-enabled WhatsApp initiative that delivers health messages to rural Indian communities in local languages. Another initiative announced during the week of the gala aims to train 10,000 street food vendors in India.
Looking ahead, Saligram said Arogya World hopes to expand its prevention model to the Middle East and Latin America.
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Jayanti Srinivasiah, a physician with Georgia Cancer Specialists and a longtime supporter of Arogya World. She and her husband served as gala chairs.
Srinivasiah spoke about the connection between diabetes and cancer, explaining how metabolic health, insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar can influence cancer risk and complicate treatment.
As an oncologist, she said, she initially wondered how an organization focused on diabetes prevention related to her own work. Her initial support grew out of a longstanding family friendship, but over time she came to appreciate the broader implications of its mission.
“We don’t just support for that, you know, we have to believe in a cause, in a mission,” she said, reflecting on her growing commitment to Arogya World.
Adding a scientific perspective, Dr. Shivani A. Patel, Arogya World board member and associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University, discussed insights from a recent symposium on South Asian metabolic health.
Patel cautioned against viewing diabetes exclusively as a consequence of obesity or unhealthy lifestyle choices. Among South Asians, she explained, diabetes can develop at relatively low body mass index levels, making it important to identify metabolic risks earlier, even among people who do not appear overweight.
She also emphasized that while newer medications, including GLP-1 therapies, have become important tools in diabetes management, they cannot replace the foundations of good health: nutritious food, regular exercise, adequate sleep and avoiding tobacco.
One of the evening’s highlights was a presentation by Atlanta high school students who have helped bring Arogya World’s school health program from India to underserved communities in Georgia.
Led by Dev Katarya, students from The Westminster Schools established Arogya Club at Agape, bringing Arogya World’s health education program from India to Atlanta. The students adapted materials originally developed for government schools in India for children attending Agape Youth & Family Center, a northwest Atlanta nonprofit that provides after-school education, mentoring and youth development programs to underserved families.
The volunteers implemented ten health education activities for sixth- and seventh-grade students, combining lessons on nutrition and physical activity with interactive exercises and healthy meals they prepared themselves.
“Health is not something that you just want to know. It’s something that you actually do in practice,” Katarya said.
He added that seeing children adopt some of the lessons in their daily lives made the experience especially meaningful.
“The best form of health education is when the students actually experience it and don’t just hear about it,” he said.
Other student volunteers described how their younger participants began recognizing unhealthy eating habits and making more informed food choices. They also spoke about the leadership and teamwork skills they gained through the initiative.
Suja Katarya, who helped guide the volunteers, praised their dedication, particularly their insistence on preparing healthy meals to accompany their lessons.
Saligram announced that the program would continue at Agape with a new group of student leaders and that Arogya World was exploring opportunities to expand into additional Atlanta schools and other parts of Georgia.
Conducted by returning auctioneer and emcee John Vinnie, the auction featured six experiences and luxury packages, including a private vineyard tour and luncheon at Revana Wines in Napa Valley paired with a tour of San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, a private performance by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians, a weeklong Outer Banks retreat, dinner at Delbar Buckhead, an orchid design experience and a home entertainment package.
The evening raised nearly $275,000 through the generosity of donors, sponsors and auction participants, supporting Arogya World’s efforts to expand preventive health education, primarily in India, while developing new initiatives in the United States.
With its programs reaching millions across India, technology bringing health education to rural communities, and Atlanta students carrying its mission into local classrooms, Arogya World continues working toward its goal of reaching 100 million people by 2030.
Photo credit: Derek Wintermute Photography.
