Running with Resilience: Our First 5K Was a Massive Success!
Oct 27th, 2025
What a day! The Abhyudayini Foundation’s first-ever 5K fundraiser is officially in the books, and while the experience was filled with unexpected twists (and maybe a little mud!), the heart and generosity of our community shone through. Thank you to the 43 dedicated participants who joined us at Brushy Creek Lake Park!
The Race Against the Rain
If you woke up Friday morning to dark clouds and the prospect of torrential rain, you know our anxiety levels were high! The forecast had already put doubts in our minds, but by Saturday morning, the clouds had subsided. We were treated to a beautiful, cool morning—perfect running weather! We were also incredibly thankful that the course was fully paved, which ensured a safe and clean event despite the previous night’s heavy downpour.
We know the uncertainty of the weather kept some of our 67 registered guests away, and we completely understand. For those who braved the morning, your positive energy set the tone for the entire event.
Community, Camaraderie, and Coordination
We want to be transparent: the morning wasn’t as smooth as we had hoped. Due to the heavy activity in the park, the start time had to be delayed by about 10 minutes, and we greatly underestimated the number of volunteers we’d need, especially with another very large event happening in the same park, which made finding our tables slightly confusing for some.
But here’s the truly inspiring part: Every one of you was understanding and accommodating. Not only did no one complain about the slight confusion and crowds, but several of you—our registered supporters—stepped up as impromptu volunteers and helped us guide runners and manage check-in! Your flexibility and focus on our mission meant the world to us.
Though the size of the crowd limited our social time after the run, we couldn’t be more grateful that your community spirit shone through the logistical challenges.
Fun Facts & Shoutouts!
- We had a champion in our midst! Congratulations to Preetha Suraj for being the first runner to cross the finish line!
- Speaking of champions, we had a fantastic range of participants, from the youngest finishers, 10-year-olds Rhea Suraj and Viya Pandare, to our oldest finisher, 76-year-old Mr. Rajan K. Menon!
- A huge thank you to the employees of Thales, who formed the largest contingent of our participants!
- Yogesh Mathur was so excited, he ran the course twice!
Making Every Mile Count: Your Impact
The real goal of the day was, of course, the scholarships. Thanks to your registration fees and generous donations, we successfully raised just under $1,000 (net of all event expenses)!
This incredible amount means we are nearly finished raising enough to fully fund the scholarship for one deserving student next year! Your effort on the pavement this weekend translates directly into a life-changing education for a young woman.
Support Our Scholars
Did you miss the race, or do you want to help us fund that second student? You can make a secure, tax-deductible donation right now to help us keep the momentum going!
Donate Here to Support a Scholar!
Keep the Momentum Going: Your Next Steps
The energy from Saturday is exactly what fuels our mission! We have three simple ways you can help us continue this work and celebrate your success:
1. T-Shirts Available: Help Us Hit $1,000!
We heard from many of you how much you appreciated the commemorative 5K t-shirts. We have a small quantity left over, and you can still grab one! By purchasing one of the remaining shirts for a $20 donation, you will help us officially cross the $1,000 fundraising mark. If you are interested, please reach out to us directly!
2. Relive the Run!
The Official 5K Photos are Ready! You can view and download all the great photos from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yfpDd4krDty5nuru7 (P.S. We’ll keep adding to this album as more people share their pictures, so check back over the next few days!)
3. Stay in the Loop
Join our community for future event announcements, updates on our scholars, and more: Join WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CPTgdK9BXvc6sSPJFb6QeA
We hope you had a great time and that you’ll consider joining us again next year! Bring a friend (or two!) so we can fund even more scholarships!
A massive and heartfelt shoutout goes to every single person who volunteered—the day truly could not have happened without your dedication.
Thank you again for running with a purpose!





Our Newest Scholars: Sanjana and Jhansi
Our journey began with the powerful story of a young woman named Chaitra, who inspired our mission to support brilliant girls in their pursuit of higher education. We are now incredibly proud to introduce you to the first two students who are continuing this legacy: Jhansi and Sanjana.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to support these two incredible young women with full scholarships as they pursue their dreams of engineering. Their stories are a testament to the fact that talent and drive can overcome even the most daunting circumstances.
Meet Sanjana K Bhat
Sanjana is a third-year student at RNS Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, studying electronics and communication engineering. A talented singer and avid reader, she is a student of both books and life.
Her passion for engineering was ignited by an interest in machines, which she hopes to use to make a real-world impact. While her mother’s wish was for her to become a doctor, Sanjana was drawn to the world of electronics and embedded systems. She now plans to specialize in microcontrollers and miniaturization with the goal of developing new technologies for the medical field.
Sanjana’s journey has been marked by resilience. After her father suffered a stroke that left him bedridden, her family was forced to rely on a single income, compounded by the immense cost of his ongoing medical care. Despite these challenges, Sanjana has flourished. She scored 85.2% in 10th grade and 97% in PUC, demonstrating her consistent academic excellence. She is the Vice-Chair of the IEEE Photonics Society, a volunteer teacher for orphaned children, and a key member of a research project using quantum computing to enhance cryptography. Her academic performance is exceptional; she was among the top students in her class last year and is a true model student.
Her teachers describe her as an exceptionally hard-working and focused student. They praise her as an exemplary pupil who consistently excels in her studies and takes on extra responsibilities without being asked. Sanjana’s commitment to excellence and positive attitude are evident to everyone she meets. When asked how she manages her multiple commitments and stress, her response was simple and inspiring: “I already enjoy what I do, so I am not really stressed by these activities.” She is not only a dedicated scholar but also a young woman with a deep moral compass who aims to help others facing similar circumstances.
From Sanjana:
“With a heartfelt gratitude, I want to express how life changing this support has been for me. It’s given me the strength to chase my dreams in engineering, despite the overwhelming weight of my family condition, this support has been my beacon of hope, allowing me to focus on my studies and extracurricular activities without the constant worry of financial burdens. I’m filled with a sense of purpose, knowing that I can make a real difference in the medical field through technology. This support has not only lifted a weight off my shoulders but has also given me the courage to believe in myself and my abilities. I’m forever grateful for this opportunity to turn my challenges into stepping stones for success.Thank you Abyudayini.”
Meet Jhansi Y C
Jhansirani is a third-year student studying information science and engineering. Hailing from a farming family in rural Karnataka, she is a talented drama performer who won a state-level competition and loves to read and teach in her spare time. She also has a deep sense of respect for her parents and elders, which drives her to work tirelessly. She did most of her schooling at Morarji Desai Residential Schools due to the lack of quality education in her village, where she was an outstanding student. According to her teachers, she was not only a top student but a role model, known for her polite and attentive nature both in and out of the classroom.
Jhansi’s academic record is truly outstanding; she was a topper throughout school and college, a feat she is most proud of. She scored an impressive 96.48% in 10th grade and 96.5% in PUC, solidifying her top student status. With a clear vision for her future, Jhansi is driven to achieve financial independence so she can take care of her family and ensure her younger brother can get a good education. Her ultimate goal is to one day get a good job and become a senior manager.
The support of Jhansi’s family is a powerful force in her life. Her parents have worked as day laborers to pay for her accommodations and other expenses, demonstrating their unwavering belief in her future. This foundation of love and sacrifice drives Jhansi to work tirelessly towards her goals. Despite the hardship, she remains focused on her studies and has a clear vision for her future.
From Jhansi:
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” -Steve Jobs
“I was going through one of the toughest phases of my life when Abyudayini Foundation reached out with their support. The financial help came at exactly the time I needed it most, taking away a burden that had been weighing me down every single day. It gave me the space to breathe, to think clearly, and to focus on rebuilding my life instead of just surviving. What touched me most was not just the money, but the feeling that someone cared and believed in my potential. That support has given me the strength to move forward with confidence and hope. I will always remain grateful to Abyudayini Foundation for standing by me when it truly mattered.”
The Journey Continues
The stories of Jhansi and Sanjana embody the core values of the Abhyudayini Foundation. Their grit, determination, and passion for learning are exactly what we look for in our scholars. We are confident that with your support, they will achieve great things and become leaders in their fields.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Our Story, So Far : Year One
Aug 8th, 2025
Every impactful journey begins with a deeply personal step. For us, it began with a profound desire to nurture a young girl’s future after my wife, Kavitha, and I learned we wouldn’t be having a daughter of our own. Our first attempt at charity was simple: we found a struggling family and started paying for their daughter’s education. We quickly learned, however, that the path of charity is more complex than simply writing a check. Our good intentions did not create the lasting change we had hoped for; the family saw us as little more than an ATM, and the girl did not thrive in school. This difficult experience taught us a vital lesson: true empowerment requires more than just financial aid.
The real turning point came almost exactly four years ago. I came across a video plea from a brilliant girl named Chaitra from rural Mandya. Her father was in the middle of a life-threatening health crisis, and their family was devastated by the lack of hospital beds during the worst days of COVID in India. They had to go to private hospitals for dialysis and treatment, which they simply could not afford. Amidst this chaos, Chaitra, who had scored an incredible 599 out of 600 in her Class 12 exams, was considering settling for a lesser education close to home so she could help run her family’s business. It would have been a shame if such immense potential was wasted due to circumstances beyond her control.
We reached out to Chaitra and her family, not just with money, but with a promise of unwavering personal support. We told her to focus solely on her studies and her family, and that we would be there for her. Our connection with her and her family became a deeply emotional and fulfilling journey. Last September, we proudly paid her final year engineering fees, and we watched as her potential blossomed. She thrived in her studies, no longer weighed down by financial anxiety, and became an inspiration to us all.
From Chaitra’s story, we learned invaluable lessons that became the foundation of our work:
A personal connection: We learned not to be impersonal. True impact comes from being present and emotionally invested in the student’s journey, offering guidance and support that goes beyond a financial transaction.
A holistic approach: We recognized that money is just one piece of the puzzle. Getting into college is not a guarantee of success. We needed to be there to help them get through college, offering mentorship and emotional support.
Careful vetting: Speaking with friends and experts, we learned that a rigorous vetting process is necessary. While there are many deserving candidates, we needed a way to ensure our support goes to those with true drive and potential who will benefit most and carry the mission forward.
These lessons became the guiding principles of our foundation. Exactly a year ago, on August 8, 2024, Kavitha and I, along with our closest friend Manjunath, officially started the Abhyudayini Foundation. Our mission was clear: to find the next Chaitra before the academic year started and empower her future.
We are proud to share that we operate on a 100% scholarship-focused model, ensuring that every cent of your donations—after the initial costs of formation, registration, and procuring our domain—goes directly to our scholarship fund ensuring every single cent of your donations has gone directly to our scholarship fund. Our marketing efforts have been driven entirely by personal outreach and a dedicated online and physical presence, allowing us to keep our administrative costs at a bare minimum.
We must also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous partners who have supported us with invaluable in-kind donations:
Ganaka Labs for the initial website development
InterServer.net for our free hosting
Google for Nonprofits for providing us with free email suite and productivity tools
4Imprint.com for providing free marketing materials
Our young volunteers, who donate their time and skills and also staff our booths at events
Our first year has been a testament to the power of this mission and our community. To our incredible donors, thank you. Your generosity helped us review 11 scholarship applications from young women with immense potential facing financial hardship. We are incredibly proud to announce that, in our first year, we have successfully provided full scholarships to two deserving girls. We will be introducing you to these incredible young women soon, and while we are immensely proud of this start, we know it is just the beginning. Our hope is to grow, expand our impact, and support even more girls in the coming years.
Our story is still being written, and we invite you to be a part of the next chapter. By joining us, you can help us turn a single act of kindness into a powerful, lasting legacy of change. Donate or volunteer to be part of the change. Contact here by clicking here.
Maximize Your Impact with Corporate Matching
Your company might double your donation, turning a monthly gift into a full scholarship. If your company matches donations, a recurring $50 monthly contribution can fund a typical student’s entire year of tuition. Here’s how to make your donation go further:
Find us in your portal: Search for “Abhyudayini Foundation” in your company’s giving portal or using our EIN: 99-4422523. We are a pre-vetted charity on platforms like Benevity, Blackbaud, and YourCause, making it easy to start donating towards our cause.
If your company does not use these automated matching platforms, go ahead and donate on our website. Once you’ve made your contribution, we will email you the donation receipt, which you may submit to your company’s matching program.
If your company has no matching program or if you use a different platform, you can donate to us directly below.