Bengaluru, March 22: The ‘Golf for Good’ charity tournament, organized by The Empact Project by NeoKred, successfully brought together business leaders and sports icons to support child nutrition through The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Held on March 21, 2025, at the Prestige Golfshire Club in Bengaluru, the event raised funds to provide nutritious mid-day meals for 1,400 children (approximately 320,122 meals) in government and government-aided schools across Karnataka for the upcoming academic year.
The tournament, which aims to combat classroom hunger and promote child nutrition and education, featured prominent figures including Dinesh Malkani, Founder & CEO of Smarten Spaces; Vaibhav Gupta, MD of Mairav Group and CEO of Greenways Group; Gopinath Ambadithody, VP of the Embassy Group; Ishwar Subramanian, Director at V Guard Industries Ltd.; Saif Mekhri; and Nelson Dias. The funds raised will support Akshaya Patra’s efforts as an implementing partner for the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meals Programme). Akshaya Patra currently serves 2.25 million children across 78 locations in 16 states and 3 Union Territories in India daily.
Dinesh Malkani, Founder & CEO of Smarten Spaces, said, “Golf for Good is more than a tournament; it’s a movement that brings purpose to the game. As a long-time supporter of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, I’m honored to help unite leaders for a cause that has a lasting impact on millions of young lives.”
Tarun Nazare, Co-founder and MD of NeoKred, commented, “The Empact Project aims to bridge the gap between change enablers and change-makers. Today’s success reflects our belief that businesses and individuals must drive positive change. ‘Golf for Good’ has shown how everyone can contribute to ensuring no child has to choose between hunger and education.”
Shridhar Venkat, CEO of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, expressed gratitude for the event’s success. “Golf for Good exemplifies the power of collective action. Every swing today contributed to a child’s future, ensuring they won’t study on an empty stomach. We thank all the participants, Neokred, and our venue partner, Prestige Golfshire Club, along with our other partners for making this possible.”
The event also raised awareness about Akshaya Patra’s work and the vital role of mid-day meals in ensuring children’s access to education. Neokred, through The Empact Project, uses its tech expertise to drive social responsibility, ensuring transparency, program vetting, and impact reporting for CSR initiatives.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, as the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan partner, has grown from serving 1,500 children to providing meals to over 2.25 million children daily in more than 23,000 schools across 16 states and 3 Union Territories. The Foundation has served over 4 billion meals since 2000.
For more details, visit The Akshaya Patra Foundation and The Empact Project.
