The Puranik Foundation celebrates innovation, education and awareness at the Lotus Innovation Awards dinner

The Post Oak Hotel Uptown was filled with glamour and inspiration as the Puranik Foundation’s Lotus Innovation Awards Dinner gathered nearly 400 attendees. The Foundation’s mission is to spark holistic perspectives, provide educational opportunities that inspire change, and open minds. Three generations of women were present to share the vision.

The gala that took place on April 28 celebrated The Energy Project, a semester-long internship program launched by the Puranik Foundation. The program created in partnership with the HISD’s Energy Institute High School (EIHS), Rice University Energy Association, CleanTech Clubs, Stanford University Raz Professor Ariel, Junior Achievement, and TXRX Labs, offers high school students opportunities to co-create alternative innovations that benefit Houston while solving the city’s local energy challenges. The five teams exhibited and showcased their innovative design projects, competing for the People’s Choice Award and a $15,000 grant to kick-start their businesses.

The exquisite décor provided by Mandap Creations inspired the Foundation’s beginnings under a tree in Pune, India, greeted guests as they entered. Additionally, the ballroom was transformed into a colorful and elegant visual showcase, demonstrating the Puranik Foundation’s impact in both India and Houston. During the evening, the Foundation honored Bobby Tudor, CEO of Artemis Energy Partners, for Innovation; Paula Harris, executive director of the Astros Foundation, for Education; and Dr. Bradley Smith, University of Houston School of Psychology, for Awareness.

The Lotus Innovation Awards Gala was successful with the extensive support of sponsors and guests, including Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Artemis Energy Partners, Gas Tech, Castro and Co., AlliantGroup, LaPriam, Askara, Leela, and Nat Krishnamurthy. Rani Puranik, the event president and global CFO and executive vice president of Worldwide Oilfield Machine, enchanted guests with her singing performance, including a fusion of Colors of the Wind and a classic Indian raga called nahi punyachi mojani. As the evening closed, she asked guests to light their candles during her closing address, demonstrating the power of unity.

The Puranik Foundation is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) organization that is 20 years old. It operates the Vision International Learning Center, a school in Pune, India, that provides free private education to underprivileged children in grades K-12. The Foundation owns 27 acres of sustainable land, enriched with nature exploration, mindfulness practices, critical thinking exercises, and leadership training. During the summer, high school students, teachers, professors, and mindfulness practitioners from around the world are invited to participate in Impact India, a study abroad program hosted by the Foundation at the Indian campus.

The Lotus Innovation Awards Dinner was a spectacular event, and it’s no surprise that the Puranik Foundation is doing remarkable work by sparking inspiration and creating opportunities for underprivileged children and high school students, all to create a change in the world. Click here for more information on the Puranik Foundation.

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