Whom You Know: An Update from Mover and Shaker Meera Gandhi's The Giving Back Foundation

Monday, June 27, 2011

An Update from Mover and Shaker Meera Gandhi's The Giving Back Foundation

The Giving Back Foundation was established in January of 2010 by Meera
Gandhi, with the support of her husband Vikram. In June of 2010, the Giving
Back Foundation was recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt entity, and has since
gone forth vigorously to implement its programs. Its main goal is directed
towards empowering women and children. St. Michael's girls' school in New
Delhi was chosen to be the first recipient of a 5-year food grant from the
Giving Back Foundation. All of the children will receive meals for 5 years in a row.

In addition, the 2nd floor tiling at the school has
been donated by the Foundation, and now a new school playground is in
progress! Ground was broken on the playground project at St. Michael’s with the Bishop of Northern India presiding. Inspired by a visit to her son’s boarding school in England and her own good fortune, Meera Gandhi set out to provide the children of St. Michael’s with an equivalent playground! The Foundation is reaching out to and supporting numerous
entities. Many of these will be highlighted in Meera Gandhi's upcoming
coffee table book, entitled Giving Back. Twelve others were highlighted in
the documentary film that has been screened in 10 countries, from London, to
Hong Kong, Mumbai, New York City, Wales, Washington DC, Hyde Park and
Brooklyn, New York.

Other current projects include a 5-year Giving Back Foundation grant to the
Woodstock Film Festival in Woodstock, New York, to encourage socially
uplifting films. The Giving Back Award will honor an actor, producer or
director who has initiated social change. The Eleanor Roosevelt Girls
Leadership award is our third 5-year commitment. Five girls who exhibit
leadership in their daily lives will each receive a stipend from the Giving
Back Foundation. This way we will touch the lives of 25 young people in five years!

The Giving Back Inspirational Lecture Series has begun, with youngsters at
The United Nations and at schools such as Birch Wathen Lenox. This is an
equally important aspect of our new Foundation.

Cataract surgeries, social film projects and educational grants are all
ongoing needs that the Giving Back Foundation has funded in less than one year! So far, over
$200,000 has been awarded globally to deserving causes. “Our uniqueness is
that we become personally involved in each and every cause that we support!
We live in a symbiotic world. It's about giving and not just receiving. The
Giving Back Foundation seeks to be a reminder of this every single day,” said Meera Gandhi.”
After all, our motto is, "We are to the universe only as much as we give
back to it."

“I never dreamed that we would make such progress in a year,”

said Meera Gandhi. “I am honored by such amazing support for the Giving Back Foundation.”

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/