Parivaar's Founder Vinayak Lohani in Chicago

Editor's note: This article announced an event that took place on Saturday, November 16, 2013, at the Glenview Library in Illinois. The announcement is preserved as originally published; the profile below remains relevant.

Who is Vinayak Lohani?

After graduating from IIT and IIM Kolkata and working in the corporate world for only one year, Vinayak Lohani chose to use his knowledge and vision in transforming the lives of the most neglected of society. In 2003, at the age of 25, Vinayak founded Parivaar Education Society just outside Kolkata, and started his inner journey by becoming the father, mother, and guardian of three street children. By 2013, he was the proud parent of more than 800 such children and growing.

In 2012, Vinayak's work was recognized by the President of India when Parivaar was awarded the National Award for Child Welfare — the country's highest recognition in the field of child welfare. He is also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus award from IIM Kolkata (2011).

Who was with him in Chicago?

Nimesh Sumati, co-founder of Caring Friends in Mumbai, introduced Chicagoans to Parivaar and many other non-government institutions. Nimesh Shah is a young and successful businessman who is also a highly compassionate person. He devotes most of his time traveling to different institutions that care for the dispossessed and needy.

What was the Chicago event?

"An afternoon with Vinayak Lohani and Nimesh Sumati" was held on Saturday, November 16, 2013, from 2:00–4:30 PM at the Glenview Library (Community Room West, 1st Floor), 1930 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL 60025.

The event was part of a six-city visit supported by organizations like GOPIO Chicagoland, the Arpan Foundation (Los Angeles), and Chet Kanojia (Aereo, Boston), plus many individual supporters across the US — to promote awareness of the noble work the two organizations (and others they support) are doing.