189 runners support housing non-profit Habitat for Humanity India at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024
Mumbai, 7 February 2024: Habitat for Humanity India, a leading housing non-profit organisation, raised awareness about the need for decent shelter and sanitation at the recently concluded Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024. 189 professionals ran in support of Habitat India’s vision of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, fitness enthusiasts and school students put their best foot forward to raise awareness about Habitat’s work.
The runners consisted of 180 employees of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). In addition to running the marathon, SPNI is making a significant impact by partnering with Habitat for Humanity India to build sanitation units for 2 Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools and provide 3 ZP schools with access to solar energy in Khed block of Pune district, Maharashtra. This noteworthy project is set to positively touch the lives of over 250 students across 5 schools, fostering a better environment and infrastructure.
The marathon also witnessed an active participation of 9 individual runners including several notable individuals such as Neeraj Roy, Founder, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.; Raunaq Roy, Senior Vice President, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.; Hemant Hemnani, Senior Financial Advisor; Shailaraj Karkera, Founder, Vikhroli Fitness Community (VFC); Vandita Jain, Nutritionist; Sanjay Mittal, Managing Director, Interra Systems and Atul Ladha, Director, Vectus Industries Ltd.
They were joined by Vir Kamath, an IBDP 2 student from Ascend International School (Bandra, Mumbai), who along with 15 other students – 5 from Ascend International School and 11 from Oberoi International School (Goregaon, Mumbai) – used the platform of Tata Mumbai Marathon to mobilise INR 3,03,547 to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission.
James Samuel, National Director (Interim), Habitat for Humanity India said, “Year on year, business leaders, students, youngsters and corporate professionals who believe that everyone needs decent shelter, participate in the Tata Mumbai Marathon to support Habitat for Humanity’s vision of building a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We express heartfelt gratitude towards all the 189 runners who ran for us this year. We are thankful to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), Ascend International School and Oberoi International School for their support. A big thank you to United Way Mumbai – the philanthropy partner of the Tata Mumbai Marathon for giving us this incredible opportunity to raise awareness about Habitat for Humanity India’s work. We encourage corporates, young professionals to join hands with Habitat for Humanity India through mediums such as Tata Mumbai Marathon so that families in need of decent shelter can build brighter futures.”
Rajkumar Bidawatka – Head CSR, Sony Pictures Networks India expressed pride in the company’s association with Habitat for Humanity India and said, “We support meaningful causes that create a positive and lasting impact on our community. The enthusiastic participation of our employees, each lacing up their running shoes to make a difference was heart-warming. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity is a natural choice for us owing to their impactful work in housing, sanitation, and disaster response management.”
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In India since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 38 million people by helping them build or improve a place they can call home, build improved sanitation units and provide humanitarian aid and disaster resilient shelter solutions in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower.
To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.habitatindia.org
For Media Inquiries:
Ritwik Sawant, Director – Communications, Habitat for Humanity India | Email: ritwiks@hfhindia.org
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