Ritu Jha-
An Indian American cybersecurity leader has donated $2million to the IIT(BHU) Foundation, a US-based all volunteer, non-profit association of IIT(BHU) alumni.
Nikesh Arora, a former graduate of IIT (BHU) and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, has made the donation for the foundation to seed its Access Fund, enabling scholarships for underserved students to attend the premier Institute.
“IIT (BHU) provides a springboard for careers in technology, and it’s an honor to help deserving students gain access to these educational opportunities,” said Arora, a 1989 Electrical and Electronics IIT (BHU) graduate.
“As alumni, we know first-hand of the school’s remarkable programs, facilities and faculty. Together with Palo Alto Networks, I’m proud to support IIT (BHU) as it broadens access to education and prepares future leaders in critical areas of technology- I look forward to many more of us joining together in support.”
The IIT(BHU) Foundation established in 2020 is grateful for this generous donation.
Arun Tripathi, the current President of the IIT (BHU) Foundation, noted that Arora is a proud example of what IIT (BHU) alums can accomplish.
“We thank Nikesh for supporting our efforts to help deserving students attend IIT (BHU),” Tripathi said. “It was Nikesh’s wish that the Access Fund not be named for him – with the hope that others will join this effort. We hope that many more alumni follow his lead.”
In an interview with indica, Tripathi said that this gesture adds a sense of stature to be associated with a premier Corporate Foundation partner.
He said, “The investment perfectly aligns with Palo Alto Networks commitment to uplifting communities while advancing careers in technology and Nikesh Arora’s passion to provide opportunities to underserved students.”
“The IIT (BHU) Foundation is an organization dedicated to enabling IIT (BHU) be the trendsetting pioneer by enabling prudent investments into the future of the Institute through the generosity of our alumni and donors. This donation that seeds the IIT (BHU) Access Fund is another successful initiative brought forth by the collaboration of the Foundation with Nikesh Arora and the Palo Alto Networks Foundation”, added Tripathi.
This donation will be the first time is Arora has made a donation to the foundation. However, this is not the first time he has forgone his salary to benefit others in need.
Of the $2 million donation, Arora will forgo his annual salary to contribute $1 million, with Palo Alto Networks contributing an additional $1 million. This is the second year Arora will forgo his salary to donate to philanthropic causes, following a donation to a global COVID Relief Fund in 2020.
Tripathi praised Arora saying, he “deeply cares about underserved communities, having previously served on the board of Tipping Point, a non-profit organization that fights poverty in the Bay Area, and donating to Palo Alto Networks COVID Relief Fund”.
The donation will help the current and future students from low- & middle-income families. The scholarship amount varies from $200 to $3,000 on average/year depending on the family income a student comes from. In each year, the target is to serve approximately 25 new incoming students for the next four years. After four years from the start, at any given point in time, ~100 students would be receiving this scholarship concurrently.
Director of IIT (BHU), Dr. P. K. Jain and the Board of Governors also expressed their gratitude and recognized the significance of the endowment. The Foundation Access Fund will go a long way toward enhancing the reputation of the Institute and increasing access to quality education for deserving students.
In his note acknowledging the gift, Dr. Jain said, “It’s this continued support from current alums for future alums that makes IIT (BHU) truly stand apart. We couldn’t be prouder to leverage this amazing donation for so many of our students to follow in Nikesh’s exceptional footsteps.”
