I started Gnanam Foundation in 2001 to celebrate the life and legacy of my father Gnanadesikan Thuthipet and my mother Dr. Shantha Mambuttu. Dad and Mom always taught us to be honest, hard-working, and humble. Gnanam Foundation's goal is to provide social justice through various contributions to humanity, especially empowering children and youth through Education. 

I embarked on an amazing journey on December 26, 2004, after deciding to run 100 marathons for a kid with cancer. This personal journey took me to 94 countries globally, and I had the opportunity to meet with people from different cultures and different belief systems. I was humbled to see various facets of humanity - from slum communities in Nairobi to Tea Estate communities in Sri Lankan hill country to occupied territories in Gaza and the West Bank, all wanting the same basic things we all hope to have in our lives. Every person deserves to have their basic human needs met, food, shelter, access to education, freedom, and opportunity. If even one person is unable to thrive, humanity loses.

Ramanathan Gnanadesikan

Founder