A Year of Impact: Sewa International Announces New Leadership

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sewa International USA, the leading Hindu faith-based non-profit organization, announced a change in leadership at its 19th national conference held in the Bay Area from May 3 to 5. Srikanth Gundavarapu, a prominent Indian American businessman from Atlanta, GA, became its fifth president, taking over the reins from Arun Kankani.

Suresh Jain, Chairman of Sewa's Board of Directors, informed attendees that Arun Kankani would continue to serve as Sewa's Executive Vice President, guiding its operations. He announced that the San Antonio Chapter will host Sewa's 20th National Conference.

The conference brought together over 140 volunteers, including Sewa's directors, advisory board members, executive teams, chapter presidents, coordinators, and other functionaries. Led by an all-volunteer executive team, Sewa has earned a distinction of serving in over 34 disasters since its inception in India in the 1980s as a social movement.

Arun Kankani, who led the organization to unprecedented heights during the COVID-19 pandemic, handed over the baton to Gundavarapu. In 2020, when COVID-19 ravaged the world, Sewa volunteers risked their lives to serve across the US cities by distributing millions of pounds of food and more than 100,000 hot meals to first responders, caregivers, and the public. It also saved several lives by sending over 10,000 oxygen concentrators to India during the pandemic. 

Over 4,500 Sewa volunteers served in the US during COVID-19. Sewa raised $45 million in 2021 from 140,000 donors, leading Benevity to rank Sewa among the top 10 charitable organizations supported by employers and their employees in 2021.

Accepting his new responsibility, Srikanth Gundavarapu said, "I'll lean on the strong shoulders that built this foundation. Sewa, which began as a small organization in an Atlanta garage, has now grown into an entity with strong systems and processes. Sewa's real strength lies in its thousands of volunteers and donors nationwide. Their dedication and hard work have built Sewa, and I am proud to carry forward its legacy".

Sewa's founding President, Srikant Konda, participated in the chat and recalled the organization's humble beginnings—forming chapters, raising local funds, and managing logistics with minimal resources. Sewa's second President, Gautam Desai, spoke of serving locally in the US, starting with Hurricane Katrina and the Bhutanese Refugee Empowerment Project across the US cities, and expanding its focus on international causes. Prof. Sree Srinath, Sewa's third president, recalled building systems and scaling Sewa into a nationally effective organization.

Leadership Means Care
In the concluding session, Advisory Board Member Saumitra Gokhale said, "This gathering reminded us that our progress stems not from chance, but from sustained effort, planning, and the dedication of volunteers over two decades. Sewa leadership isn't about titles—it's about continued service."

Sewa's board members, Dr. Ajay Singhal, Sridhar Talanki, Vishal Khera, and Sewa's Advisory Board Members, Shyam Parande, and Yashwant Pathak, attended the conference.

About Sewa International
Sewa International (www.sewausa.org) is a 501 (c) (3) Hindu faith-based charitable non-profit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

Contact:
Vidysagar Tontalapur
949-414-6624
[email protected]

SOURCE Sewa International