Akshaya Patra, an organization that brings midday meals to schools in India at a large scale held its annual fundraiser. Linda Henry and Tom Ashbrook were on panel and they shared insights into their lives, their philosophy on philanthropy and why they think Akshaya Patra is a fine example of a great NGO.

On Point’s host, Tom Ashbrook, is an award-winning journalist brought to public radio following the attacks of September 11, 2001, when he was enlisted by NPR and WBUR-Boston for special coverage, after a distinguished career in newspaper reporting and editing.Tom received the Livingston Prize for National Reporting, and was a 1996 fellow at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation before taking a four-year plunge into Internet entrepreneurship, chronicled in his book The Leap: A Memoir of Love and Madness in the Internet Gold Rush.

Raised on an Illinois farm, Tom studied American history at Yale and Gandhi’s independence movement at Andhra University, India. Before taking up journalism he worked as a surveyor and dynamiter in Alaska’s oil fields, a teaching fellow with the Yale-China Association, a Hong Kong television personality, and a producer of international editions of Chinese kung fu films.

Linda Pizzuti Henry, wife of John Henry owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, is a native of Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Her father moved to New England as a teenager and later worked as an engineer before forming his development firm. Linda and her three older sisters work there, although Linda’s involvement is smaller now. Linda has a Masters Degree from MIT in real estate development.

“I really have a great fondness for India. I have spent some time in Andhra Pradesh” says Tom Ashbrook. “Indian Americans have worked hard and have had huge success.  It is inspiring to see people like Desh Deshpande, use their skills to fix many of the challenges that are facing India’s poor. I respect Desh greatly and it is my privilege to be part of this event,” said Ashbrook. "I love the ambition and entrepreneurial skills that go into feeding so many children."

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