SURYA DONATES MORE THAN 3,900 FOOD ITEMS TO COMMUNITY FOOD BANK 11.25.14
CALHOUN, Ga. — Nov. 24, 2014 — Surya employees collected more than 3,900 non-perishable food items during the company’s fourth annual food drive, which took place from Nov. 10 to Nov. 20. The donations were delivered last week to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which distributes healthy food to residents of 20 counties throughout Northwest Georgia and Tennessee.
Surya held its first food drive in 2011 as a way to help the surrounding community and it has since grown to become an annual initiative. This year, Surya employees formed two teams to see which team could collect the most items. This competitive spirit paid off, with the combined team effort resulting in the collection of 528 more items than were collected during the same period last year.
“More than 49 million Americans live without knowing when and where they will get their next meal,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “During this time of year when families gather to celebrate and give thanks, it’s important to share with those in our community who are less fortunate. Even the smallest act of generosity can have a big impact on the lives of others and I am very proud of the Surya team for coming together in such a big way to help our neighbors in North Georgia and Tennessee.”
Since 2011, Surya has provided more than 11,000 food items to local food banks. To learn more about Surya’s commitment to social responsibility, visit
www.surya.com/social-responsibility.
About the Chattanooga Area Food Bank (CAFB)
Founded in 1982, the CAFB is committed to leading a network of partners in eliminating hunger and promoting better nutrition in the areas it serves. The CAFB acquires and distributes healthy food across a 20-county service region, including Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, with help from its network of over 300 partner agencies. Last year, the CAFB distributed over 12 million pounds of food and served over 20,000 people each week. In addition to food provision, the CAFB works to engage the public in the fight to end hunger and empower people to take responsibility for their health and their lives. For more information, visit
www.chattfoodbank.org.
SURYA'S MILES FOR MEALS CAMPAIGN RAISES OVER $69K FOR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM IN RURAL INDIA 11.11.14
Funds raised will provide daily lunches to more than 4,600 school children for an entire year
CALHOUN, Ga. — Nov. 11, 2014 — Surya's third annual ‘Miles for Meals’ campaign exceeded expectations, raising $69,603 for
Akshaya Patra, an NGO-run meal program that provides daily hot lunches to thousands of school children in villages in Northern India where Surya’s artisan community resides.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, more than 48 Surya employees, customers and partners ran a half marathon in Cumming, Ga., to raise money for Akshaya Patra, which means “inexhaustible vessel” in Sanskrit. Surya employees also secured donations through creative fundraising initiatives that included an ice bucket challenge, car wash, ping pong tournament, yoga class and sale of handcrafted items and baked goods. Many Surya customers also contributed funds to the campaign.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s Miles for Meals results,” said Satya Tiwari, president, Surya. “For many children, the lunchtime meal they receive from Akshaya Patra is their only meal for the day and it can make such a big difference in the lives of not only the children but also their families and the community. The Surya team truly went above and beyond this year, far exceeding our fundraising goal of $50,000, and we look forward to raising even more money for this important cause next year.”
In addition to the money raised by the Miles for Meals campaign, an additional 250 school children will receive meals for a year thanks to members of Surya Rewards, Surya’s customer loyalty program, who donated their Surya Points in October to Akshaya Patra.
“Surya’s Miles for Meals program demonstrates the compassion and heart of the entire Surya organization and its amazing employees and partners,” said Emily Rosenbaum, Akshaya Patra USA CEO. “This year, Miles for Meals runners and donors have supported 4,600 children with midday meals for a year. What an incredible feat this is and one that will be reflected in the smiles and joy of the many children who now have a chance to get the education and nutrition that will help them to truly thrive as adults. Our thanks go out to all who made this happen!”
Since its inception in 2012, Surya’s Miles for Meals program has raised more than $140,000 for Akshaya Patra. The organization delivers a hot, nutritious midday meal to 1.4 million children daily, and $15 feeds one child for an entire year.
To learn more about Akshaya Patra and Surya’s commitment to social responsibility, visit
www.surya.com/social-responsibility.
SURYA SET TO UNVEIL NEW HOSPITALITY LIGHTING AND RUG COLLECTIONS AT BOUTIQUE DESIGN NEW YORK 11.05.14
CALHOUN, Ga. — Nov. 5, 2014 — Surya will introduce a new line of hospitality lighting along with a collection of eco-friendly rugs at Boutique Design New York (BDNY), which takes place from Nov. 9-10 in New York City.
The new lighting line includes a selection of contemporary guest room lamps available in a range of rich finishes and textures and priced in the one hundred dollar range. The lamps feature a USB port and electrical outlet for convenient charging of portable devices, and are compatible with both LED and standard incandescent light bulbs. Designers can choose from multiple base and shade options, providing optimal design flexibility. All designs will be stocked and available for quick shipment.
Surya will also showcase a collection of hand-knotted rugs constructed of PET yarn made from recycled plastic water bottles. The rugs, which feature classic and transitional designs in fashion forward color palettes, have been designed to provide the look of a high-end, handcrafted rug while offering durability and ease of care at a very accessible price point.
“We are excited to launch our newest collections for the hospitality market,” said Tom Etheridge, vice president of Hospitality, Surya. “Our goal is to make it easy for designers to create distinctive guest rooms that not only provide a great guest experience but also help to build brand awareness for the hotel or property. We look forward to sharing these new products with BDNY attendees and to further expanding our product offering to include even more innovative and sustainable options specifically designed for the hospitality market.”
BDNY attendees are invited to explore Surya's new lighting and rug collections at
Booth 848 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.