Smile Foundation partners with Chef Vikas Khanna; creates Cook for a Smile'

Smile Foundation and 3 times Michelin star Chef Vikas Khanna have joined hands to create an exciting and unique charity cookout – “Cook for a Smile” presented by Hyatt Hotels in India on Sunday May 18th, 2014 at Grand Hyatt Mumbai.  Funds raised from the campaign will be used to provide education and nutrition for 5,000 children for one year. Three times Michelin Starred Chef Vikas Khanna has also joined Smile Foundation as a Goodwill Ambassador for “NUTRITION FOR BETTER LITERACY” initiative

The 12 top corporate leaders took a day off from their busy lives to don Chef’s toques to re-create their favourite recipe with the sole mission of supporting Smile Foundation’s ‘Nutrition for Better Literacy’. Each corporate leader was joined by the junior master-chefs from Smile Foundation who acted as sous-chefs. PepsiCo, Kitchen Aid and CNBC have also come on board as and encouraged this initiative as partners.

Expressing his excitement for this initiative Chef Vikas Khanna, Goodwill Ambassador –Nutrition For Better Literacy , Smile Foundation said , “I am very proud to be join hands with Smile Foundation and help make difference in the lives of children by providing them nutrition for better literacy. While Indian cuisine is going global, malnutrition is on the rise in India. Three out ten children in India have stunted growth. Therefore, as the ambassador, I am working towards providing nutrition to 5000 children this year. It’s a small step, a small beginning for a cause that is close to my heart. I thank all the responsible corporate and the leaders to come forward and support this initiative.”

“Making a difference in our communities is a natural extension of our mission to provide authentic hospitality. Together with the Smile Foundation and committed individuals such as Chef Vikas Khanna, we are proud to have been able to raise funds and awareness for 'Nutrition for Better Literacy'.  Through our company-wide philanthropic and environmental platform – Hyatt Thrive – we hope to continue to undertake various fund-raising and volunteer activities through the year that emphasise our belief in Human Care and the Human Spirit, “ said Yasmin D. Poonegar, Director of Corporate Communications, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – Southwest Asia Ltd.

Chef Hermann,Executive Chef of Grand Hyatt-Mumbai and his team also created a signature mango dessert especially for the children of Smile Foundation at the event.

“Cook for a Smile” Participants:  Mr. Arjun Bafna, Managing Director, Seven Islands Harley-Davidson; Mr. Tejbir Singh Sawhney, CEO, Hindustan Colas Ltd.; Mr. Manoj Chacko, CEO, Kuoni Business Travel, Kuoni India; Mr. Sharavan Kumar, CEO, Children Film Society India; Mr. David Mansfield, Area Director & General Manager, Grand Hyatt, Mumbai; Mr. Amarendra Kulkarni, CMD, General Instruments Consortium; Dr. Ramen Goel, Ex-President, All India Association for Advanced Research on Obesity; Mr. Nityanand Shetty, Managing Director, Essen Vision Software Ltd.;  Ms. Archana Kochhar, Founder & CEO, Archana Couture; Mr. Mohit Jain, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Kitchen Aid; Mr. Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO, GOQii Inc. and Mr. Arun Chatterjee, Vice President- Depositary Receipts BNY Mellon India participated in the first ever ‘Cook for a Smile’ and supported the cause.

Speaking about the association Vikram Singh Verma, COO Smile Foundation said “One in every three malnourished children in the world is from India. The consequences are long-term and it prevents children’s overall growth, learning ability, going to school and a chance to come out of the vicious cycle of poverty for yet another generation. Thereby it prevents the country’s growth too. In order to bring some real and permanent change in the lives of the most deserving children across India, we have brought together a diverse team, which includes celebrated Chef Vikas Khanna, Hyatt hotels in India and corporate leaders and trendsetters under our ‘Cook for a Smile’ initiative. The Smile Foundation believes in sensitizing the privileged section of the society so that they take active participation in the process of development.”