Partner Partner Content 50 years, 50 stories: Story #30 Kulkarni Family Fund
Bhushan and Swatee Kulkarni came to the U.S. from Mumbai, India over 25 years ago. A successful entrepreneur and community leader, Bhushan is generous in the time and resources he gives to support a number of local organizations. One moment in his career served as the catalyst for the Kulkarni family’s commitment to giving back to help others.
Giving Back to Help Others
Over 25 years ago, Bhushan and Swatee Kulkarni came to the U.S. from Mumbai, India to pursue graduate studies in engineering and have lived in the area ever since. A successful entrepreneur, Bhushan is both the Chairman of GDI Infotech and the President & CEO of a new start-up company, InfoReady Corp. As a community leader, Bhushan has given his time to support a number of local organizations – as the current Chair of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees and on several nonprofit boards including Ann Arbor SPARK, the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ann Arbor IT Zone, and the Ann Arbor Art Center.
One moment in Bhushan’s career served as a catalyst for his family’s commitment to giving back. When Bhushan received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2001, he credited his success to the “extraordinary opportunities extended to him in the U.S. and Michigan.” Reflecting on his impromptu remarks, Bhushan asked himself, “So what am I doing in appreciation?”
In 2009, the Kulkarnis established a donor advised fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation to support their charitable giving. As Bhushan explains, “We came to this country with absolutely nothing, so we understand the struggles others go through.” When asked why he and Swatee chose to give through AAACF, he cites two reasons: “AAACF really understands our community, and they make giving easy and uncomplicated.”
One of the many ways the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
supports all that is good in our community.
Read more “good” stories at: aaacf.org/stories
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