Indian Americans bask in the glory of being highly qualified, cultured, rooted, and philanthropic. They rejoice in giving back to their alma maters in the US and India. We are halfway into 2026 and seeing their philanthropic best this year. They continue to hit the headlines for their significant donations and contributions in America that they call home away from home.
The latest news is about the Indian American couple – Brij and Sunita Agrawal – who pledged a whopping $5.5 million to St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land Hospital in Texas. Based in Sugar Land near Dallas, home to North America’s tallest Hanuman statue, Brij and Sunita’s generous donation will help create the area’s first free primary care clinic and expand healthcare access to the underserved residents. St. Luke’s Health will rename its main tower and pavilion in honor of the Agrawal family.
Their individual donation is the biggest of all contributions that Indian Americans have made so far in 2026. It followed billionaire Anil Kochhar’s commitment to pay off the final-year loans for North Carolina State University’s 202 graduates, irrespective of their nationality and language. In April 2026, Indian American Vijay Ramakrishnan and his wife Praveena donated $3 million to Duke University for medical research and advancement in North Carolina. The parents of Indian American Savitha Shan, who died in a mass shooting, endowed a $1 million scholarship in her memory.
Who are Brij and Sunita Agrawal in Texas?
Born in Chhattisgarh, India, Brij Agrawal moved to Houston in 1979 at the age of 17 in search of better opportunities. Like many first-generation immigrants, he balanced work and education during his early years in America, attending night classes while earning a daytime living. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston in 1988 and obtained his Professional Engineer license later.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, he served as a Lead Engineer at M.W. Kellogg from 1985 to 1990 and later as CEO of ABM Industries from 1990 to 1998. In 1988, Brij founded VKC Group with a single store. Over the decades, it grew into a major restaurant management company operating more than 150 restaurants across Texas, Colorado and New Mexico, earning recognition among the top franchise operators in USA.
Beyond business, Brij has held several leadership roles within the restaurant industry and the Indian American community. He has served as Chairperson of the Subway Franchisee Advertisement Fund Trust and as a Director of Subway’s Independent Purchasing Cooperative, where he received the Presidential Award for his leadership and contributions. He has also served as Vice President of Finance at India House Houston.
A distinguished alumnus of the University of Houston, Brij Agrawal established a Presidential Endowment that supports engineering students through scholarships. His wife, Sunita Agrawal, has been a key partner in the family’s charitable work and helps oversee the Brij & Sunita Agrawal Foundation, which supports education, healthcare, and community initiatives in the US and India.
Sunita and Brij Agrawal’s philanthropy spanning 21 years
The recent $5.5 million donation is not the Agrawals’ first contribution to Sugar Land. Back in 2005, when the University of Houston System was expanding its Sugar Land campus, the couple pledged $100,000 toward a new academic building. At the time, Brij Agrawal spoke about how education opened doors for him after arriving in America and why he wanted future students to have similar opportunities.
“I would not have graduated from college if it wasn’t for the UH System. That is why I am so passionate about supporting UH. I live in Sugar Land and that makes me more attached to the UH at Sugar Land campus. I am thrilled to know the impact this gift will have on the students and faculty in terms of access to state-of-the-art equipment in a modern academic building and campus in Sugar Land,” said Agrawal.
Seventeen years later, in 2022, the Agrawals increased their commitment by donating $1 million to the University of Houston. The gift helped create advanced manufacturing laboratories, upgrade technology facilities, and support workforce development programs. The university named the Brij and Sunita Agrawal Auditorium in recognition of their contribution.
