‘Little drops of water make the mighty ocean.’ Likewise, each and every initiative, no matter big or small, with great purposes and for noble causes contributes to the benefit of mankind. The Saris to Suits Calendar is one such campaign by a woman for women, in the United States, raising funds to empower thousands of lives against domestic violence and gender inequality.
Launched in 2011 by former CNN news anchor and TriPath Media founder Patti Tripathi, the Saris to Suits Calendar is not just a medium of women empowerment but a tribute to women power across the world.
Every year the calendar comes with a new edition featuring twelve powerful South Asian women from different walks of life, who challenge conventional social norms and who have inspiring stories to tell the world. Revenues from sales of the calendar are donated to fund the women-aiding activities by two non-profit organizations in USA.
Born in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Patti Tripathi moved to the United States at the age of 12. She didn’t know English until she turned 12. Today she is an eminent figure in the Atlanta Indian American community. In her 20s, she did news anchoring for the global headquarters of CNN in Atlanta. A graduate in English literature and American studies (journalism) from the University of Notre Dame, Patti Tripathi runs a public relations company in Atlanta for media training, event planning and crisis communications.
The Saris to Suits Calendar founder, Patti Tripathi is up with the 2017 edition which features twelve inspirational female personalities including the Houston University President & Chancellor Dr. Renu Khator and the Nobel Award-winning human rights activist Malala Yousafzai.
She hit upon the idea of a calendar of female achievers, dressed in saris or suits, as a fund-raising and empowerment tool when she herself featured in a calendar of smart female students from various communities during her days at Notre Dame University. The idea was also sparked by her effort to stand on her own feet instead of being a financial burden on her family in terms of dowry, which is still prevalent in India despite the official ban.
Initially she was questioned about the commercial potential of a calendar featuring fully-dressed women who were neither actresses nor models. But she listened only to herself and believed in her idea of the Saris to Suits Calendar. The popularity of the first edition went on to bury all doubts and silence all criticism.
“The women in saris or suits on my calendar are role models for young girls and women because of their academic excellence, professional achievements, and contributions to the progress of society. They are inspirational embodiments of fight against gender violence and gender disparity,” says Patti Tripathi.
Besides Dr. Renu Khator and Malala Yousafzai, the 2017 edition of the Saris to Suits Calendar also features MIT professor & cancer researcher Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Arjuna Award winner Roopa Unnikrishnan, fashion entrepreneur & PurseN CEO Hardeep Melamed, motivational speaker Cara E. Yar Khan, 18-year-old Indian American ballroom dancer Rayna Chandra, Indian American Muslim politician Raaheela Ahmed, women’s rights activist Dr. Nazeera Dawood, Nepalese American journalist-anchor Kiran Chetry, Saris to Suits’ board member Dr. Vanila Singh, and budding journalist Puneet Kaur Sandhu.
Travel Beats is an Indian American Community portal by IndianEagle, a leading partner of Indians in USA. Travel Beats publishes latest news about Indian Diaspora and inspirational stories of Indian Americans. It also shares the latest travel updates.
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