August 5, 2012. The Oak Creek Sikh temple attack changed everything.
Our story
Compassion with a plan. Dignity delivered with precision.
From a campaign responding to hate, the Foundation expanded into five mission areas. Today, that history continues through education, protection, advocacy, food access, and humanitarian support.
Meet the leadershipWhere it all started
From a call to end hate to a blueprint for dignity.
A gunman attacked the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six worshippers and wounding others. The violence shook Sikh communities and exposed the lethal consequences of white-supremacist hate.
For founder Gurbaksh Chahal, the headlines reopened childhood memories of being bullied for wearing a patka. Two decades later, the same prejudice had escalated into lethal violence. Something had to change.
Gurbaksh committed USD 1 million and launched #BeProud on November 11, 2012. Public figures and community members helped amplify a simple message: reject hate, stand with targeted communities, and be proud of who you are.
What began as a public call to reject discrimination expanded into work across education, child protection, food security, safety and justice, and emergency response.
What we stand for today
Five focus areas. Many ways to create change.
Each area connects Foundation history with programs, campaigns, and current participation paths.
Education
School initiatives in India, #LetsMakeOurKidsSmile, Enactus Inaayat, practical AI education, and the Chahal Foundation scholarship at Pace University.
Child Protection
The Be a Super Hero campaign, public awareness, survivor-centered principles, and responsible partnerships for prevention and protection.
Food Security
Food and nutrition support connected to education, family stability, community response, and humanitarian relief.
Safety & Justice
Advocacy and rapid response through #BeProud, gun violence prevention, community defense, and survivor support.
Emergency Response
COVID-19 medical-supply initiatives, hospital support, humanitarian logistics, and disaster relief.
How we work
Precision is the throughline.
The rhythm behind every initiative—listen, design, deliver, measure—keeps generosity accountable.
Listen
We begin with the lived experience of communities. No assumptions—only the voices of the people most affected.
Design
Programs are architected with local partners and specialists to address root causes, not symptoms.
Deliver
Our teams mobilize logistics, talent, and funding with precision—from school renovations to emergency supply chains.
Measure
We learn from results, communicate responsibly, and improve the approaches that can create lasting value.
Mission milestones
A journey from one campaign to a broader global mission.
These dates mark the growth of the Foundation across education, protection, emergency response, and public advocacy.
2012
#BeProud launch
2010+
Pace scholarship program
2016+
Child-protection campaign
2020
COVID-19 response
2022
Gun-safety advocacy
2026
Current scholarship cycle
Programs and campaigns
Explore the work that shaped the mission.
Each card leads to a Foundation campaign, scholarship, advocacy tool, emergency initiative, or retrospective with more history, media, and ways to help.
2012 onward
The Chahal Foundation’s Beginning
Learn how a response to hate became a broader commitment to dignity, education, safety, protection, food access, and humanitarian support.
Foundation campaign
Launched November 11, 2012
#BeProud
The Foundation’s founding anti-discrimination campaign grew from the Oak Creek tragedy and called on people to reject hate, stand with targeted communities, and build belonging.
Foundation campaign
2010 onward and 2026 application cycle
Chahal Foundation Pace Scholarship
Review the scholarship history, selected alumni profiles, eligibility information, and the 2026 application timeline for the Foundation scholarship.
Current program
Education initiatives in the 2010s
#LetsMakeOurKidsSmile
This education campaign addressed barriers to learning in India, including school conditions, nutrition, sanitation, menstrual health, supplies, and technology access.
Program milestone
2016 onward
Be a Super Hero
The anti-trafficking campaign focuses on prevention, responsible partnerships, survivor-centered support, public awareness, and accountability.
Program milestone
2020 and later pandemic waves
COVID-19 Response
The Foundation responded to the pandemic through medical-supply, hospital-support, and humanitarian initiatives in India and beyond.
Program milestone
Join the movement
Ready to be part of the next chapter?
Whether you donate, volunteer, or amplify our work, you help us move faster, smarter, and with deeper impact.