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Varinder Bhalla receives Washington State University alumni award
He has served thousands through his food bank and global humanitarian projects, promoting sustainable solutions to poverty.
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 19, Jul 2025
- 14:45 EDT
- 55
Varinder Bhalla (3rd from right) with family and friends receiving the WSU Alumni Achievement Award from executive director Mariah Maki / Courtesy - Varinder Bhalla
Washington State University (WSU) has bestowed the Alumni Achievement Award upon Indian-American philanthropist and community leader Varinder Bhalla.
The award, presented at an exclusive dinner reception in New York City, comes 30 years after Bhalla’s initial nomination and recognizes his commitment to humanitarian causes.
Mariah Maki, executive director of the WSU alumni association, traveled from Washington to formally present the honor in the presence of distinguished alumni and members of the New York Chapter, including chapter vice president Meghann Cherzan andClass of 1971 alumna Fran Rowley.
Also read: Indian American community leader Varinder Bhalla receives Congressional Award
Maki highlighted Bhalla’s exemplary service as founder and president of the AWB Food Bank, which has distributed nearly 15 million meals across India. “From New Delhi to New York, your commitment to improving lives reflects the highest ideals of service and leadership. With sincere gratitude, the Washington State University Alumni Association proudly bestows upon you its highest honor for exemplifying the spirit, values, and pride of what it means to be a WSU Coug.”
In his acceptance address, Bhalla paid tribute to his late mother, Agya Wanti Bhalla. “As a child, I watched her quietly and consistently feed hungry people in our hometown. Her compassion, her sense of duty, and her unwavering belief in the power of giving left a lifelong impression on me. She planted the seed; I simply helped it grow,” he said.
“Washington State University gave me more than an education - it gave me purpose. This recognition reconnects me with my roots and reminds me that giving back is the truest form of success,” Bhalla added.
The university also recognized Bhalla’s wife and partner in service, Ratna Bhalla, with the honorary title of WSU Family Member, acknowledging her steadfast contributions to their philanthropic mission.
The Alumni Achievement Award is a rare distinction, awarded to fewer than 0.2 percent of WSU’s over 250,000 graduates since its inception in 1969. Past recipients include Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
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