Madras Round Table 1 is back with their annual fundraiser and this time it is to ensure more children gain fair access to quality education in the city. The fundraiser, aptly titled ‘Keep Them In School Campaign’, will help a select few schools spruce up their infrastructure.

MRT1 has selected a total of 5 schools from across the city – Government Girls School, Avadi; Government Girls School, Perambur; Panchayat Union School, Thoraipakkam; Adhidravidar School, Kolapanchery and Lady NYE HSS, Taramani – to benefit from the crowdfunding. The money raised will go towards building infrastructure and equipping classrooms with better facilities.

Tarun Reddy, present chairman of MRT1, India’s very first Round Table that was established in November 1957 in Chennai, says, “Certain schools wanted furniture, paint work or renovation. The all-girls school had provisions for 90 odd toilets but only 20 or so are functional. They have almost 3,500 girl students. The funds, 100% of what has been raised, will be given to these schools for undertaking such works.” MRT1 will also follow up on these projects to make sure they are completed, he adds.

The fundraiser will have a show put together by renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, who agreed to hop on board as a favour to his close friend Sindoori Reddy. Sindoori is Apollo Hospital’s COO for the southern region and Tarun Reddy’s wife.

Tarun Tahiliani with Aditi Rao Hydari

Tarun Tahiliani’s latest collection will be on display at ITC Grand Chola on March 30.

“A fundraiser has to be a spectacle. This is not like Fashion Week where buyers quickly go through a small collection. This is not a crowd that goes to fashion week every day either. We need to wow them with something fantastic,” says Tarun, in between going through sketches and making sure all the arrangements are in place for the fundraiser.

The show will have a total of 80 garments from Tarun Tahiliani’s Spring Summer 2019 collection in addition to couture pieces. Tarun Tahiliani, who calls the fashion show a hook to pull people in for the cause, says, “It is very nice to be able to use our fashion once in a while to help such causes. Education has always remained close to my heart.”

Tarun fondly recalls his father Admiral RH Tahiliani’s contribution towards education and adds that education was a cause he has always been interested in. “My father has been actively involved in making sure education reaches many people. Almost 2,500 children get educated at the Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhawan Anguridevi Shersingh Memorial Academy that was run by him. When he died, one-fourth of his estate went to the school as donation. He always said education was important, that it was the future of the country,” shares Tarun.

For donor passes please contact 9840578326/ 9840783269.