The Chahal Foundation's Beginning

The Foundation history begins with the 2012 attack on the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The violence brought back founder Gurbaksh Chahal's memories of discrimination as a child and reinforced the belief that a public response to hate was necessary.

He committed $1 million to launch the effort first known as #BeProud. That campaign called on people to reject racism and discrimination, stand with targeted communities, and build a culture of dignity and belonging.

The original Foundation story described an expansion from anti-discrimination into education, university scholarships and mentorship, school improvement, child protection, food access, public advocacy, and disaster relief.

That wider mission connected public advocacy with practical programs, named campaigns, scholarship support, humanitarian response, and partnerships designed to help people build safer and more hopeful futures.

• Education and scholarship access.
• Child protection and anti-trafficking awareness.
• Food security and community support.
• Safety, justice, and anti-discrimination advocacy.
• Emergency response and humanitarian assistance.

The Foundation emphasizes learning from communities, understanding root causes, raising awareness, bringing partners together, and using funding, logistics, technology, and public communication to move from concern to action.

That operating philosophy connects the Foundation's earliest public campaign with its education, protection, advocacy, and humanitarian initiatives.

The historical values were direct: every child should have access to education; every person should be able to live without fear; people should have access to food, water, shelter, and health support; and everyone should have the freedom to pursue a better life.

Those values remain the organizing thread across the Foundation mission, even as individual campaigns and partnerships evolve over time.