17th January, 2025: Brigade Foundation, the CSR arm of Brigade Group, donated a sum of ₹50 Lakh Rupees towards Dr Rao’s NGO, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jeevan Dhara Foundation, and Cyte Care. – Humanist. The donations were announced after Dr Shiela Rao’s keynote address to graduating students from all three Brigade Schools. The event commenced with the invocation and lighting of the lamp, creating a serene ambience that set the stage for the evening.
The programme, ‘Passion with Compassion’, is the brainchild of our Founder, Mrs Githa Shankar. In keeping with this, Mrs Githa Shankar felicitated Dr Shiela Rao for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. Ms Shiela Rao, who has a Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and received the ICAR scholarship in 1974, has positively impacted countless lives with her unwavering commitment to animal welfare. As the Honorary Secretary and Trustee of the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC) and the Co-founding Trustee of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Ms Rao has been a pioneer in advocating for the humane treatment and care of animals, blending compassion with action.
Mrs Parthasarathy, Principal of The Brigade School @JP Nagar, delivered the welcome speech. She said, marks not just a milestone in the lives of our graduating students but also a celebration of Brigade Foundation’s enduring commitment to education and community development.
Mrs Githa Shankar, Founder of The Brigade Schools, addressed the graduating students. Mrs Shankar encourages our students to pursue their search for excellence in academics and other activities. At the same time, she believes it is essential to realise that one’s quality of life cannot improve if we do not help others.
The Junior School Choir from The Brigade School @ Mahadevapura presented the song “In This Together” – “I can hear the whole world singing together, I can hear the whole world say, ‘It’s now or never.’” These powerful lines resonated in the hearts and minds of our students. This song had a profound message about the urgency to protect our wildlife and environment. The lyrics inspired collective responsibility, reminding the students that working together can make a meaningful difference to our planet.
Dr Shiela Rao, the keynote speaker, spoke about the importance of animals and of being a compassionate human being. She stressed the collective responsibility of creating a more humane world: Dr. Suranjana Ganguly, a veterinarian BSc. BVMS MRCVS, from Glasgow University, spoke about her experiences working for an NGO.
Students at The Brigade School @ Malleswaram performed a beautiful dance sequence that combined Bharatanatyam, the elegance of Kathak, and the expressive beauty of Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. This captivating sequence celebrated the essence and spirit of Mother Earth and the life it nurtures.
In essence, the programme blended recognition of outstanding contributions, motivational addresses and artistic expressions, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.