Sachin Tendulkar: The Heart of a Cricketer, The Soul of a Philanthropist

Sachin Tendulkar – the cricket legend – is the first cricketer to score 100 centuries (100 runs in a single innings) in international play. His outstanding game and hard work has made the country proud at the international platform. Often known as the best batsman in the game, Tendulkar has earned immense popularity and fame among the countrymen.

Tendulkar recently had a heartwarming encounter with the iconic industrialist Ratan Tata. Enthusiastic about their meeting, Tendulkar shared details of their ‘unforgettable conversation’ and the time they spent together on social media, much to the delight of his followers, accompanied by a charming photo of the two.

In his post, Tendulkar expressed, “Last Sunday was memorable, as I had the opportunity to spend time with Mr. Tata. We shared stories and insights about our mutual love for automobiles, our commitment to giving back to society, passion for wildlife conservation, and affection for our furry friends.”

Tendulkar emphasized the value of such interactions, saying, “Conversations like these are invaluable and remind us of the joy and impact our passions can bring to our lives. It’s a day I will remember with a smile always.”

A Memorable Conversation.

Last Sunday was memorable, as I had the opportunity to spend time with Mr. Tata.

We shared stories and insights about our mutual love for automobiles, our commitment to giving back to society, passion for wildlife conservation, and affection for our… pic.twitter.com/a9n1KU1CgC

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 21, 2024

Tendulkar retired from playing professional cricket in the year 2013. In his second innings of life, he has been using his fame and popularity to support social causes that he believes in. Through his philanthropic efforts, he continues to serve the nation in a different way. Let us look at some of these efforts.

Sachin Tendulkar Foundation

The cricket-god Sachin Tendulkar carries out his philanthropic work through the platform Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. The foundation often ties up with other organisations to provide support to various causes. The focus of foundation is children’s health, education and sports.

Collaboration with Ekam Foundation in Mumbai

Ekam Foundation Mumbai endeavours to provide financial assistance for child healthcare to the underprivileged sections of the society in government and economical trust hospitals. The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation aim to work with Ekam, leveraging their outreach to benefit children and their parents by providing them with financial assistance that aids in paying their medical expenses.

The collaboration has helped children in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Support to Apnalaya

Sachin Tendulkar has been a steadfast supporter of Apnalaya, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of people living in Mumbai’s slums. Apnalaya’s mission encompasses several critical areas: education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment. Through his involvement, Tendulkar has played a crucial role in raising both funds and awareness for their programs, thereby significantly impacting the lives of many underprivileged families.

Beyond financial contributions, Tendulkar has been a vocal advocate for Apnalaya, helping to raise awareness about the organization’s work. His celebrity status has drawn considerable media attention to Apnalaya’s initiatives, resulting in increased donations and volunteer support. Tendulkar’s endorsements have also encouraged other high-profile individuals and organizations to contribute, thereby expanding the NGO’s ability to implement and sustain its programs​.

The impact of Tendulkar’s support for Apnalaya is profound. The funds he has raised and donated have enabled the NGO to reach more families and provide more comprehensive services. Educational programs have seen higher enrollment rates, healthcare services have become more accessible, and women in the slums have gained new opportunities for empowerment. Tendulkar’s involvement has not only brought immediate relief but has also contributed to the long-term development and sustainability of these communities.

Support to SRCC Children’s Hospital

SRCC Children’s Hospital combines paediatric medical experience with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure affordable, quality medical care for infants, children and adolescents. The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation has partnered with them since they also cater to the middle and lower-middle class who can’t always afford appropriate medical care for their children. The aim of the collaboration is to ease their financial burden so that critical care can continue where required.

Makunda Hospital

Makunda Hospital is located in the tribal region of the Karimganj District in Assam, an area which has accessibility issues because of its geographical location. The hospital primarily caters to the medical and hospitalisation requirements of the very needy patients from Assam, Mizoram and Tripura. The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation has provided essential medical equipment that is critical for the paediatric ward of the hospital. The support has been extended with a belief that the modern best in class equipment, will fulfil unmet needs, and will assists the doctors in providing quality yet low cost affordable medical care to the children, who come from needy and underprivileged families.

Support to Hi5 Youth Foundation

In a significant stride towards empowering underprivileged children through a grassroot basketball program in India, the Hi 5 Youth Foundation has partnered with the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF) to construct basketball courts in Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. This is the 5th and 6th basketball court developed with the support of Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. The two foundations have been collaborating since 2020 to build sports infrastructure in schools.

APSWR School, also known as Dr. BR Ambedkar Gurukulam School, is an all-girls school managed by the social welfare department of Andhra Pradesh and is the venue for the new basketball court. This is home to around 400 girls in grades 5 to 10, the school is situated in Chittoor city, where APSBA conducts state camps and prepares teams for national tournaments. This marks Hi 5’s second school program in Andhra Pradesh in partnership with APSBA (Andhra Pradesh State Basketball Association).

The second court will be built in RKM School, Aalo, Arunachal Pradesh. Established in 1966, this school focuses on uplifting the underprivileged tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh through education, healthcare, and livelihood initiatives. Hi 5 Youth Foundation commenced its program at RKM, Aalo in June 2023, with 200 children actively participating in daily training sessions. Recognising the need in this remote region, Hi 5 Youth Foundation, with support from the STF, is set to build a basketball court with synthetic flooring, providing unique opportunities in a challenging location.

“Talking about this collaboration Sachin Tendulkar said, “Sports is a powerful tool that not only keeps children physically fit, but also builds character, self-esteem and confidence. It empowers children from marginalized backgrounds with the required skills that can help them win in all fields of life. The expansion of our association with the Hi 5 Youth Foundation to develop two more basketball courts for children in the tribal communities and girls in particular is one more step in our vision to transform India from a sports-watching nation to a sports-playing nation.”

Talking about the same Usha Sundar the founder of Hi 5 Youth Foundation said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation in our mission to promote sports and empower youth. Together, we aim to create inclusive spaces where young talents can thrive and communities can come together. We would also like to highlight that STF is currently supporting 300 children at our Tribal Centers in Maharashtra, has built two half courts and one full court in a remote village in Gujarat, and another full court at the Parivaar Education Society campus in West Bengal”

Addressing malnutrition with Seva Kutir Initiative with Parivaar

Parivaar works towards the overall development of underprivileged children in some of the most needy tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh. In collaboration with them, the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation aims to address issues such as malnutrition and lack of quality education that are prevalent in these areas. The ‘Seva Kutir’ initiative aims to provide children living in these remote areas get access to nutritious meals twice a day, quality education and physical development activities.

Vidyarthi Vikas Yojna (VVY)

Vidyarthi Vikas Yojna (VVY) is a project of the Seva Sahyog Foundation(SSF) that works towards providing financial and mentoring support to students from the underprivileged sections of our society to pursue higher education. It also provides support to schools in remote areas to upgrade their educational infrastructure. Through this collaboration, the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation aim to reach out to the less privileged children and their parents and enable these children to chase their dreams.