In a rare interview, Shloka Mehta, the elder daughter-in-law of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, shed light on her social welfare initiative, ConnectFor. Shloka, 24, appeared on The Krish Kothari Show alongside ConnectFor co-founder Maniti Shah, offering a captivating glimpse into her world.
Shloka, wife of Akash Ambani, delved into ConnectFor’s mission, its impressive achievements, and the profound impact it has had on countless lives. She also offered a rare glimpse into the extravagant Antilia, the Ambani family’s sprawling residence, considered one of the most expensive private homes globally.
ConnectFor is a non-profit organization (NGO) dedicated to bolstering the developmental sector. It aims to achieve this by facilitating engagement within the volunteer community, building capacity, and creating value-added services for NGOs. Launched in 2015 under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Rosy Blue Foundation – a philanthropic arm of Shloka’s family business – ConnectFor strives to provide comprehensive resource solutions for the social sector. It seeks to create a synergistic ecosystem where NGOs, volunteers, and corporations can collaborate effectively, enhancing the value and structure of their partnerships.
During the Krish Kothari Show, Shloka shared the fascinating genesis of her NGO. She revealed that ConnectFor’s inception stemmed from a casual game of cards. A friend, returning to India from the US, sought Shloka’s guidance on finding meaningful volunteer opportunities before embarking on her corporate career. This friend also confided in Shloka about the difficulties she faced in connecting with non-profit organizations. Shloka, who had previously worked with the Rosy Blue Foundation, noticed that several grants were repeatedly awarded to the same NGOs. This, in part, was a consequence of a CSR law that mandated audited reports and annual reports to demonstrate the impact of the funds allocated to an NGO.
“I felt there are so many talented people. If they can get connected to these nonprofits who don’t have the resources to hire someone to write reports or audit them, it would work out so well,” Shloka said, as quoted by the Economic Times.
Shloka also shared an inspiring story that illuminated the powerful impact of ConnectFor. She recounted receiving a call from a woman eager to volunteer during ConnectFor’s early days. Shloka connected the woman with a children’s shelter home, and the woman enthusiastically committed to volunteering three times a week. A year later, Shloka received an emotionally charged email from the woman. The woman shared that she had endured a challenging period in her life when she joined ConnectFor. She had lost her husband to cancer and felt lost and uncertain about how to fill her time. Volunteering at the children’s shelter brought her immense joy and purpose, providing a sense of direction and fulfillment.
This personal anecdote exemplifies the transformative power of ConnectFor, showcasing how it connects individuals with impactful opportunities that not only benefit communities but also enrich the lives of volunteers.
