Neha Gupta, the 2014 International Children’s Peace Prize winner and Penn State freshman, is bringing her philanthropic efforts to the university. Gupta’s been in contact with Penn State in an effort to bring her organization, Empower Orphans, to campus, and hopes to get students involved in the effort. To date, Empower Orphans has raised $1.7 million and helped 25,000 orphaned children worldwide.

Gupta praised the university’s communications team and said she hopes more awareness for her cause will soon be raised. Empower Orphans has provided education, medical aid, clean water, and stability to underprivileged children in India and the United States for nearly a decade. Now, it’s being brought to campus in hopes of expanding and benefiting more of those in need. The new group is looking for enthusiastic members who want to help join the cause and make a difference. Gupta will lead the first meeting to initiate the organization’s arrival at Penn State on April 22 at 8:15 p.m. in Atherton Hall’s Grandfather Clock Lounge. All are welcome to attend.

Like many campus organizations, Gupta hopes Empower Orphans will combine the importance of service with the social aspects of college through engaging on-campus fundraisers. The fundraisers will work to benefit lives of children who are both abroad and here in Pennsylvania. Gupta also plans to attract students from an array of skills and talents who share the mutual passion to help make a difference.

Gupta said she wants to work with the Milton S. Hershey School, a privately-funded philanthropic school of 2,000 that helps underprivileged kids, though not all are orphans. There are many leadership positions available for the new club in IT, medical, and education fields. They’ll all work together to provide positive outcomes and reach the Empower Orphans goals. It is also a wonderful opportunity to improve and gain leadership skills, Gupta said.

“I want students from every academic college involved because when we pull our different talents and interests together we will be able to have a bigger impact,” Gupta explained.

Most of Gupta’s previous work took place in India. Now a freshman at Penn State, she said it’s no trouble keeping in contact with those she’s helped, and making sure they continue to receive aid.

“In order to keep up to date with what is happening in India we have partner organizations that keep us informed. In addition, we can easily contact the schools we help,” she said.

Anyone interested should attend the meeting to learn more about the organization and how to get involved. And yes, there will be food.