Generations of Change
1930’s
BU Patel was born in 1936.
1960’s
BU graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Baroda, Gujarat. Shortly after, BU and his wife Pushpa moved to Zambia in search of economic opportunity.
BU established his first business, a small general store out of his home, and went on to build a successful clothing manufacturing business.
1970’s
BU relocated his family to the United States.
In 1976, he purchased a small motel in Anaheim. For BU, this was a chance to start a small business to support his family and secure a place for them to live. With humble beginnings, the children and parents came together to run the motel and take their first steps in the hospitality sector.
1980’s
BUs entrepreneurial journey began to find success in the hospitality industry. The family business, formally known as Tarsadia Hotels, became one of the most respected hotel ownership entities in the Western United States.Â
1990’s
BU and Pushpa Patel began their philanthropic endeavors. In 1999 they established the Singod Foundation and have supported a range of education and community development programs in their hometown of Gujarat, India.
2000’s
In 2008, the foundation expanded to the U.S. and changed it’s name to the Tarsadia Foundation.
In 2009, Tarsadia Foundation facilitated its first service trip to India in partnership with Rising Star. This newly established family engagement initiative was driven by the belief that on-the-ground volunteering experiences would inspire lasting impact in the communities – and in the hearts and minds of their family members.
2010’s
Over the next decade, Tarsadia Foundation facilitated four more service trips to Peru, Cambodia, India and Zambia.
In 2010, Uka Tarsadia University was established in Surat, India and within 8 years, it was ranked in the top 200 universities in India. In 2011, they established Diwaliben Trust to promote education, health and community development in and around the Tarsadia village they grew up in.
2020’s
Tarsadia Foundation expands its grantee portfolio across the U.S. and India, supporting 100+ partners tackling systemic inequities and unleashing human potential across the globe.
In 2022, Tarsadia Foundation partnered with Dasra to launch the Rebuild India Fund, a $50 million, trust-based giving vehicle supporting India-based organizations committed to rebuilding their communities from the devastating impacts of Covid-19.
