Project Ahimsa’a Robin Sukhadia crowned “Mr. Hyphen”; Wins $500 for Youth Music Education Charity

Premier Asian American Magazine Bestows Title on Project Ahimsa Staff Member

(San Francisco, CA) May 23, 2006 - Project Ahimsa, an internationally-recognized non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth through music, announced that Robin Sukhadia, the group’s International Grants Program Director, was crowned “Mr. Hyphen” on Friday, May 19, 2006, and was awarded a $500 donation for Project Ahimsa. The “Mr. Hyphen” contest was sponsored by Hyphen magazine, the premier source for Asian American news and culture.

On Friday, May 19th, activists, organizers and leaders of various Asian American nonprofit organizations competed to earn the first-ever “Mr. Hyphen” crown. The contest, celebrating and honoring the Asian American man, was held at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in Oakland, CA. Sukhadia competed against six distinguished Asian American competitors in a three-round competition that featured talent, fashion and interview. Contestants were judged on style, attitude, talent and dedication to the Asian American community. As the winner, Sukhadia received a cash donation of $500 from Hyphen Magazine for Project Ahimsa, the nonprofit organization which he represented.

“It’s a great honor to be the first Mr. Hyphen,” said Sukhadia. “This event highlights the important work of Asian American male activists throughout the diverse Asian American population. As Project Ahimsa continues to implement music education programs throughout the world and, specifically, in other parts of Asia, collaborating with other visionary Asian Americans will become more critical to our collective success. This event is one step closer to building that synergy.”

San Francisco-based Hyphen magazine, dubbed “the oracle of Asian American culture” by the San Francisco Chronicle, is the only national magazine dedicated to covering pan-Asian Pacific American issues. Founded in 2002, the non-profit, volunteer-run magazine has covered everything from the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Asian American communities in New Orleans in-depth interviews with international artists like M.I.A and Anoushka Shankar.

Through its grants and instrument donations, Project Ahimsa provides music education for children in poor and under-served areas around the world, particularly in areas affected by violence. Project Ahimsa’s goal is to promote non-violence, cultural exchange and the healing power of music to improve the lives of at-risk and impoverished children. In Sanskrit, “Ahimsa” means “non-violence.”

About Hyphen Magazine

Hyphen magazine is a San Francisco-based, national nonprofit magazine of Asian American news and culture. Hyphen covers social justice issues and independent arts and is often quoted in other media on issues that effect Asian Americans ― one of the fastest growing cultural groups in America. Hyphen was recently nominated for the Best New Title at the Utne Independent Press Awards. For more information, visit Hyphen’s website at www.hyphenmagazine.com.

About Project Ahimsa

Project Ahimsa is a global effort to empower youth through music, with offices in San Francisco and Tampa, Florida. Since its inception in 2001, the organization has reached nearly 10,000 children around the globe through music education grants and musical instrument donations.

Inspired by the teachings of non-violence and cross-cultural understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Project Ahimsa creates and supports music education programs for children around the world. Project Ahimsa is a cultural initiative of the Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Foundation for Global Understanding (www.global-understanding.org), a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, visit Project Ahimsa’s website at www.projectahimsa.org.

Contact Information

Sandeep Bhatt

Program Manager

Project Ahimsa

Contact via E-mail