A recent fundraiser event at the Stafford Centre in Houston generated $810,000 for Ekal Vidyalaya schools in India.

Sponsored by the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of the United States, the event was attended by 1,100 people. The funds will support 2,200 Ekal Vidyalaya schools in India.

Speaking at the event, Dr Renu Khator, president and chancellor of the University of Houston, congratulated the Foundation for 'transforming young minds at an early age and at the grassroots level throughout India.'

The Foundation runs 26,000 schools in remote regions of India with the concept of one school with one teacher in one village at a cost of $1 per day. Tens of thousands of volunteers help run day-to-day operations, and thousands of teachers are trained in a basic curriculum including mathematics, reading and writing.

'If a child goes to sleep without food and education, I am partly responsible for that,' yoga guru Baba Ramdev [Images] said, reminding the audience of the importance of the human bond, and pledging to support up to 100 schools for rural and tribal children. He described the gift of education as a great punya or noble act, and the greatest of all charities.

He also demonstrated breathing techniques and drove home the message that yoga is as important as eating and sleeping.

Braham Aggarwal, a real estate developer in Florida [Images] and chairman, Ekal USA board of advisers, pledged to support 1,100 Ekal schools (for about $400,000) annually, becoming the largest donor of the evening. After visiting villages and tribal areas in India, Aggarwal said he was moved by the plight of the people.

Atul Gupta, 16, a Memorial High School junior, pledged money to fund one school for five years. Gupta was the youngest donor of the evening.

'Ensuring that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, to be reached by the year 2015,'

Subhash Gupta, president, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, said. "We here at the Ekal Foundation want to make sure that India does not fall behind in its responsibility.''

Ekal's goal is to reach 100,000 schools by 2015 and eradicate illiteracy in India, Gupta said.