In the spring of 2021, Mr. Pujari recruited me to serve as The Pujari Foundation’s first Executive Director. Having served as the headmaster of Heritage Hall since 1988, I had announced my intention to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year, concluding 33 years of service to Heritage Hall and a 52-year career working in independent schools. Although I had imagined a retirement filled with leisure time for reading and my grandchildren, the prospect of doing philanthropic work was irresistible, and Mr. Pujari’s excitement about establishing a family foundation was alluring. In the late spring of 2021, I enthusiastically accepted Mr. Pujari’s offer to help launch The Pujari Foundation, effective July 15.
So, who are we, and how did we get here? Where are we going, and why does it matter? That’s a lot to unpack, but let’s make a start.
We’re The Pujari Foundation, and we’re laying the groundwork for coming “online” by early 2023. Established in June of 2021 by Mr. Roshan Pujari, founder and CEO of VIKASA Capital, the Foundation will focus its philanthropic initiatives on education, the arts, and community wellness. Mr. Pujari’s interest in these cultural arenas has been piqued by his voluntary involvement with various non-profit agencies that support the arts, by serving on his high school alma mater’s Board of Trustees, and also by his recognition that intellectual growth and creativity are the foundation of a healthy and thriving community. Initially, the Foundation will focus its attention on the greater Oklahoma City area and the island of Maui. The Pujari Foundation is solely funded by Mr. Pujari and will not solicit outside financial support.
Since mid-July, we’ve begun to build The Pujari Foundation’s skeletal structure by filing for non-profit status, creating a website (www.pujarifoundation.com), consulting with other foundations, and introducing ourselves to the Oklahoma City and Maui communities. In the months ahead, this newsletter will be followed by others that share views and insights on education, the arts, community wellness, and related subjects. Eventually, we will report on the Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives, with emphasis on how they enhance the quality of life for our non-profit grant recipients and the communities which they serve.
For the moment, we thought it would be neighborly to reach out and to introduce ourselves. We’ll be sharing newsletters every 10-12 weeks, and we hope that you’ll find them both thoughtful and uplifting – our small contribution to community wellness.
Sincerely,
Guy A. Bramble
Executive Director
Mr. Bramble currently serves as Executive Director of The Pujari Foundation. Mr. Bramble is an accomplished education professional who previously served as Headmaster of Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City) for 33 years. Mr. Bramble earned a B.A. in American Studies from Amherst College and an Ed.M. in Moral Development from Harvard University.
Mr. Bramble has volunteered for a number of organizations including the Community Literacy Centers, Youth Leadership Exchange, Oklahoma City Beautiful, Leadership Oklahoma City, and Rotary Club #29.
Mr. Pujari is the CEO Chairman of VIKASA Capital Inc. Mr. Pujari also leads The Pujari Foundation as its founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Pujari is a retired general surgeon and serves as President of the Board of Trustees for The Pujari Foundation.
Dr. Pujari is a practicing psychiatrist specializing in addictive medicine and serves as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for The Pujari Foundation.
Ms. Clayton is a former ballerina and community volunteer serving as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for The Pujari Foundation.