Designer Prabal Gurung Is Raising Thousands to Help Nepal

By Marie Lodi | April 26, 2015 | 10:20pm

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As the death toll from Saturday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Nepal climbs past 2,500, relief efforts to help victims are underway. Prabal Gurung, who was born in Singapore but raised in Kathmandu, has organized a relief fund to aid those who were affected by the devastation. Although it has been years since the fashion designer has lived there, his connection to Nepal is still very strong. He communicates with family members there regularly, visits often and his non-profit organization, Shikshya Foundation Nepal, is aimed at providing education for underprivileged Nepalese children.

After hearing the news of the quake, Gurung immediately connected with other Nepalese expats to put the fund—which has raised almost $140K so far—into place. In a phone call to The Wall Street Journal, Gurung said he was glad to be “able to use whatever little network I have to raise this much money.” 100% of the donations will go through the Shikshya Foundation, and will be distributed “on the ground” in the coming days and weeks. Since yesterday, Nepal has been suffering from countless tremors and aftershocks, including one today that was 6.7, leaving its residents afraid to return to their homes and sleeping on the streets instead.