“He works for Amazon as a prototyper. Although he can never talk about his work, I am sure it is very interesting.”
“She’s a talented get-it-done woman in health care consulting who can be incredibly goofy. Her interests include supporting charities making a real difference in the world.”
That’s how Charles Dorner and Srilata Remala describe each other on their wedding website. They met three years ago through OkCupid, the online dating site. One of the topics of conversation on their first date: organizations that interested them.
On Srilata’s list was PATH, because, she says, “PATH is breaking boundaries and innovating solutions in the developing world.” PATH also turned out to be a good fit for Charles.
As they set a wedding date and made plans to make a life together, their shared interest in PATH led to an inspired gift registry for all their friends and family.
Charles and Srilata shared their commitment to each other—and their commitment to making an impact through PATH. Photo: Bradley Hanson Photography.
Where simple tools can save lives
Srilata discovered PATH when she was just 21 and researching health organizations for her family’s foundation, the Satya and Rao Remala Foundation. She was struck by the ingenuity of one of PATH’s early technologies: a compact clean-delivery kit filled with inexpensive tools to help mothers and babies avoid infection during childbirth. “You could take it to a village and ensure that a baby is born safely,” Srilata remembers. “It spoke volumes to how a little tool can save so many lives.”
Both Srilata and Charles know just how hard it can be to survive in developing countries. Charles’ grandfather was born in a simple hut in Kenya in 1912 with only a village midwife to ensure he was born safely. His mother refused to have any more children in those circumstances, returning to British India to have her next children.
Srilata’s father, Rao, grew up in a mud house with no running water in southeastern India and had to walk six miles to school each day. Her mother, Satya, was only 13 when her own mother died from uterine cancer.
“I could be living in India right now, facing some of the issues PATH is trying to solve,” says Srilata, who lives in Seattle. “I’m lucky. I know that when I have children they’ll be born in a hospital with good health care.”
A wedding becomes a platform for impact
When Charles and Srilata were planning their wedding, they realized they had a golden opportunity to express not only their commitment to each other, but their commitment to make an impact.
“You have all your family and friends in one room,” Srilata explains. “You’re sharing how much you care about them, but you also have a platform to share why you care about this amazing organization, which is even bigger.”
Nearly 300 guests at Charles and Srilata’s wedding were honored through a donation to PATH. Photo: Bradley Hanson Photography.
So Charles and Srilata made a donation to PATH on behalf of their nearly 300 guests, and encouraged them to make donations as well. They even gave each guest a red silicone bracelet with the message “PATH.org: Innovation to save lives.”
The guests loved it.
“They learned something new about PATH and about us,” Srilata says. “A lot of people know what we do for a living but don’t realize we have such a strong interest in making a difference.”
A family tradition
Srilata developed her philanthropic side thanks to her parents, who encouraged their children to use the family foundation as a way to make the world a better place. Srilata and her older sister, Srilakshmi, now drive the vision for the family foundation. Srilata is a specialist in electronic health care for the consulting firm Point B and is the family’s advocate for health organizations.
Srilata also counts herself fortunate to have found a mate who shares her family’s values. “For us, giving back is here and now,” she says.
Charles agrees. “Being able to have an impact through PATH is important to me. And getting to have our friends and families make a difference is really valuable.”
Add yourself to the list of people supporting PATH
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