WALTHAM, MA– Boston entrepreneur Ramesh Motwane, who is donating 80 Percent of his assets to Northeastern University and his alma mater in India through his Motwane Foundation, will receive New England Choice Award 2017 for philanthropy on Oct. 27 at Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA.
In addition to Mr. Motwane, eight Indian-American achievers and two non-profit organizations will receive New England Choice Awards in various categories at a black-tie gala. Furthermore, the husband and wife team of MITHAS founder George Ruckert and New England’s Kathak dance pioneer Gretchen Hayden Ruckert will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ramesh Motwane
About 400 entrepreneurs, corporate executives, philanthropists, educators and community leaders are expected to attend the New England Choice Awards gala, which is presented annually by the INE MultiMedia in collaboration with INDIA New England News, the region’s oldest and largest online, print and video magazine serving the South Asian community.
Mr. Motwane, whose general contracting firm Eastern Contractors Inc. remained on the largest Indian-American-owned companies list in the United States for four years, is giving 40 percent of his assets to Northeastern University in Boston and 40 percent to his alma mater in India: Gandhidham Civil Engineering Institute, now known as Tolani Motwane Institute.
“I am very happy. I cried when I wrote the first check in 2009,” Mr. Motwane told INDIA New England News in May last year.
He came to the United States in 1971 and did odd jobs. He worked as a machinist and as a numerical programmer. Then, he joined Northeastern University and received a bachelor’s degree. He also joined NU’s Master’s program, but soon after completing one semester he got a full-time job and never went back. Motwane is donating 40 percent of his assets to Northeastern University, and he sits on the university’s board of directors.
Mr. Motwane’s entrepreneurial journey began 1978-79 when he founded Eastern Contractors Inc.
“It was the largest Indian-owned business in Massachusetts from 2003 to 2006,” recalled Mr. Motwane in an interview with INDIA New England News last year. “Time came that business was becoming very tough and owners were withholding too much money called retainage. I saw this was the time to close the business and I did so in 2008-2009.”
Now, Mr. Motwane focuses on his non-profit organization Motwane Foundation Inc. Motwane, a former president of the India Association of Greater Boston, remains active with TiE-Boston, sits on its board of directors and mentors entrepreneurs.
“After closing my business, I have been taking a lot of interest as well as participating in TiE,” said Motwane, who lives in Weston, MA, with his wife Rita Wadhwani Motwane.
To watch a video interview with Mr. Motwane that was conducted last year, please click here or on the image below:
