About Founder
Ven. Thupten Donyo started this Foundation on His Holiness Dalai Lama's advice during the visit in San Francisco in 2007. That year Ven Donyo was able to organize series of talks by His Holiness Dalai Lama at Bill Graham Hall in San Francisco. During the visit, His Holiness advised him to help uplift the lives of the Himalayan children. He appreciated Ven. Donyo's effort to start a Buddhist center and providing community service in the Bay Area and suggested that he should now help to provide education to the children in the Himalayas who have not been fortunate enough to pursue education due to family condition.
Our mission is to educate the Himalayan children by giving them the opportunity to go to High School and College, and raise their own children with education and eventually help their own communities. Educating these children, giving them the proper upbringing and tools to develop into productive adults, have a better future and continue the cycle for future generations while saving the traditions and culture of the Himalayan people.
Ven. Thupten Donyo is hoping to sponsor many Himalayan children through High School and College. The children in the Himalayan region are only schooled through the 8th grade. After the basic schooling, many of the parents can't afford to send their children away from home for boarding School or College. Therefore, Ven. Donyo decided to help these underprivileged Himalayan children who need help with High School and 4 years in College.
Ven. Donyo has dedicated more than 20 years of his life in the Monastery in Dharamsala India, then 8 years in Australia studying English with the intent of creating a place for people who can practice Tibetan Buddhism and develop positive thoughts through meditation and prayers. Most importantly keep the endangered Tibetan culture alive for future generations.
The Gyuto Foundation was founded by Ven. Donyo formerly known as Gyuto Vajrayana Center founded in 2000 in San Jose, later the Center relocated in the East Richmond Heights, CA. where Tibetan seniors and new refugees have a place to congregate, practice traditional Buddhist teachings. The Foundation is run by the monks with the help of some volunteers.
Since 1997 Venerable Thupten Donyo has dedicated his time and energy to establish a Dharma Center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ven. Donyo is very pleased and proud to say, through the support of many members over the years, The Gyuto Foundation was established and is successful and is able to stand on its' own. Over the years we have provided many teachings to members of the community. We were also able to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama twice and taught to over 11,000 people in San Jose in 2010 and San Francisco in 2007. He has accomplished all of this and he recently handed over The Gyuto Foundation to his parent Monastery in India.However the monastery was unable to find another person to replace him and therefore reassigned him as a Manager for Gyuto Centers in California and Minnesota. Meanwhile he will continue to work for the Himalayan Children's education..
Ven. Thupten Donyo said he will work hard towards helping the children of the Himalayas and offer scholarship for hundreds of underprivileged children of the Himalaya. He started sponsoring Himalayan Children through High School and College in 2010 and in 2017 three students graduated from nursing College. From now on, Ven. Donyo will visit the areas once a year to make sure that these children are in School and college and have proper education.The Foundation has already sponsored number of Himalayan Children with school and would like to continue to help more. Each children requires 8 years sponsorship to complete their education through High School and College and we are requesting all of our friends to help these Himalayan Children for their education. We also provide scholarships to children who are not good in studies and wish to pursue vocational course so that they can get at job. Meanwhile, the Foundation will be organizing Charity Tours to Asia every year to raise some funds for the children.
Thank you.
