Durga Das

Background

About Durga Das

I'm the Executive Director of The River Fund New York. My passion and devotion to serve those in need manifests in the service work we facilitates on the streets of New York and in health care facilities in the tri-state area. In my role, for well over two decades, I have organized one-on-one service programs in the New York area such as The River Fund’s Choice Pantry/CBO on-site POS Center, Mobile Outreach Programs Street Relief and Under the Boardwalk and The Rounds Program. I presently sit on the Advisory Board of The Food Bank for New York City.With the blessings and guidance of my spiritual teacher Ma Jaya, I founded The River Fund New York in 1991 to serve those battling social, economic and health challenges. The River Fund New York’s primary focus of addressing hunger and those issues surrounding food insufficiency serves the hungry, children, low-income seniors/families, the homeless and those living with HIV/AIDS. I began my service work as a volunteer Case Manager for the AIDS Center of Queens County and eventually became the Buddy Program Coordinator. I also sit on the Board of the Kashi Foundation founded by Ma Jaya; an Interfaith Community which is at the forefront of the global struggle for human rights, religious freedom and health care issues. I was a participant at the Millennium Peace Summit of World Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations. In addition, I'm a representative at the National Religious Leadership Roundtable – the diplomatic arm of the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. I am an Interfaith Teacher who speaks on the benefits of service, purpose and meditation. I travel and teach meditation and facilitates service programs throughout the United States. As a monk for 30 years I am dedicated to embracing all paths of kindness and compassion.Specialties: nonprofit management, food pantry management, volunteer management