Jitender Sandadi Raises $25,000 for Brightlane Learning

INDIANAPOLIS — Jitender Sandadi has achieved a remarkable feat by completing six marathons in Boston, New York City, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo. But more impressively, he's used his journey to raise $25,000 for Brightlane Learning, an organization dedicated to supporting students affected by homelessness.

"It brought a purpose and meaning to my life," Sandadi shared.

Sandadi's efforts have made a significant impact on the organization. "That money is well spent in educating children," he said.

Brightlane Learning focuses on filling learning gaps that often develop due to homelessness by providing one-on-one support to students through volunteers who work closely with them.

"Our students, they need a person, they need an advocate, and they need somebody in their school building or at their community center that truly knows them," Karen Routt, Vice President of Program Impact at Brightlane Learning, explains.

According to a recent report by Brightlane, students experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school. Moreover, statistics show that students who do drop out and don't finish high school are four and a half times more likely to experience homelessness as an adult.

Rosie Buchanan, a passionate Brightlane volunteer, shares her personal connection to the organization's mission. "It's like, one of my favorite things I do every week," she said.

Buchanan faced challenges related to housing instability during her upbringing and reflected on the importance of education: "My parents, we were very poor growing up, but they were always like, such a stickler for education. Neither of them went to college, but they knew this is the way that we can change our kids' lives."

Brightlane runs programs in community centers and homeless shelters, striving to provide crucial support outside of tutoring in schools. The organization has around 200 volunteers who assist 750 students, with a goal to be in every school in Marion County where a child needs their help.

"What I felt was some of these kids' lives… the tutor is the only constant," Sandadi said.

Brightlane leaders aim to share stories like Sandadi's to raise awareness about the organization's vital work and the pressing need for community support. "Schools can't do it alone," Routt emphasized. "There's so many issues that teachers are facing, and the community really needs to wrap around our schools and figure out how we can all do this together."