Philanthropist, who promoted change makers, passes away

KOLHAPUR: Sunil Deshmukh, a former Wall Street commodity trader, who started the Maharashtra Foundation while residing in the US - to recognise the change makers from Maharashtra - passed away at the age of 74 in Miami on Wednesday.
For anyone visiting the US from Maharashtra, Deshmukh's house, located along the Miami beach in Florida, was available for stay for free as long needed, recalls Arun Naik fof rom Kolhapur.
Deshmukh, born in Sangli, went to the US in 1970. He scaled the ladder to reach the peak of his career in his mid-40s, only to finally resign and start recognising the change makers from Maharashtra in 1992.
Deshmukh was a poet, thinker and, most importantly, a vocal activist supporting many progressive causes. He started recognising the change makers from the state and awarded them a hefty amount after leaving his job. He also promoted the awards through the Maharashtra Foundation, the forum of Maharashtrian people living in the US.
He donated Rs 2 crore to fund the prize amount back then when he could have easily purchased a house at Malabar Hill in Mumbai, one of the costliest places, as he had said in one of the public interaction programmes.
Naik said, "His home in the US was always full of Marathi people, who had gone there for some temporary work or help. I met him a few times when he visited Sangli. He studied at the City High School."