Indian-Origin Philanthropist Donates US Property Worth $23 Million to Promote Catholic Faith in India

WhistlePig Whiskey Founder Announces Landmark Donation

Raj Peter Bhakta, founder of WhistlePig Whiskey, has announced a philanthropic effort to donate the Green Mountain College campus, valued at Rs 180 crore, to a Catholic organization committed to promoting the Catholic faith. The 115-155 acre campus, purchased at auction in 2020, is being offered as a "gift" with the goal of "returning the site to its original Christian calling."

The Request for Proposals (RFP) outlines specific requirements for the selected recipient, including alignment with the "spiritual revival of our Christian faith" and the ability to maintain the property's operating costs, estimated at $1 million annually. A recommended annual budget of $1.5 million is also suggested to sustain infrastructure and address deferred maintenance.

Ideal uses for the campus, as outlined by Bhakta, include Catholic education, faith-oriented retreats for youth, families, and clergy, and mission centres for outreach, arts, culture, or spiritual formation. The campus, with its Georgian architecture and historic character, is being positioned as a rare institutional asset capable of supporting long-term Catholic mission work.

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The donation, dubbed "The Gift," is now accepting applications from Catholic organizations interested in utilizing the campus for mission-aligned purposes.