Sikh Awareness Foundation

TheSikh Awareness Foundation, also known as the Sikh Awareness Society, is a nonprofit organization headquartered in the United States of America. Its primary purpose is to increase public understanding of Sikhism and Sikh culture. The organization seeks to dispel myths and reduce prejudice through factual information and personal stories. By focusing on education, it aims to foster respect and inclusion across diverse communities. Its work is rooted in the belief that awareness can counteract discrimination. It operates primarily through the efforts of volunteers who contribute time and expertise to further its mission.

To achieve its goals, the foundation develops and distributes educational materials such as brochures, videos, and online articles that explain Sikh beliefs, practices, and history. It regularly organizes community events, including open houses at gurdwaras, interfaith dialogues, and cultural festivals that invite participation from people of all backgrounds. The group also collaborates with schools and universities to incorporate Sikh studies into curricula and to host guest lectures. Advocacy efforts involve monitoring media portrayals of Sikhs and responding to inaccuracies with corrective statements. Volunteers play a central role in delivering presentations and managing outreach programs. Materials are often made available in English and Punjabi to reach both Sikh and non‑Sikh audiences. Through these activities, the organization strives to build bridges between Sikh communities and the wider society. Its outreach extends to online platforms where webinars and social‑media campaigns amplify its message.

In November 2015, the organization's website, sikhawareness.com, was compromised by a hacker known as Eggfather, who extracted and released 4,520 usernames along with their hashed passwords. The breach highlighted vulnerabilities in the site's security infrastructure and prompted the foundation to review and strengthen its data protection measures. Following the incident, the group communicated with affected users, advising them to change passwords and monitor accounts for unusual activity. The foundation also invested in updated security protocols and regular audits to prevent similar occurrences. Despite this setback, the Sikh Awareness Foundation has continued its outreach work, maintaining its commitment to educating the public about Sikhism. The organization has since published a brief statement on its website outlining the steps taken to improve security and reassure supporters.