Founder Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil.  The keel of the Pravara Rural Education Society (Pres) was laid by Late Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil in the year 1964 for providing need based appropriate and quality education to the children of farmers. The PRES has set up a chain of institutions like Residential Public School, Arts Science and Commerce Colleges, Engineering, Polytechnic and Pharmacy Colleges, Industrial Training Institute, College of Education and Several Primary and secondary schools. At present the education society is one of the most prominent institutions in rural India providing educational facilities in almost all disciplines. In order to realize the visionary imagination of Padmashri, his worthy son Hon. M.P. Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil (Union Minister for Heavy Industries) expanded sphere of activities of PRES far beyond the Pravara area.