The People Behind Our Mission

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Executive Team

Pratima Penumarthy

CEO & Co-Founder

Pratima Penumarthy has been deeply engaged with the elderly community since a young age, assisting with daily tasks and caring for her parents. Her experiences have given her a profound understanding of the challenges faced by senior citizens, driving her unwavering commitment to giving back to the community and making a positive societal impact.

Recognizing the need for support among senior citizens who may be hesitant to seek help, Pratima established "Volunteering for Seniors" as a nonprofit organization along with her husband, Ramakrishna Penumarthy. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide much-needed assistance to older individuals who require support in their daily lives.

Beyond her remarkable dedication to the elderly community, Pratima Penumarthy has also distinguished herself as an educator over the past two decades. Her strong connections with both children and adults reflect her versatile skills and deep commitment to education.

Her extensive experience in education has not only equipped her with an understanding of the needs of young learners but has also enabled her to cultivate meaningful relationships within the community. With her ability to bridge generational gaps and her passion for supporting senior citizens, Pratima's unique combination of strengths positions her to positively impact a diverse range of individuals.

Ramakrishna Penumarthy

Co-Founder

Ramakrishna Penumarthy is a dedicated and compassionate individual whose life revolves around not only his successful career but also his commitment to helping seniors lead fulfilling lives. His professional journey is marked by self-motivation and unwavering focus, qualities that have driven both his career and philanthropic endeavors.

One of the most admirable aspects of Ramakrishna's character is his profound dedication to the well-being of seniors. He firmly believes in a saying from the Bhagavad Gita: "When you feel the suffering of every living thing in your own heart, that is consciousness."

Despite a busy work schedule, he has always found time to support and assist seniors in his community. He goes the extra mile by regularly taking them to medical appointments and checking in on them to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. This selfless commitment to older adults has touched the lives of many and earned him the respect and gratitude of both seniors and their families.

Ramakrishna co-founded Volunteering for Seniors with Pratima, whose mission is to keep seniors active and ensure they live life to the fullest. Together, they have created a supportive community for seniors by offering companionship, assistance, and a variety of enriching activities. Their dedication has made a significant difference in the lives of countless seniors, fostering a sense of belonging and happiness.

Ramakrishna Penumarthy's life is a testament to the balance he has achieved between a successful career in IT and his unwavering dedication to serving seniors in his community. His self-motivation, focused professional approach, and compassionate philanthropic efforts make him an exceptional individual who brings positive change to the lives of those around him.

Mature man with white hair, formal attire

Badarinadh Vissapragada

Board Director

Mr. Badarinadh Vissapragada is a philanthropist, accomplished leader, and highly successful professional. His passion and dedication to volunteering, particularly in helping seniors, inspired him to become part of this initiative. He has always supported and encouraged volunteers who enjoy working with older adults and bringing smiles to their faces.

After a successful 35-year career in the oil and gas industry, during which he worked in several countries, Badarinadh retired and eventually settled in Boston, where he became actively involved in charitable work. He also founded the Srutjilayalu organization, which promotes Carnatic music and Kuchipudi dance art forms.

Dr. Rohit Chandra

Board Director

Dr. Rohit Chandra is an M.D., a psychiatrist at MGH Chelsea Healthcare Center, and an Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

He serves as the Board Chair for a South Boston-based arts and healing nonprofit organization called Medicine Wheel. He has also been actively involved in community activities, including acting with the Boston area’s Indian theater troupe, SETU, and serving as a judge for the India International Film Festival Boston (IIFFB).

He is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Volunteering for Seniors and support the organization through its activities.

Dr. Srinivas Sonti

Board Director

Dr. Srinivas Sonti currently works at Sartorius Biotech in the manufacturing division for medicines and vaccines and has closely collaborated with several pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Abbott, Sanofi, and Moderna. He holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Business Management, as well as a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a focus on biotechnology.

He is deeply passionate about serving humanity through the development of new technologies that help people live healthy and active lives. As part of this passion, he has been a dedicated supporter of Volunteering for Seniors.

Smiling woman in colorful patterned top.

Arpita Shah

Chief Committee Operations & Engagement Officer

Arpita Shah is a dedicated community leader and small business owner in the healthcare sector in Massachusetts. She brings strong organizational skills, compassion, and a deep commitment to community service to her role with Volunteering for Seniors.

As Chief Committee Operations & Engagement Officer, Arpita helps strengthen the coordination, communication, and follow-through of Volunteering for Seniors committees and program teams. She supports committee leaders in staying engaged, organized, and accountable while helping ensure that Volunteering for Seniors initiatives are carried out smoothly and effectively.

Arpita plays an important role in encouraging teamwork, improving participation, and helping volunteers and leaders work together toward Volunteering for Seniors’ mission. Her dedication, leadership, and passion for serving seniors continue to make a meaningful impact on the growth and success of Volunteering for Seniors.

Akhila Penumarthy

Vice President of Outreach

The Vice President of Outreach collaboratively develops and implements a comprehensive strategic plan to grow and deepen Volunteering for Seniors' relationships with current members and partner organizations, and to identify areas for collaboration. She will lead the planning and execution of engagement and outreach activities with community allies and partner organizations. Akhila works closely with the Board to develop plans to effectively engage membership and enhance program offerings.

Additionally, she will focus on modern and efficient communication among volunteers, expand outreach to colleges, and motivate youth to contribute and build the next-generation workforce.

Arpita Shah

Vice President of Public Awareness

Arpita is a small business owner in the healthcare sector in the state of Massachusetts. She is passionate about giving back to the community and creating a positive impact. She was drawn to Volunteering for Seniors for its mission to help seniors stay energetic and active.

As Vice President of Public Awareness, Arpita represents the Volunteering for Seniors organization publicly, fostering productive relationships with community leaders to understand community needs, facilitate connections, and develop strategic partnerships. She works collaboratively with the Executive Leadership Team to establish long-range goals and strategies.

Dr. Monika Manocha Wadhwa

Vice President of Intergenerational Engagement

Monika Manocha Wadhwa is a passionate educator, scientist, and community leader based in Lexington. With a Ph.D. in HIV mucosal vaccine research from AIIMS and post-doctoral research experience at Harvard Medical School, Monika brings a strong foundation in science and education. She currently serves as a dedicated educator in Lynn Public Schools and has previously taught in the Lexington school system.

Beyond academics, Monika is deeply committed to community service. She leads a STEM Science Team in Lexington, mentors students from grades 4–12, and founded the "Women in STEM Guest Speaker Series" to inspire young minds. From PTO work to career workshops, she has been actively involved in numerous local initiatives.

What drew Monika to Volunteering for Seniors is her heartfelt belief in bridging generations through purposeful service. She sees Volunteering for Seniors as a powerful platform to foster youth engagement, uplift seniors, and create meaningful intergenerational connections. We are thrilled to welcome her as Vice President of Intergenerational Engagement—her vision, energy, and dedication strongly reflect Volunteering for Seniors’ mission.

Woman with glasses and dark hair smiling.

Reshma Nair

VP – Senior Education & Wellness Programs

Reshma Nair brings over a decade of leadership experience in senior living, wellness programs, and community engagement. As Executive Director of Benchmark Senior Living, she has led with compassion, innovation, and a deep understanding of holistic care for older adults.

Reshma has also been a dedicated core volunteer with Volunteering for Seniors for more than two years. Her consistent presence, thoughtful input, and genuine care for seniors have made her a valued part of the Volunteering for Seniors community.

In her new role as Vice President of Senior Education & Wellness Programs, Reshma will lead and expand efforts in health education, movement and mindfulness, enrichment activities, and lifelong learning. Her leadership will ensure programs continue to inspire, empower, and uplift the seniors we serve.

With her strategic insight, community connections, and deep understanding of older adults’ needs, Reshma will also support Volunteering for Seniors growth in areas such as partnership development, volunteer training, intergenerational programming, and overall program evaluation—ensuring the organization remains responsive, innovative, and impactful.

We are honored to welcome Reshma into this role and excited for all that lies ahead under her guidance.

Woman outdoors wearing green and smiling

Dottie Fulginiti

Dottie Fulginiti was elected to the Easton, MA Select Board in 2013 and has served as Chair for the past three years. She also serves on the Easton Economic Development Council, Commission on Disabilities, Shovel Town Cultural District Management Partners, and the Easton Age-Friendly Committee.

Easton, MA Select Board Chair Dottie Fulginiti was recently honored as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s 2021 class of Unsung Heroines.

Neil Anderson

Neil has served nonprofit organizations in staff and advisory roles for over 25 years. While most of this time has been in service to youth, he has always enjoyed working with and for seniors and led efforts to facilitate cross-generational programming while serving as a YMCA director. As an estate planning attorney, he advises and assists seniors with their planning needs.

When he learned of the terrific work being done by Volunteering for Seniors, he knew he could play a valuable role as an advisor and contribute his legal background along with a wealth of knowledge and experience from the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Vikas Merchia, MD, FACOG

Dr. Merchia founded ESP Medical in 2011 and is recognized as a Top Doctor by Leading Physicians of the World, as well as by South Shore Living and Cape Cod Magazine. He has a passion for educating students and serves as a student mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), and Tufts University. He is also an Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA, as well as at Tufts University.

He has lectured locally and nationally on topics including urogynecology, incontinence, and prolapse surgery.

The People Behind Our Mission

Executive Team

Pratima Penumarthy

Ramakrishna Penumarthy

Badarinadh Vissapragada

Dr. Rohit Chandra

Dr. Srinivas Sonti

Arpita Shah

Akhila Penumarthy

Arpita Shah

Dr. Monika Manocha Wadhwa

Reshma Nair

Advisors

Dottie Fulginiti

Neil Anderson

Dr. Vikas Merchia, MD, FACOG

Committee Members

Anjana Chennagiri

Ekta Jain

Malathy Sankaran

Monie Malhotra