Meet the Founders and Directors of VOLUNTEERING FOR SENIORS

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PRATIMA PENUMARTHY

Pratima Penumarthy has been a part of the elder community from a very young age. From helping elders in their little tasks to taking care of her parents, Pratima knows how hard life is for the senior citizens of the community. Dedication to give back to the community and creating a positive impact upon the society have always been her main goals.

Volunteering for Seniors has been established by Pratima Prenumarthy as a non-profit organization. The main idea behind it is to help the golden agers who truly need assistance in their daily life and are shy to come forward.

RAMAKRISHNA PENUMARTHY

Ramakrishna Penumarthy is an advocate of supporting the seniors and has been making a positive impact in the community. He has been the main source of motivation and support for Pratima to establish a community of volunteers as Volunteering for Seniors.

His kind nature makes him believe that if we don’t help our community by assisting the ones in need, then we also shall not get support in our difficult times. It is this very belief that has made Ramakrishna Penumarthy play a vital role in giving a meaningful form and substance to Volunteering for Seniors.

BADARINADH VISSAPRAGADA

Mr. Badarinadh Vissapragada is a philanthropist, a successful leader, a highly achieved professional in his career. His passion and dedication to volunteering and in particular helping seniors is what made him to be part of this initiative. He always supported and advocated volunteers who loved working with the elderly and brought smiles on their faces.

Badarinadh retired after 35 years of his professional life in oil & gas industry worked in different countries and finally settled in Boston mainly involved in charity. He was the founder of Srutjilayalu organization mainly to promote carnatic music and Kuchipudi dance art forms.

DR. ROHIT CHANDRA

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

He is the Board chair for a South Boston-based arts and healing non-profit organization called Medicine Wheel. He has been involved in community activities such as acting in the Boston area’s Indian acting troupe, SETU, and serving as a judge for the India International Film Festival Boston (IIFFB). He is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with our sorely-needed volunteering organization, Volunteering for Seniors  and pillar us through our activities.

DR. SRINIVAS SONTI

Dr. Srinivas Sonti is currently working at Sartorius Biotech in the manufacturing department of medicines and vaccine and has closely worked with several Pharma and Bio Pharma companies including Merck, Abbott, Sanofi, Moderna, etc. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Business Management and a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering with focus in the biotech area.
He is very passionate about serving humanity through development of new technologies that help people live a healthy and active life. As part of his passion, he has been a constant support to Volunteering for Seniors.

AKHILA PENUMARTHY

The VP of Outreach collaboratively develops and implements a comprehensive strategic plan to grow and deepen VFS's relationship with our current members, and partner organizations and identify areas for collaboration.  They will lead the planning and execution of engagement and outreach actions and activities with community allies and partner organizations. Akhila  works closely with the Board to develop plans to effectively engage our membership and program offerings.  Additionally, she will focus on modern and easy communication among volunteers, expand our program to colleges and motivate youth to contribute and build the next generation force.

RASHI JOSEPH

Rashi works at Harvard University, but her real passion lies with creative and social causes. She’s a interior designer who has recently reignited her entrepreneurial journey with an e-commerce business. A mother of two she is well regarded among her peers in the Greater Boston area for being a design powerhouse, an idea factory and a true connector of people. She believes in giving back to society with her involvement in local non-profits.
Rashi has degrees in business management, data science, interior & fashion design and has previously held roles in major financial institutions before running her own leather export  business.