Our next generation of leaders
CH2 is a group of young professionals, with a wide range of interests, skills and experience, who work directly with the board members and staff of Children’s Hope India to support and extend initiatives of the organization. The CH2 team organizes a number of networking and leadership events in New York City – helping to raise funds for a variety of programs and keep supporters connected and updated on CHI projects and activities. Attending annual events, like the ‘Summer Soiree’ and ‘Cocktails and Conversations’ at the Harvard Club’, has helped hundreds of new people get more familiar with organization and find ways to get involved. In addition to being active in community, CH2 has also become increasingly more involved with CHI Projects in India.
CH2 members have travelled to Bhopal and Delhi, along with several doctors, as part of a medical mission organized by CHI. Just one accomplishment during their trip to different parts in India, included workshops for doctors and health screenings conducted for patients, as well as much needed translation and logistical support.
Another CH2 initiative included an opportunity to power digital classrooms in rural areas of Maharashtra using solar energy. Several fundraising initiatives, like the Fitness Challenge, helped launch sports programs for hundreds of children in India.
CH2 continues to help raise money, reach new donors and make a difference – They aim to inspire more like-minded people to get involved, while also helping transition into the next generation of leaders.
Kasha Bhatia is a senior at NYU Stern School of Business, pursuing a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Psychology. After graduation, she will join Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Management Capital Markets Analyst. Kasha has admired CHI’s mission for many years, first learning about the organization after donating earnings from a high school investment project. Having lived in India for several years and seeing the communities that CHI directly impacts, Kasha is extremely passionate about CHI’s work and excited to support its growth.
Arya Doshi is a Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley. With a deep understanding of strategic planning and long-term investment, he brings the same principles to his work at Children’s Hope India. Passionate about innovative fundraising and engaging young Indian Americans, he strives to build awareness and support for the organization’s mission.A strong advocate for children’s education and empowerment, Arya believes every child deserves access to quality education and resources for a brighter future. He is committed to expanding CHI’s reach and impact.Arya holds a B.S. in Finance & Economics from Binghamton University. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, he remains deeply connected to the Indian-American community and aims to inspire the next generation to give back. Through his efforts, he hopes to create sustainable opportunities that empower children to rise out of poverty and reach their full potential.
Nikita Farhadi is a board-certified Physician Assistant at a private Dermatology practice on Long Island, NY. She received her masters degree in Physician Assistant studies from St. John’s University. Nikita has always had a passion for community outreach and has volunteered at numerous assisted living centers, soup kitchens and health centers over the years. As a member of the CH2 young professionals chapter, she continues her passion through fundraising efforts and event organization. Nikita is excited about combining her medical background with her dedication to giving back to the community by partaking in the incredible outreach of Children’s Hope India.
Karishma is on the growth marketing team at Milk Makeup. She received her B.A. from Boston College in Economics and Finance in 2020. In addition to her professional endeavors, she has been actively involved in philanthropy as a founding member of CH3 in 2014. Karishma has also spent time in India volunteering at CHI funded schools. She is excited to continue her journey with CH2 and continue to give back to the community through CH2’s various initiatives and outreach programs.
Kanishka is a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City. She received her J.D. from Columbia Law School and B.A. from Columbia University in Political Science and Human Rights. She loves working with younger students and volunteered as a tutor for Columbia’s Community Impact Program throughout college and as a Mock Trial coach at a summer program for kids. Kanishka is a dedicated CH2 board member and works actively on CHI fundraising initiatives, event organization, and community outreach. She is proud of the amazing work and mission of Children’s Hope India and is excited to be a part of its continued success.
Monica is a real estate private equity professional specializing in investor relations, client services, and capital raising. With a background in finance and strategic communications, she is passionate about fostering meaningful relationships and driving operational excellence. As a long-time supporter of Children’s Hope India, Monica is committed to making a positive impact through community engagement and philanthropy.
Rhea received her Bachelor of Engineering from Stony Brook University, and currently works as a Software Engineer for Fast Enterprises, building software for the New York City government. She is a founding member of Children’s Hope India 3 (CH3), and active member of Children’s Hope India 2 (CH2). Rhea has spearheaded annual projects for CHI such as the Summer Camp Sponsorship Program, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Back to School Backpack Drive, and has helped raise over $100,000 in the last decade. She is a candidate in the Miss America Scholarship Program, and promotes her Community Service Initiative of “Empowering Underserved Youth” nationally.
Melina is a dedicated professional passionate about philanthropy and community engagement. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Communications from the University of Miami, she now excels within Marketing & Client Relationships in New York City. From co-founding a summer camp initiative for underprivileged children in Miami to her college years spent fundraising and coordinating events for the Karma Foundation, Melina’s always had a passion for making a difference and positive changes. Now, she eagerly brings her experience and enthusiasm to CH2, where she looks forward to contributing in various capacities and providing fresh perspectives to advance the organization’s mission.
Samir has been part of CH2 since 2022, leading a variety of projects focused on technology access at various CHI projects. Outside of Children’s Hope, Samir spends his time with organizations focused on impacting children, including Kings County Tennis League. Samir graduated from Columbia University and currently works as an investment professional at Partners Group.
Manisha Bahrani, Omesh Lund, Neel Pahlajani, Puja Pahlajani, Nicole Rajani
The group is comprised of young professionals from a myriad of sectors including media and entertainment, finance, information technology, and nonprofit. The organization, therefore, greatly benefits from significant knowledge capital with skills ranging from web design, social media and digital video, to accounting, event planning, and donor management.
“Get to Know Us” events in New York City are the hallmarks of CH2. They always attract hundreds of like-minded young people. Nothing better than networking, having a great time and supporting your favorite charity.
The CH2-led Fitness Challenge helped create a full sports program at one of the Children’s Hope schools in Hyderabad. A Winter Wine and Wishes event, was another major success when so many children had their wishes come true with the generosity of the attendees. Most recently, a comedy event at the Gotham Comedy Cub in Manhattan brought hope to children in the slums.
CH2 seeks to identify challenges and key issues that help to improve the lives of children in India. Below are a few of the many projects CH2 has supported over the last few years:
An estimated 70% of India’s population lives in villages. And approximately 400 million Indians, in 72,000 villages, do not have access to power in any form. Their day ends when the sun goes down. Students from a college in Mumbai started an initiative to light up 33 villages in eight months, providing light to 1,000 rural houses in Maharashtra. CH2 teamed up with them to light up several villages–including Dongaripada, a tribal coastal village in Dahanu Taluka–where we helped provide solar panels and lanterns.
In many parts of India, children often lose their vision due to preventable eye disease. In 2012, CH2 partnered with a renowned eye institute to expand screenings and corrective procedures for children in rural India. Since July 31, 2012, we have trained 124 teachers, conducted vision checks on more than 7,000 children and referred more than 700 for further treatment. Early detection helps prevent blindness and by catching eye disease early we are making a huge impact in the lives of these children.
Thank you to all those who joined CH2 for our “Light Up the Night” event on Thurs, Nov 1 to celebrate Diwali and to raise funds for the electrification of schools ...
Join us today at 7PM!