About the Junior Board

The Touching Heart Junior Board is made up of young people who commit their time and talent, becoming part of the Touching Heart Team, and helping us further our mission to inspire kids to have a giving heart.   

Once chosen, via our application process, our Junior Board members become part of a true working Board of Directors and will provide insight and help make decisions that will support and improve Touching Heart Programs. 

These challenging and rewarding leadership positions give our Junior Board Members unique real world experience and allow them to make a difference for children in need our community and around the world. 

Interested in applying for the Junior Board? Please read How do I Join the Junior Board?, which can be found in the next column over, for instructions.


Meet your 2022-2023 Junior Board Members

Aadya Reddy

President

Mihir Kulshreshtha

Secretary

Rishi Madduluri

Secretary

Hannah Longfellow

Schools on a Mission Specialist

Riya Kakkar

Kids on a Mission Specialist

Pratheek Tangirala

Community Outreach Specialist


A Letter from the Junior Board President

Dear Touching Heart Community,

My name is Aadya Reddy, and I’m a sophomore at Westfield High School. Words cannot explain how honored I am to be able to serve as President for the Touching Heart Junior Board this year.

I first discovered Touching Heart through a summer camp in third grade. Out of all the many clubs I was part of, I found this one to be my favorite. Some of my favorite activities from the camp were making blankets for homeless shelters, video chatting with kids in Kenya, and creating artwork for children’s cancer hospitals. So much so, I decided to join the after school club at Floris, my elementary school. Through the after school club, I was able to participate in more than just activities, such as learning about other people’s backgrounds and the program in general. The after school club opened my eyes to other people’s stories and helped me see the world in their shoes.

By middle school, I was so invested in this journey and wanted to be behind the scenes of this program even more. I then found out about the Touching Heart Junior Board. I applied, and was given the opportunity to serve as the Kids on a Mission Specialist from 8th – 9th grade. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do very many activities in person because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we were able to host online events like the Heart to Heart podcast and having guest speakers talk to the Touching Heart community. My favorite activity since joining the Touching Heart board was Santa’s Workshop. It was so exciting to wrap gifts and think about the ecstatic faces of the foster kids when they rip open the wrappers.

Finally, when the Touching Heart Junior Board applications opened up again, I decided I wanted to take my journey with Touching Heart to an even higher level. I applied for the position of president, and was absolutely thrilled to find out when I got the position. Now that Covid-19 is mostly behind us, I would love to see the Touching Heart community in person again, bonding through compassion and kindness for others.

Touching Heart is such an amazing program in so many ways. People of any age are able to be a part of this spectacular community. No matter what someone’s interests are and how different they are from the rest of the world, the Touching Heart community is a place where everyone can be united under the act of kindness. I’m so lucky to be able to have a role in a program that allows us to benefit others that may not have the same opportunities as us. My journey with Touching Heart has taught me so much, and I can’t wait to learn even more. To anyone reading this, I have never been more grateful to be part of something, and I encourage you to be involved too. You’ll see that happiness doesn’t only come in receiving, but giving too.
Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Aadya Reddy

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Junior Board of Directors

APPLICATIONS FOR 2023-2024 JUNIOR BOARD ARE CLOSED

Open to rising 8th grade through rising 11th grade students.

 

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