But most importantly, I am the mother of four kids who teach me the importance of patience, empathy and compassion every day. Having served as a policy analyst for a safety-net health care system right out of college, started a business to assist first-generation college students understand the accessibility of higher education, and provided consulting services to the nonprofit sector through my own practice, I have spent my entire career working to advance the agendas of mission-driven organizations.

It was in seeing the struggles of these organizations fulfill their inspiring missions with limited resources and the almost limitless potential of the next generation to usher in a new era of philanthropy and volunteerism, that I set out to start PGK. I believe in two fundamental truths: the goodness that lies within all people and the ability to change the world when we teach our young people to tap into and stay connected to that.

at CHLA which has become a national template for pediatric chaplaincy. I am also the creator and founder of the blog, Charity Matters, which tells the stories of small nonprofits and their beginnings. I am the mother of three boys living in Pasadena, with my husband, Ron, and a proud graduate of USC.

I serve on a number of educational and nonprofit boards supporting the causes I care deeply about, and am a strong believer in philanthropy, having seen the impact it can have on so many, especially young children during their formative years. My passion is using my voice to make a difference and connecting people and causes that matter.

with a decade of experience working for and with top-tier MBA programs. For the last six years, I have been volunteering, consulting and working in local elementary schools, primarily in the areas of strategic planning and institutional advancement. I have previously held Board positions with the Wayland Children & Parents Association and Saint Joseph’s Elementary School, in addition to being a founding Board member of St. Benedict’s Elementary School and part of the team that set up the school’s operations in its founding year.

I am currently the Executive Director of House of Possibilities, Inc. and serve on the board of Project Giving Kids, while also continuing my consulting and volunteer work. Living outside of Boston with my husband, Joe, and three school-aged children, I believe in the paradigm PGK represents and the importance of developing a culture of empathy and inclusion among youth.

and part stay-at-home mom. As the founder of Vartoya Consulting, I am a driving force behind critical strategic, operational and organizational initiatives for my clients. I work with domestic and international clients to provide thought leadership in developing practical solutions to complex challenges.  Prior to this, I spent several years working in internal strategy roles at Beachbody, Wonderful, Disney and Microsoft. I received my MBA from Harvard Business School and my BBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

As mom, I have two little children (4 year-old boy and 2 year-old girl) and a sweet little dog who are the light of my life. Living in LA, I felt it was important for me to help teach them the importance of giving back from an early age, and that is what led me to identify with PGK and its mission.  I am honored to be a part of such a great organization and look forward to empowering others to join us!