Friends of Sunaayy

Ms. Sonali Mandal is the Head of Finance and Administration at Sunaayy Foundation. After more than 20 years in the corporate sector, she now works with underserved communities in New Delhi, focusing on education and women’s empowerment. She helps vulnerable women become confident, self-reliant, and economically independent leaders, while supporting the holistic development of children and building stronger, more resilient communities.

Kabir is from the Bay Area and is in his final year of high school. In his spare time, he likes to listen to music, go to concerts, and sing. (He has been helping his parents organize events for Sunaayy in the South Bay for a while, and he also fundraised for Sunaayy on his own a few years ago.)

Anakh Sawhney is the Founder & CEO of Rice Kids, a US-based youth-led nonprofit she launched at age nine (2018) to fight poverty through education, nutrition, and holistic child support. Through partnerships with over 300 organizations, she has expanded Rice Kids across five U.S. states and multiple regions in India, raising $100,000+ and providing 71,000+ hot meals. In 2025, she became the youngest-ever recipient of the NJBiz Forty Under 40 award. She is also an active collaborator with the Sunaayy Foundation, supporting nutritional needs and community upliftment.

Born and raised in Delhi, she is proud to be part of the Tagore family through marriage and has performed in Rabindranath Tagore’s dance dramas since childhood. A softball player since college, she played for the American Embassy Delhi and represented India in 1995. She later coached the Indian Women’s Team on its 2017 USA tour and managed the girls’ team to China and the boys’ team to Bangkok in 2025. Today, she is Joint Secretary of the Softball Federation and Vice-President of the Delhi Olympic Association. She is also Vice-President of Vasant Kali Mandir, where she oversees education guidance for 105 children from economically weaker backgrounds and supports free community healthcare. Formerly involved with Lions Club Vasant Kunj, she still advises resident welfare associations when needed. She works from home as a recruitment consultant, balancing her career with sports, culture, and service.

Dr. Jigisha Srivastava is an educator, administrator, and environmental scholar with over two decades of experience in academia and institutional leadership. She holds a doctorate in Political Science from Ranchi University and an MA in International Politics from JNU, along with an MBA in HR and a B.Ed.
She has taught at St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi University, and Amity University, and has served as Principal of J K International School, Registrar of J K International University, and HR Head and Administrator at Devanika Hospital and Research Centre. A published author on environmental issues and sustainable development, she has also volunteered with HOPE and Animal Trust, Ranchi, since 2006.