Anandavalli Thiagarajan

Clinical Research Associate 2
PRA Health Sciences

PASSION:

Ananda has been an exceptional mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay for the past 3+ years. She is also a driving force in our Big League, a team of exceptional mentors who spread the mentoring mission and encourage further and deeper commitment from her peers.

 

IMPACT:

Ananda is an incredible mentor. She has supported her “Little Sister” Kathryn in starting her own business. Ananda sees the true potential in an 11 year old child of color living in public housing when, sadly, so many fail to do so. They volunteer together at pantries and Ananda empowers Kathryn to be the change agent for her own neighborhood. They have fun too. The build confidence rock climbing and trying new food. Ananda is a proud New American and delights in sharing her culture almost as much as she does learning about Kathryn’s. Their friendship crosses nearly all points of intersection and is genuinely an outlier amongst the thousands of rich relationships that we support at BBBS because of the closeness and purposefulness that Ananda has been able to foster with Kathryn and her family.

If that weren’t enough, Ananda has been a part of our volunteer leadership council, the Big League. She has been willing to share her story with current and prospective mentors on speaking panels and has even offered up her contact information to advice peers seeking input and validation. I know she has been personally responsible for reviving several failing mentoring relationships. Ananda’s powerful story is an inspiration because it represents the vibrant and hopeful promise of diversity. Ananda is a force of nature and is a ubiquitous contributor to our mission. Her endless giving makes our agency stronger and I would love to honor her with this award because her story will inspire others.