Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA Names Ravikiran Raju to Board

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM), New England’s largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate, has appointed Ravikiran “Ravi” Raju, of Cambridge, to the agency’s Board of Directors.

Raju is a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital and a neuroscience researcher at the Picower Institute of Learning and Memory at MIT. He is a volunteer mentor through BBBSEM. He and his Little have been matched for over 5 years.

“Getting the opportunity to be a Big has allowed me to see the power of mentorship up close and personal,” says Raju. “Beyond playing a small role in my Little's life, I've realized how much a mentor actually gains in the process and how much our lives have both become enriched by choosing to invest in our relationship."

Dr. Raju completed his pediatric residency through the Boston Combined Residency Program and his fellowship in Neonatology at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is currently conducting research at MIT on life adversities’ effect on brain development. He has a PhD from Harvard University, MD from Baylor College, and BA from Harvard University.

“Ravi will help move our mission forward to help as many youths as possible,” says BBBSEM President & CEO Mark O’Donnell. “His leadership and commitment to advocate for children and families and connection to mental health research and resources will help BBBSEM support more youth across the region with a caring adult mentor in their corner.”

As a member of BBBSEM’s Board of Directors, Raju will help to advance the agency’s mission, service to children, and impact. As a group, the Board establishes agency policy and sets strategic goals, as well as provides leadership and counsel to staff for strategic initiatives. Board members serve as enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors and actively advocate on behalf of the nonprofit and BBBSEM community.

In its 75th year, the state’s leading one-to-one mentoring program for youth has created and served more than 25,000 matches and will serve nearly 4,000 matches this year. For more information, to become a volunteer, or to register your children, visit: www.emassbigs.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of nearly 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 75 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.