Board of Directors
Savitri Grover
Executive Vice President
Savitri is an advocate, artist, storyteller, and Global Goals Ambassador for SDG 6, clean water and sanitation. Drawing from her experiences, she uses art, data, and storytelling to raise awareness about health, safety, and women's rights.
With a Master's in Health Care Administration and a PhD in Public Policy, Savitri combines data storytelling with real-world insights. As a Data Fellow with the Mayor's Office in St. Louis, she helped analyze community data to inform policy and improve programs. Her work as a regional representative for UNA-USA allowed her to understand the importance of understanding global issues from a local lens.
Believing in the power of collaboration, Savitri works with organizations to drive collective action and create lasting change. Passionate about community engagement, she organizes events connecting people, fostering collaboration, and amplifying important causes, empowering others to take action for a more equitable world.
Farah Alam
Director Program Development
Farah is an idealist who believes our life is our most precious gift. It is essential to make every moment count. Farah believes in a sustainable world without boundaries, where everyone is supported equitably to achieve their highest potential. Little Angels Foundation is part of that vision to create hunger-free and resilient communities.
Farah has 18 years of expertise in the investment management and investment banking industries and has worked in the US, UAE, and India. Farah earned her MBA in Finance & Consulting from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis in 2007 and was a Dean’s Scholar. She graduated with top honors with a B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. in Chemistry from India.
She is married and a mother. She is a voracious reader; her favorite pastimes are traveling, trekking, and spending time with her family.
Roel Harryvan
Director of Finance and Interim Treasurer
Roel Harryvan is a retired Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting LLP. He joined Deloitte in 1995, became a Director in 2001, and retired in 2020. As a consultant, Roel has worked with international clients in the Consumer Business, Wholesale Distribution, Manufacturing, Mining, and Telecommunications & Media industries. He specializes in leading global organizations in these industries through multinational and complex business transformation projects.
Roel is widely recognized for his skills in planning and executing strategies that deliver value and produce innovative solutions. He is a hands-on leader focused on quality and cost management while fostering productive relationships with colleagues, partners, and clients. Roel centers his leadership approach around his experience of performing in sometimes tense multi-cultural, ethnic, and international relationships.
He is the Honorary Consul in St. Louis for the Kingdom of The Netherlands, covering Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. In this diplomatic role, he officially represents The Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is responsible for business development (Ag & Bio-Tech, Water Management, and Consumer Products) and fostering relationships between government and educational institutions in his home country and his region. In addition, he provides emergency support to Dutch citizens who live in or are visiting his area of responsibility.
Roel is the 15th Honorary Consul for the Netherlands in succession since the Consulate was established in 1851.
Roel and his wife Monique both were born and raised in the Netherlands. In 1993 they moved to the United Kingdom, and in 1995 they moved to St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Monique is a professional ski instructor, and their children are Missouri University for Science & Technology and Missouri State University graduates.
Roel’s hobbies include classic cars, skiing, and music, and he is the Treasurer for the United Nations Association in Saint Louis, an organization aimed at educating Americans about the work of and need for the United Nations. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration. He served in the Royal Netherlands Army and completed an active tour of duty in The Middle East in 1982. For his services, he received the medal of recognition for the Nobel Peace Prize for UN Peacekeeping (1988).
Nergis Yüksel Cavitt
Director of Corporate Relations
Nergis is a Lead Consultant for Learning & Development at BJC Healthcare. In her role, she helps leaders create strategies and goals for the training and development needs of their teams, leads executive team retreats focused on community building and organizational culture, and creates initiatives aimed at providing patient and employee care that is equitable, people-centered, and trauma-informed.
She also serves as Co-Lead of the BJC Global Connection Group (Employee Resource Group) and leads the BJC Executive Coaching Program.
Karen Aroesty
Innovation Officer
Karen received her BA from Barnard College and her JD from the Washington University School of Law, starting her legal career with the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation and then moving to civil rights litigation. After years of Board service, she was recruited to serve as Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League Heartland office, following 20+ years with the ADL and almost 2 with the Department of Administration for St. Louis County. In early 2024, she founded Aroesty Allied LLC to concentrate on high-performing leaders and relentlessly optimistic change management, emphasizing education innovation.
Positive impact has been at the core of Karen's commitment to improving the region for decades.
She is a member of the St. Louis County Human Relations Commission and the US Attorney's Hate Crimes Task Force, the St. Louis Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom, the Board of the Little Angels Foundation, and a member of Compassionate St. Louis, among others.
Joanna Abraham
Director of Communication
Joanna is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and the Institute for Informatics, Data Science, and Biostatistics at Washington University School of Medicine. Her research interests lie at the intersection of computer science, social and organizational sciences, and implementation science. Joanna’s research focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative and cutting-edge tools and protocols to promote patient safety and patient-centered care.
In her free time, she spends time with her husband (Thomas), daughter (Becca), dog (Romeo) and guinea pig (Othello). Her hobbies include watching movies, playing games, hosting and cooking for family and friends, etc.
Manisha Gopal
Director of Community and Volunteer Engagement
Manisha Gopal immigrated to the United States in 1979 as a teenager, learned English, and earned a degree in Computer Programming. She raised two children who graduated with advanced degrees and later operated a successful business for 30 years. Now retired and a proud grandmother, Manisha is passionate about helping those in need, mainly through feeding people experiencing poverty.
She has held various leadership roles at the Sathya Sai Center, including Food Coordinator, Vice President, President, and Regional Service Coordinator of the Sri Sathya Sai Organization. Manisha has enjoyed cooking, administrative work, volunteering, and supporting programs like Meals on Wheels, Peter and Paul Shelter, and the Little Angels Foundation since 1996 and 2021.
Stephen O’Brien
Director of Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Stephen came to us wanting to help the community and to help those less fortunate. He volunteers weekly as a server and enjoys participating immensely. He has worked as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Louis County since 1996 and is the head supervisor for the Domestic Violence unit. Stephen earned his BA at the University of Tulsa and earned his JD Cum Laude at St. Louis University. Stephen has been married for over 25 years and has two college aged children.
Team Members
Namita Patel
Muktha Jayashree
Muktha Jayashree
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Namita Patel is an accomplished Communications Manager with over twenty-five years of experience in integrated strategic communication, specializing in internal and external stakeholder engagement. A passionate advocate for employee engagement, Namita has spearheaded high-impact communication campaigns t
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Namita Patel is an accomplished Communications Manager with over twenty-five years of experience in integrated strategic communication, specializing in internal and external stakeholder engagement. A passionate advocate for employee engagement, Namita has spearheaded high-impact communication campaigns that enhance brand visibility, foster company culture, and elevate organizational reputation.
With a proven track record in strategic planning, crisis communication, and driving initiatives centered on DEI and sustainability, Namita excels at crafting compelling narratives that align with business goals. Her commitment to excellence and collaborative leadership ensures seamless communication strategies that resonate across diverse audiences and deliver measurable results.
Muktha Jayashree
Muktha Jayashree
Muktha Jayashree
Manager, Projects & Regulations
With 15 years of expertise in Human Resources, I am a strategic HR leader dedicated to driving organizational success through talent engagement, leadership development, and data-driven insights. Throughout my career, I have harnessed data to craft strategic HR solutions that optimize organizational performan
Manager, Projects & Regulations
With 15 years of expertise in Human Resources, I am a strategic HR leader dedicated to driving organizational success through talent engagement, leadership development, and data-driven insights. Throughout my career, I have harnessed data to craft strategic HR solutions that optimize organizational performance, including attrition modeling, compliance insights, and workforce optimization. Passionate about creating inclusive, high-performance cultures and leading initiatives that empower senior leaders to accelerate career growth. I played a pivotal role in shaping the leadership pipeline through global development programs and spearheaded impactful D&I initiatives that fostered career progression for women leaders. My expertise in HR analytics has allowed me to turn data into actionable insights, driving decisions on attrition, performance, and resource planning. I was honored to be named one of The Top 100 T A Pai Young HR Leaders 2021 by People Business and The Economic Times. Outside of my professional career, I am committed to giving back and volunteering with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Missouri History Museum.
Danny Speck
Muktha Jayashree
Danny Speck
Ambassador
Danny Speck is a self-taught artist. Putting his creative talents to paper makes him happy, and helping others does. Dan faces challenges in his day-to-day life. He has sustained two surgically induced brain injuries to help control seizures. Although these events have impacted him both physically and cognitively, his abilities
Ambassador
Danny Speck is a self-taught artist. Putting his creative talents to paper makes him happy, and helping others does. Dan faces challenges in his day-to-day life. He has sustained two surgically induced brain injuries to help control seizures. Although these events have impacted him both physically and cognitively, his abilities outweigh his disability. He eagerly volunteers with the Little Angel Foundation as they compassionately reach out to those in need in the community.
Serving hope, one meal at a time.
- At Little Angels Foundation, we believe that no one should go hungry. We are committed to providing hot, nutritious meals to those in need. Your support helps us make a difference in our community. Together, we can ensure no one goes hungry.
Thank you for being a part of this life-changing work!