Finding Your Cause: Veena Handa Reflects on Dedicated Journey in Leading and Volunteering with Community Nonprofit Organizations
“The Vision-Aid mission touched my heart since I have personal experience with the challenges faced by visually impaired. I have seen my brother who was visually impaired struggling with day to day life when no such help was available from a similar organization. Volunteering for VisionAid has been my most humble experience. After serving on Advisory Board for few years, I was appointed as a voluntary Vice Chair. “ Today’s woman dreamer, Veena Handa, shares her inspiring journey with volunteerism and community empowerment, after her extensive career in executive leadership at companies like John Hancock. Enjoy her story!
Tell us your story. You served as an Assistant Vice President at John Hancock, and you volunteer with many nonprofit organizations. Where did you grow up, and what is a key lesson you have learned that has guided you in life?
I was brought up in Delhi and graduated with Masters Degree from Lady Irwin College. After getting marriage, we lived in Australia for couple of years. Since we arrived in USA, I worked for 3 of the leading Financial Institutions (MetLife, Fidelity Investments and John Hancock Financial). During my career, I managed multiple operations with hundreds of resources across New England, Canada and Philippines and travelled across the globe to oversee my operations. After holding executive positions for years, retired as an Assistant Vice President from John Hancock. I served on the Advisory Board for John Hancock’s Global Women’s Alliance for over 3 years and sponsored multiple programs, namely, Mentor and Mentee coaching, extending Family Leave from 6 weeks to 12 weeks, Networking and Leadership events. During my tenure, I earned an Excellence in Service Award from MetLife and a STAR of Excellence Award from John Hancock.
Growing up, I saw my Dad not only being best in his field but also volunteering for multiple organizations including serving as the President of the Community. My Dad has been my inspiration to do my best and help people in need. He told me you can achieve anything in life with dedication and hard work for the cause you believe in.
2. How did your childhood and family inspire who you are today? Did you face challenges and obstacles in your journey?
My parents migrated to India at the time of Partition and my Dad had to leave his flourishing law practice and everything else they worked for behind to start a new life in India. I was the youngest of three children so I don’t have any knowledge of hardships my family must have experienced but I heard from my brothers that those were difficult times. I don’t have any recollection of how my parents dealt with settling in a new city with nothing but I do remember that my Dad worked very hard and re-established his Law practice and provided us with good education and a comfortable home. I was brought up in Delhi and graduated with Masters Degree from Lady Irwin College, I was always fond of studying and participating in school dance and dramatics and graduated from college with first division and was ranked first in my class. During review of my thesis for Masters, my examiner offered me a job so I started working immediately after my graduation. I could not pursue that job for too long since I got married and we went to Australia. We were not allowed to bring more than $8.00 each so we left with $16 dollars and started our life in Australia. My husband and I both worked hard for two years and accumulated enough funds to come to USA.
2. Tell us more about your philanthropic work, with organizations such as Vision Aid, AIF, and Lexington Nursing Home. What inspires you about these organizations? What is the best way to give back?
I started my volunteer work as a project coordinator for a Nursing Home and at the Lexington Community Center. With my background in Financial Services, I presented Retirement Tips for youth and seniors. They were enlightened to learn about retirement saving options such as IRA, Roth IRA, 529 College Savings and 401K.
Through Minuteman Senior Services, I volunteer as a Money Manager and a Certified Shine Counselor. I work with seniors and help them pay their bills and balance their books. As a Shine Counselor, I guide them about Medicare, Supplement and Prescription plans. I have helped multiple beneficiaries and saved them hundreds of dollars by recommending less expensive options.
I joined AIF Circle of Hope 4 years ago when I was introduced to the cause by my friend Neeru Oberoi. As a team of 25 women, each year we review and fund projects for women and children in poor settings with education and health care. During Covid, I joined “Sew We Care” initiated by Manisha Jain and as a team we made masks for hospitals and community centers. It was gratifying to join 100’s of women when there was shortage of masks. I truly enjoy my volunteer work for Vision-Aid since their mission is most gratifying as it enables, educates and empower the blind and visually impaired to lead an independent life with dignity serving over 20,000 visually impaired and blind each year across 30 centers in India. What inspired me for these organizations is the team work, dedication and commitment of time and effort to serve for the cause.
3. What is your advice to women looking to get more involved in philanthropic causes? How did you get your start in these organizations?
My advice to get involved is to know if the cause resonate with you. In order to serve, you must believe in the cause, need commitment of time, willingness to learn and share knowledge. Shortly after my retirement, my initial intent for voluntary work was to keep busy but once I started, it became a passion for me to help in which ever way I could.
Initially, I volunteered at the Nursing Home, Community Center and Minuteman Senior Services. At the same time, my husband and I got introduced to Vision-Aid when we were invited to attend their Annual show by Puran Dang. The Vision-Aid mission touched my heart since I have personal experience with the challenges faced by visually impaired. I have seen my brother who was visually impaired struggling with day to day life when no such help was available from a similar organization. We recently visited Vision-Aid resource centers and it was heartwarming to see how well the rehabilitation and training programs are being run. Volunteering for VisionAid has been my most humble experience to see the amount of dedication and hard work from each and everyone that has been engaged with this cause which started only 20 years ago and has helped so many visually impaired to find rewarding careers and lead an Independent Life. After serving on Advisory Board for few years, I was appointed as a voluntary Vice Chair. It is my immense pleasure to be a volunteer for this wonderful cause that is so dear to my heart.
4. Is there an empowered woman you admire? Please share.
I admire the Co-founder of Vision-Aid, Revathy Ramakrishna who work tirelessly along with her husband Ram. They are the most authentic couple and set an example of true inspiration for all volunteers with their hard work, dedication, integrity and team work.
5. What is your next big dream?
My next big dream is to continue with my volunteer work which have been more rewarding than any awards during my career. I was getting paid for the job but the feeling of helping underprivileged is much more satisfying than any promotion or an award. I truly believe in the saying “ By helping others you are helping yourself” and really like this quote “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart” by Helen Keller.