About us

Who we are

We are a team of change-makers who believe that every helping hand can raise a child and create a better future for them.

Dream School Foundation (DSF) USA is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Trust that works towards addressing the educational equity and quality issues currently faced by the Indian children. We are an extension arm of DSF India. The underlying belief of our organisation is the faith in people’s ability to contribute towards the education & development of our children.

We at DSF, value and cherish the spirit, energy, skills and perspectives of individuals and groups who want to make a difference to society. The seeds of Dream School Foundation were sown sometime in 2002, in india, with the congregation of a few like-minded individuals to ensure a child’s right to equity and quality in education.

DSF India was formally registered in April 2005 as an organisation to maximize our impact with children from government schools. DSF – India now has a committed team of active volunteers as well as trained full time NGO personnel and teachers to supplement and complement the process of education at the school and our centres.

Our approach

The challenge before us is to create leaders from the underprivileged section be it in the field of business, education, management, trade, commerce or allied services. This can be possible through supporting the students economically and raise their aspirations and capacities through intensive mentoring, coaching and facilitation process from the school level itself. The aim is to make them eligible for admissions in colleges and institutions for higher studies. These initiatives will pave the way for creating the leadership at the beginning of their career and subsequently lead them to greater heights in the field of their choice.

Leadership Team

Subbu Parameswaran

Co-Founder and Program Head

Subbu is a Tech and Social Entrepreneur and a supporter of DSF India since 2006. In 2019, he co-founded Dream School Foundation USA.

Vaishali Khandekar

Co-Founder Secretary

Vaishali has many years of experience driving non-profit growth.

Sampath Srinivas

Tech Executive

Sampath is a seasoned tech executive and has been a supporter of DSF India for more than a decade

DSF India

Maitreyee Kumar

Founder, Executive Director

Maitreyee started her career as software professional after her Master’s in Computer Science and worked with multinational firms in India and abroad, before she made a shift towards social development. Her desire for social change and interest in child development urged her to join CRY, where she worked for close to a decade and was instrumental in setting up their Volunteer Action division. She then moved on to start DSF with a group of like-minded individuals with a belief that “Education is the most vital instrument that can transform lives”.

Sabu Joseph

Founder, Director

Sabu is a facilitator, educator, executive coach and organizational change management consultant who has worked globally covering oil and gas, higher education, manufacturing and non-profits. For the last 25+ years, he has helped senior leaders and management teams expand communication, collaboration, engagement, performance improvement, and transform their organizations through increased efficiencies.

Dr. R Sugant

CIO – Chief Impact Officer

Dr. R Sugant, a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA in Marketing and Ph.D. in Management, has 35+ years of experience as a corporate leader, entrepreneur, and academic leader. During his stint of over fifteen years in two leading IT organizations of India – Wipro and HCL, he held diverse leadership responsibilities in international logistics, commercial operations, compliance, sales, business development, and as Head of the Profit Centre.

Youth Committee

Dream School Foundation USA encourages youth from the local communities to participate in fundraising and mentorship programs. The team below is the current cohort of youth involved in driving meaningful impact through DSF USA.

Aishani Pandey

Youth Chair

Fundraising for a cause that truly means something to me is something I’m very passionate about and with DSF I will have the opportunity to do so. I am determined to use my communication & logistical skills that I have gained from my volunteering experience to build & expand the DSF Youth Initiative. I love to write poetry and for online magazines. In my free time, I love to box, run, and rock climb. I’m always available at anytime so never hesitate to reach out!

Alyssa Shah

Youth Community Engagement Lead

I’m from Dougherty Valley high school. Some of my strengths include leadership and communication. I have practice in leadership because I have a track club where I am one of the coaches and teach kids how to run. That also makes me good with kids as I deal with them pretty often. I also am good at communicating and getting the word out as i have made flyers and posts for this my running club to advertise it as well as other projects in school. I’m also a reliable person if you need anything urgent.

Bhavya Tummala

Youth Social Media Lead

I’m a creative and outgoing person who loves exploring new ideas and trying new things. Art is one of my biggest passions, and it helps me express myself in unique ways. I’m also very active because staying physically engaged calms me down and keeps me energized. I’m always looking for opportunities to help others, and in the future, I hope to find a job where I can make a positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to improving the world.

Rishika Nanda

Youth Community Education Lead

I’m a freshman in high school with a passion for learning and exploring new opportunities. I enjoy playing badminton, running, and diving into a good book during my free time. I’m also active in speech and debate, where I get to refine my communication skills and tackle complex topics. I’ve had the privilege of volunteering at temples, which has been a meaningful way to give back to my community. My dream is to pursue an engineering degree and eventually travel the world, discovering new cultures and ideas along the way.

Apurva Reddy

Youth Community Outreach Lead

I’m a sophomore at Dougherty Valley High School, where I actively engage in various community service initiatives, aiming to make a positive impact on those around me. I have been involved in organizing events that promote health and educational awareness and support local charities. I am passionate about science and technology, often participating in STEM-related activities and clubs. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending time with family and friends.