Shrawan Nepali (Founder)
Shrawan was raised at Paropakar Orphanage in Kathmandu. Through the support of Peace Corps volunteers John E. Paul and Dave Fulton, he arrived in the US to pursue an MBA and a successful career. But helping others in Nepal, particularly the most unfortunate, was always on his mind. His vision of creating a warm and loving home is what Ama Ghar continues to strive to be everyday – a place where children “always have the keys to come home.”
John Shinner (Board Chair)
Nordstrom, Seattle, WA
A believer in the in the old saying ‘life is what happens while your are making other plans’ - John first came to know Nepal during a trip to Tibet in 2004 and returned home with a newfound passion and determination to make a difference. “The children at Ama Ghar are a powerful testimony to the strength of the human spirit to rise above life’s challenges…they give me hope for a brighter future for Nepal and the whole world in these uncertain times”. As true Seattle area native, John refuses to water his lawn in the summer and never carries an umbrella.
Niley Shrestha (Vice Chair)
Financial Advisor, Oppenheimer & Co, Inc. San Francisco, CA
Niley has been in the financial services industry for almost two decades. He was President of the Nepal Association of Northern California. He is also one of the founding members of Nepali Business Network in the US. His other interests are Nepali Capital Markets and Non-Resident Nepali Association.
Cathy Clifton (Secretary)
Direct Marketing Consultant
Cathy and her husband, Richard Hyman, have visited Ama Ghar six times since its inception in 2001, and have been devoted supporters since the very first visit. Ama Ghar children are her first love, but her second is travel, and she has visited every continent except Antarctica, writing blog entries to accompany her husband’s photography.
She says “We became involved with Ama Ghar because of our long-time friendship with Bonnie Ellison, but after our first visit, we were hooked. There is no better use of our time and energy than to help these children to have a fulfilling life.
Rob Sanders (Treasurer)
Online Marketing Consultant, San Francisco, CA
Rob brings a wealth of energy and experience to the world of online marketing. He currently works with a diverse group of companies across multiple industries providing creative and technical solutions for online growth. This role includes overseeing their search engine marketing and optimization efforts while providing guidance on new online marketing channels such as social networking, blogs and video.
Before receiving his undergraduate degree in Communications at the University of Central Florida, Rob was honorably discharged from the U.S. military after serving four years abroad. He also received his Project Management Certification and earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. He volunteers his time for a number of organizations including Junior Achievement, and the San Francisco Aids Foundation.
Bonnie Ellison (Country Director)
Ama Ghar Children’s Home, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bonnie took an early retirement to follow in her father’s footsteps of giving back to the people of Nepal by working with groups that make a difference. Her father, O.T. Ellison, was one of the first Americans to arrive in Nepal in 1956. She is planning on spending the rest of her life there. As Managing Director of a house of 38 children, she is always busy! She will help with future plans and development.
Dr. Paramesh Adhikari
President, Shangri-La West, Inc. Cotati, CA
A gifted artist for many years, Paramesh currently works for California based Shangri-La West. He has followed in his mother’s footsteps as a social worker in Nepal, and has been passionately involved helping underprivileged nepalis for past ten years. Paramesh has made the Bay Area his home for the past 20 years.
Jennifer Bennett
Teacher/Artist, Seattle, WA
Jennifer was a student in Nepal through the University of Wisconsin’s “College Year in Nepal” program from 1998-1999. When she returned to the US, it became clear she not only wanted to stay connected culturally to Nepal, but that she wanted to give back to the people and country who gave so much to her. “I was fortunate enough to meet Shrawan Nepali in 2000” she says. Soon after, began serving on the Ama Foundation’s Board. “As a teacher and a mother, connecting with children and young women globally is very important to me. Living in rural as well as urban Nepal gave me the ability to see life through another perspective. This new set of eyes truly changed my life.”
In addition to her involvement with Ama Ghar and Foundation, she also serve as the president of the Bo M Karlsson Foundation, an organization that grew out of Ama Foundation and sends young women in need to university. She returns to Nepal as frequently as she can, and cannot wait to bring her almost-three-year-old son there in the very near future.
Matt Heffefinger
Film Maker, San Francisco, CA
Matt is a freelance film and video editor in San Francisco. He has had a long association with Nepal. His wife, Chering is from Solo Khumbu and they hope that their children will grow up with close ties to Nepal. Matt has been active with charitable events in the Bay Area and sees his board commitment as an opportunity to take a more active role in the support and education of Nepali children.
Matt is the maker of the documentary “The Children of Ama Ghar”, which tells the story of Ama Ghar from the children’s perspective. About Ama Ghar, he says, “We may be small but we are changing lives!”
Manoj Kanskar
Physicist, Madison, WI
Although Manoj grew up in Kathmandu, he has lived in the US since 1981. Currently, he resides in Madison, WI with his wife Kathleen and lovely daughter Mila. He is a physicist and works as Vice President of Research and Development at Alfalight, a company that makes high-power diode lasers. In his spare time, Manoj enjoys art, playing the guitar/mandolin and keeping in shape through running and yoga. He is honored to be serving the Ama Foundation and contributing to the country and people that he loves by assisting with social services and helping to improve the education.
Poonam Mudvari
Bethesda, MD
Poonam was born and raised in Kathmandu and left for the US to pursue higher eduction. She has worked in the US in Finance, in the area of Corporate Governance. She believes in “empowering children so they will become better leaders and members of the society. With increasing migration of Nepalese people to other countries for work opportunities it is important that we create those opportunities here in Nepal so they can rebuild their country.”
Sunil Amatya
Co-Owner, Nirvana Traders, Red Bank, NJ
Sunil, who moved to the US over 20 years ago owns and manages the high-end clothing store Nirvana Traders on the East Coast. As his business continued to grow, Sunil looked for a way to give back to his home country. He joined the Ama Foundation Board in 2009 and looks forward to merging his success in business with his commitment to creating sustainable change in Nepal.
Dr. Susan Oupadia
Pathologist, St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Junction, CO
A practicing pathologist in Grand Junction, Colorado, Susan’s connection to Nepal is both profession and personal. In 1989 she visited Nepal as a medical student. Though her career path led her back to the USA, she always yearned to help the disadvantaged Nepali people in some way. Many years later she reconnected with a Nepali physician who she met during her time at Tribhuvan Hospital. They are now married and have been active supporters of Ama Foundation for many years. “I have had the distinct privilege of visiting Ama Ghar” Susan says, “and have been sincerely impressed by the facility and the staff.” After joining the Board of Directors in 2009, Susan jumped in with both feet and is hosted a very successful fundraiser in Colorado on March 20, 2010.
Nabin Khanal
Microsoft, Seattle, WA
Nabin was born in a small village Gaushala from south part of Nepal. He began his career in computers by teaching computer classes before joining Pilgrim Software Development Company in the Capital. He came to United State to pursue Master’s Degree in Computer Science. While perusing MS, Nabin took a position with Microsoft where he is now the Senior Program Manager in charge of Data Center Services Solution. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering at Bangalore University and a Master’s in Computer Science from the Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Argosy University in Seattle. In addition to supporting the Ama Foundation, Nabin is also the founding member of Computer Association of Nepal-USA chapter (http://www.can-usa.org). He is passionate about serving on the board of the Ama Foundation and have the opportunity to because make a positive impact on lives of the children of Ama Ghar.
