A Mother’s Spirit of Generosity Lives on Through Her Children
Celestine and Mini Vettical, and their five children, Pooja, Eesha, Diya, Dylan, and Aiden, exemplify the spirit of generosity that is at the heart of the purpose of Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy (Center). The Foundation has had the honor to work closely with the Vetticals for 11 years and witness how this dynamic family embodies generosity in their lives. They have created a lasting philanthropic legacy in Houston and beyond. In December of 2022, we tragically lost Mini, but her spirit of generosity continues to live on through her family and her loved ones in remarkable ways.
Read more to learn about how Mini lived a life full of generosity, how the Vettical family remains engaged with the Foundation, and tips for how you, too, can be inspired by Mini and grow your philanthropic spirit across generations.
A Legacy of Love
Every single day, Mini Vettical lived her life as a powerful force for good. She was devoted to her children, her faith, her friends, her work as a physician, and giving back to her community. Whether it was bringing homemade food and a comforting hug to friends in times of loss, illness, or celebration, or working at Harris County Hospital District clinics, Mini’s simple acts of kindness set a beautiful example for her children and everyone around her. Mini’s generosity wasn’t about grand gestures but about consistently showing up with small, thoughtful acts and deep personal connections. By finding ways to give each week, she helped instill the habit of generosity in her children.
Mini’s children were the center of her orbit. Mini’s approach to parenting is hard to capture accurately in just a few words. Still, an example that gets at her spirit of generosity is a question she and Celestine would ask their five children every morning as they were getting ready for school: “Who are you helping today?” This question did more than encourage a helping hand at home; it established a positive intention for their day rooted in both giving and receiving. With five young children to get out the door, they needed a system—and this simple question became a meaningful ritual that helped their family start each day with a mindset of kindness.
Mini’s vision for a better Houston was more access to quality healthcare, education, food, and art for all in our community. She envisioned a world with strong faith, family values, and selfless community service. Mini dedicated herself and her career to caring for those most in need, particularly the medically underserved in Houston, and inspiring others with that same devotion. One of her legacies as a physician is that those who worked alongside her and those she served remain inspired by her love and compassion. She brought her faith, passion, and joy to all she served. The Vettical Family has set up the Dr. Mini Vettical Angel Fund. Donations are used to help the causes she cared the most about—healthcare for the medically underserved and improving education for low-income families.
Partnership for Good Across Generations
Mini and Celestine Vettical first engaged with Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) in 2014 when they sought a donor advised fund and were looking for a way to get each of their children involved in their philanthropy. Because of this, Greater Houston Community Foundation seemed like a natural fit. That same year, the Vettical family became one of the Founding Families of the Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy. Not only did they provide seed funding to support the Center for Family Philanthropy, but Celestine and Mini served on the Advisory Board for the Center for Philanthropy. Additionally, Celestine rolled off Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Governing Board in 2024 after serving a 7-year term.
As the children have grown, each has engaged with the Foundation in different ways. Pooja, the oldest daughter, was among the first to sign up for our Family Giving Circle. The Family Giving Circle experience helps children develop leadership skills, discover their passions, and use their voices to make a difference. Pooja was one of the first leaders of that group, and she helped shape the program into what it is today. Eesha, Diya, and Dylan followed their sister’s lead. They have all joined and led the Family Giving Circle, and Aiden will be next in line.
In 2022, when the Center for Family Philanthropy hosted a 10th-anniversary luncheon, we invited Diya to speak on behalf of our youth leaders, where she shared with a room full of donors about the impact her participation in the Foundation’s programming had on her.
“Being on the Youth Leadership team has shown me that we have so much more to offer. It’s taught me that we can create mission statements and grant applications, talk to organizations about what they do and their impacts, and conduct site visits and volunteer. But I think, most importantly, this team has taught me how to use my voice for good and in a way that impacts my community. It’s shown me the power and potential of the youth in a way that I’ve never experienced before. And in a way, I’ve never been treated before. This team has empowered me in a way that could never be taken away from me. During this time, I have found my voice.” Diya Vettical, Youth Leadership Team, Family Giving Circle
More recently, Dylan Vettical, a member of the Youth Leadership Team for the 2024-2025 Family Giving Circle, led an interactive learning experience about disaster preparedness and resiliency in our region for nearly 100 volunteers at our Family Philanthropy Day event. This was a substantial task, helping to create engaging and age-appropriate content for volunteers ages five and up.
2025 will mark another significant milestone for the Vettical’s stewardship of philanthropy for the next generation. Celestine’s term on the Center for Family Philanthropy’s Advisory Board will end, making space for his daughter Pooja Vettical, who has since graduated college and is working in Houston as a management consultant at Bain & Company, to step in and serve in that capacity.
Although Aiden is not quite old enough for the Family Giving Circle today, he’s been engaged since the start—attending Family Philanthropy Day and also sitting in his mother’s lap as a toddler during the early phases of the Center for Family Philanthropy, observing his parents as they helped build the scaffolding around a program that has now emerged as a national leader in family philanthropy.
Mini and Celestine have prioritized creating a space for giving back for their children as they would for any significant activity or school commitment. Generosity wasn’t an add-on; it was woven into the fabric of their family’s life with a bit of support from the Foundation. Mini and Celestine Vettical are a testament to how everyday acts of kindness can create a legacy that will continue for generations to come, thanks to the roots of generosity they have helped to plant with their children.
Starting small and creating consistent moments of giving each day or week can be a powerful tool for raising children who view generosity as a core part of their identity. Though she is no longer physically with us, Mini’s legacy of intentional, consistent generosity continues to inspire us, as she is a beautiful example of how to foster a mindset of kindness for your children that they can carry into every corner of life.
Center for Family Philanthropy
Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy is a national leader in advising families in the stewardship of philanthropy and community impact across generations. How? Through various initiatives, the Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy provides families with best-in-class resources, education, programming, and peer connection.
Family Giving Circle & Youth Leadership
The Family Giving Circle is a learning opportunity for families and youth to learn, volunteer, and grant together in the greater Houston area. The Family Giving Circle is led by the Youth Leadership Team, a peer network of students (grades 7th-12th) interested in learning about the issues and opportunities in Houston. They begin to navigate the nonprofit landscape and learn how to be a thoughtful and strategic grantmakers. This leadership opportunity is a great way for youth to develop their values, independent thinking, decision-making power, community knowledge, and leadership skills. Through the program, they gain a better understanding of and develop deeper relationships with nonprofits in the community—as leaders and as young grantmakers.
Family Philanthropy Day & Quarterly Volunteer Days
Volunteering is an invaluable experience for children, helping them develop a sense of empathy, teamwork, and social responsibility from a young age. Our Quarterly Volunteer Days and Family Philanthropy Day programming is tailored for families with children aged five and older, offering a variety of engaging, age-appropriate activities that make giving back fun and meaningful. By participating together, families can foster a spirit of generosity and compassion while children learn important life skills such as cooperation and leadership.
Next Gen Donor Institute
Next Gen Donor Institute is a program for donors who wish to develop their philanthropic identity and gain a deeper understanding of philanthropy. Throughout the course, they learn from their peers and community leaders about philanthropic trends and possibilities. Each participant creates a strategic giving plan and, as an alum of the program, gains access to an extensive network of peers who are engaged in the community—as donors, board members, and leaders.
Empowering Future Philanthropic Leaders
At the Foundation, we’re passionate about helping families and donors of all ages turn their dreams of making an impact into reality. Together, let’s cultivate a new generation of compassionate, purpose-driven philanthropists who are eager to make a difference in the world. Dive in, have fun, and watch how these small lessons in generosity can create lasting impacts for both your family and the community.
Looking to get started? Contact Greater Houston Community Foundation today at 713-333-2200 or connect with us online to start a discussion.
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- Power of Volunteering: Harnessing the Spirit of Service and Partnership
- Five Ways to Nurture & Grow Generosity in Your Children
- The Future is Now: What is Next Gen Philanthropy?
- How Charitable Giving Can Enhance Your Legacy Planning
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