Grounded in Shared Values: A Look into South Asian Giving

In August, Greater Houston Community Foundation brought together an inspiring group of fundholders, clients, and guests with ties to South Asia for an intimate and memorable evening. The gathering thoughtfully curated by the Community Foundation and hosted by Manu Gupta, Avani Narang, Celestine Vettical, and Rahul Mehta, created a meaningful space to both discover the Community Foundation’s wide-ranging philanthropic services and hear directly from three inspiring fundholders. The speakers shared how their partnership with the Community Foundation has deepened their engagement and amplified the impact of their giving to more than 40 guests.

Held at one of Houston’s culinary landmarks, Kiran’s Restaurant, where Chef Kiran Verma, a 2023 James Beard Semifinalist, and her daughter Puja Verma joined the gathering as well. The evening blended heartfelt storytelling and a shared commitment to igniting meaningful impact in Houston and abroad.

The Community Foundation for All Houstonians

Steve Maislin, President and CEO of the Community Foundation, opened the program with a perspective that blended history, insight, and vision. Over the past 30 years, the Community Foundation has positioned itself as more than just a steward of donor dollars. The Community Foundation has become a true partner in Houston’s philanthropic landscape, helping donors translate intention into impact. Despite being “young” compared to some of its national peers, the Community Foundation now ranks as the 24th largest in the country, highlighting both its reach and the trust it has cultivated over time.

Steve also highlighted the strategic benefits of donor advised funds (DAFs), framing them not just as a giving vehicle but as a tool for thoughtful planning and long-term impact. By partnering with the Community Foundation, donors gain access to comprehensive management of assets—ranging from cash and publicly traded stocks to real estate and business interests—along with concierge-level guidance in philanthropic strategy and connections to other leading donors.

The Community Foundation’s approach also emphasizes generational giving. Through the Center for Family Philanthropy, families can engage children as young as five, cultivating early habits of generosity and stewardship. Corporate donors are similarly supported by the Community Foundation, with tailored programs that include employee disaster relief funds, corporate scholarships, and broader philanthropic initiatives.

The session was a reminder that effective giving is rarely accidental. With thoughtful guidance, comprehensive resources, and a focus on long-term impact, donors can leverage tools like DAFs not just to give, but to shape a legacy of meaningful change.

Crafting a Family Business Plan Grounded in Service

Celestine Vettical, Former Community Foundation Board Member and Executive Chairman of Thore Insurance Group & Celestial Ventures, shared his family’s heartfelt journey with philanthropy. From the early days of his relationship with his late wife, Mini Vettical, service and community awareness were central values. Together, they created a “family business plan” that wove family giving and community service into the fabric of their lives, led by Mini’s vision and Celestine’s entrepreneurial spirit.

The Vettical’s charitable journey with the Community Foundation began in 2014, following a liquidity event, when their professional advisors at Goldman Sachs encouraged them to connect with the Community Foundation for their DAF. But they weren’t just looking for a fund—they were looking for a philanthropic partner. The Community Foundation aligned perfectly with their goals, offering strategic guidance, a sense of community, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact.

The same year, they became one of the founding families of the Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy (CFP), providing seed funding for its launch and serving on its Advisory Board. For the Vetticals, the CFP was the ideal way to engage their five children in philanthropy. Each one of the Vettical children have either participated in or plan to join the Family Giving Circle, a youth-led program that teaches strategic giving and community leadership. Today, their eldest, Pooja, serves on the CFP’s Advisory Committee, Dylan, a senior in high school, currently serves on the Youth Leadership Team of the Family Giving Circle, and Aiden, the youngest, aims to participate in the Family Giving Circle this year as an 8th grader.

Celestine spoke movingly about the Community Foundation’s partnership during a time of profound loss. After Mini’s passing, the Vettical family sought a way to honor her through supporting the causes she cared about most. Celestine shared how the Community Foundation quickly established the Dr. Mini Vettical Angel Fund in her honor, where donations are used to support organizations with missions that provide healthcare to the medically underserved and education for low-income families.

Narrowing a Philanthropic Focus

Next to share was Rahul Mehta, Community Foundation Fundholder and Founder of the Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF). Established nearly three decades ago, the mission of MFF is to grow intellectual talent in India in emerging fields of technology. MFF advances this mission by fostering collaborative relationships between leading international faculty and Indian academic institutions and by creating new schools and degree programs in fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, biosciences, and biomedical engineering.​

Rahul spoke extensively about the emotions that accompany giving away money. As a wealth creator, it can be challenging to determine how much money one actually needs. When MFF was established in 1996, Rahul admitted that he initially started small. Slowly, through trial and error, he continued to narrow down his philanthropic focus by being mindful of what types of philanthropy were giving him the most satisfaction. He shared how it was essential in his philanthropic journey to transition from broad to specific, and how today, MFF supports six academic programs across India and the United States, with more to come.

Rahul emphasized the importance of being intentional with how you spend your time and effort. By being purposeful, Rahul has discovered a way to lead a meaningful life that maximizes his global impact.

Continue reading: Global Giving: Empowering Change Beyond Borders

A Deeper Understanding of Philanthropy

To close out the evening, Dr. Manu Gupta, Community Foundation Fundholder, Next Gen Donor Institute Alum, and CEO of Indus Management Group, shared his path to becoming more engaged with the Community Foundation. Initially, it was his sister, Avani Narang, current Community Foundation Board Member and Managing Director of Marketing, Digital Communications, and HR at Indus Communities, who engaged with the Community Foundation. When Avani became the Executive Director of the Indus Cares Foundation, she sought ways to establish a strategic plan for the organization. To deepen her understanding of the philanthropic landscape in Houston, Avani enrolled in the Community Foundation’s Next Gen Donor Institute (Institute) in 2021. Manu observed how the Community Foundation helped fine-tune the philanthropic efforts his sister was leading for the Indus Cares Foundation; he was hooked and enrolled in the Institute.

Manu shared that the Institute transformed the way he thinks about giving. It helped him sharpen his focus, gain a deeper understanding of Houston’s philanthropic landscape, and explore different giving vehicles, including DAFs. Other essential learnings he took away included how to read a nonprofit’s financials, the importance of site visits, and the four “Ts” of giving—talent, time, treasure, and ties.

Beyond the practical tools, Manu valued the Institute as a safe space to discuss the responsibilities that come with wealth and the thoughtful choices that philanthropy demands. Perhaps most importantly, he found a peer network that has become more than just professional connections—they are now friends and confidants. The ability to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from one another, he says, has been priceless.

Manu also highlighted the ongoing support he receives from his Philanthropic Advisors at the Community Foundation. When he was recently approached to serve on the Houston City Advisory Board for Entryway, his advisors guided him through what to consider, helping him feel prepared to take on the role thoughtfully and effectively. With their guidance, he felt ready to be an engaged, valuable member of the Advisory Board for Entryway, another example of how strategic advice and careful planning can turn opportunities into meaningful impact.

Meaningful Philanthropy

Whether you’re an individual, family, business, or professional advisor, we’re ready to connect and help you make a meaningful, lasting impact through philanthropy. Our personalized philanthropic support is deeply rooted in honoring donor intent and guided by decades of experience, with a focus on community.

We invite you to be part of this journey—whether by exploring a donor advised fund or simply starting a conversation. Contact us today by calling us at 713-333-2210 or reaching out directly to get started with meaningful philanthropy.

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:

• Lily Johnson: A Young Changemaker Sharpening her Philanthropic Toolkit
• Values & Valuables: A Three-Part Series on Empowering Generations Through Philanthropy
• The Importance of a Strong Philanthropic Network
• How Do Community Foundations Work? Leveraging the Community for Smart Giving

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