San Francisco-based professional Vikram “Vik” Uppal is the co-founder of Aid India, a charitable foundation that works to provide food, shelter, medical aid, and other basic necessities to Indian families. Vikram Uppal also contributes to philanthropic initiatives closer to home, serving as a volunteer for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is perhaps best known for its community-based mentoring program, which matches screened volunteers with children in need of positive adult role models. The support and guidance Bigs provide their Littles through even the simplest activities helps empower youth to succeed in areas of life ranging from school to personal relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area (BBBSBA) also operates an additional program aimed at preparing young adults for successful careers. The nonprofit is currently in the second year of its pilot workplace mentoring partnership with GAP, which pairs teenaged Littles with Bigs employed at the clothing retailer.
Meeting twice each month over the course of a year, the pairs explore an extensive curriculum spanning job and life skills such as business etiquette, community engagement, college prep, career exploration, and more. Each day of the program is developed by a BBBSBA Workplace Mentoring Coordinator and is designed to help youth not only develop critical career skills but also begin to plan their futures. The Workplace Mentoring Program has been largely successful, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area has even amassed a waiting list of teens eager to take part in the program.
