ABOUT US
About Saris to Suits ®
Saris to Suits ® is a charity for female empowerment, education and cultural competency. Our focus is on building awareness and supporting key organizations in a concerted effort to break down the barriers that constrain the advancement of women and girls.
Our Vision
To empower, inspire, educate and serve
Our Mission
Saris to Suits® aims to advance women’s empowerment, education, gender equality and social justice. This includes the following:
- DV & Trafficking survivors’ programs and services- 🪷 Saristosuits Purple Lotus
- Training/employing women in Mumbai w partnerships in India
- Fashioning reusability with merchandise made from upcycled saris. ♻️ circularity for our planet
- Mentoring students to write bylined stories that are carried in newspapers in the US and abroad.
- A benefit calendar campaign of distinguished women who pose for a purpose.
- Conduct women’s conferences to bring social awareness for empowerment
- Create and distribute popular content from a diverse array of storytellers and journalists about inspirational women from across the globe
THE TEAM
Pratibha (Patti) Tripathi
Founder & CEO
Meet Our Board
Marshalla Yadav, Philanthropist & Board President
Marshalla Yadav and her husband Dr. Jay Yadav have four children - three biological sons and a daughter adopted from a Pune, India orphanage. She is a devoted mother and an “event planner” for their children who are attending Yale and Emory universities. Because of her interest in Indian culture and festivals, Marshalla introduced her daughter to traditional Indian dance forms such as Bharat Natyam.
She met her husband at Duke University Medical School when she was a nurse there. Dr Yadav is a successful inventor of medical devices that improve quality of care. The couple is active in many organizations such as TiE and involved in renowned educational institutions such as Yale and Duke universities.
Veena Rao , Author/Journalist
Board Vice-President
Veena Rao is an award-winning journalist and author. Purple Lotus, her recently released novel, is the winner of the She Writes Press STEP manuscript contest and a nominee for the Georgia Author of the Year Award 2021. Rao is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of NRI Pulse, an Atlanta-based news publication. She has been recognized by The Limca Book of Records (the Indian version of the Guinness Book of Records) as the first Indian woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. She is also the recipient of several community service and media excellence awards.
Bhavya, Chaudhry Immigration attorney & Board Secretary
Bhavya Chaudhary is the Founder and Managing Attorney at Bhavya Chaudhary and Associates Law Firm, located in Atlanta, GA with satellite offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Macon, Georgia. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Tennessee, USA, and in India. Ms. Chaudhary practices U.S. Immigration Law specializing in investment and employment-based immigration including EB-5 visas, National Interest Waivers, EB-1/EB-2 petitions, E-2s, H-1bs, TNs, family-based immigration, removal defense, federal and appellate court litigation. Ms. Chaudhary has expertise with representing victims of violence and abuse in VAWA, U, and T cases. She represents clients in Immigration Courts throughout the country to obtain relief from removal.
Bhavya Chaudhary graduated from Delhi University School of Law with an L.L.B degree, and from Emory University, Atlanta, GA with an L.L.M., Master of Laws degree. Ms. Chaudhary is a speaker and an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA). She serves as the Chairman of Georgia-Alabama Chapter Liaison Committees. Bhavya does active pro bono work. She serves on the Board of nonprofit organization, RAKSHA, and on the Advisory Committee of SEWA International. She volunteers her services for several charitable organizations and contributes to ethnic community organizations. Bhavya Chaudhary is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu and several other Indian languages.
Mary Linen Annamraju, CFO
Board treasurer
Mary Annamraju was born in Georgetown, South Carolina’s Dunbar community. Working her way through college led her to New York City where she earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration and International Trade. She earned a Master’s in Finance from St. John’s University in New York.
She is currently CFO at ECOM America and has held finance positions in various industries including Banking & Finance, Insurance, Advertising, and Business/Industrial equipment sales. She taught Computer Studies was an adjunct instructor at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. She served on the executive board of Children’s Center for Health and Healing in Gainesville, Georgia for several years.
A few of her current and past volunteer activities include various PTA positions in the central Gwinnett County Schools cluster, a former parent member of the Central Gwinnett Cluster School Council promoting parent involvement and school support. She is involved in her church’s Youth Ministry, Community Gardening, and Scholarship Committee. A number of these positions include awards too numerous to mention – all held close to her heart and as a testament to her zest for life and love for people. The best job she has
ever had is that of being a mother.
Annapurna Bhat, MD
Dr. Annapurna Bhat. M.D., known as Anu Bhat, is a physician with a super specialty in rheumatology. She is a graduate of KMC, Manipal India, and has a degree in internal medicine from Downstate Med NY, and a former rheumatology fellow at Emory University, Atlanta GA, practicing in Stockbridge, GA. She was awarded Top Georgia Rheumatologist in 2018. Dr. Bhat has been involved in multiple charities donating to education, women’s issues, orphans, and domestic violence against women and children, in addition to promoting cultural activities. Some examples of organizations that she has contributed to in Atlanta, include Heaven House, A Friends House Inc., Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Clayton State University, Kennesaw State University, The Raksha Foundation. Ekal Vidyalaya, Habitat for Humanity, AIM for Seva, Nrupathunga Kannada Koota, Arts Clayton, Hands of Hope, Good Shepherd Clinic, and others. Her contributions to multiple cultural and charitable activities in Georgia, Florida, and India, have positively influenced the hopes of thousands of people. She received numerous awards including the 2019 Shakti award and the 2020 Sewa Lifetime Achievement Award. She and her husband have set up numerous endowment funds to give scholarships to high school and college students in the USA and India.
Together they have sponsored many medical students and built a library in a village in India. She fundraised successfully for Kodagu Flood relief in India and now is involved with the COVID crisis. Her next plan is to host an awareness program related to autoimmune rheumatological conditions, starting with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Parul Jha, IT Specialist
Parul is a senior IT professional and mother of 2 wonderful kids, son in college and daughter in middle school. Parul is passionate about helping others in need and has been contributing to her capacity. Parul graduated from Delhi University and also has Masters in history from Delhi University.
Parul has positive influence on people she interacts on a professional level or interpersonal level and inspires people to do the right thing. Parul went to Mexico on a humanitarian mission to build schools for underprivileged and lent a helping hand staying in Mexico for a week. That’s a testament to the practice what you preach.
Shinjini Das, Entrepreneur
Shinjini Das is the founder of Das Media Group which helps enterprises, small businesses, and individuals build content with motivation to convert followers to dollars. Her content goals include:
(1). Brand Awareness,
(2). Lead Generation, and
(3). Lead Conversion. She has earned her bachelors of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Abha Rai, PHD
Abha Rai is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago (LUC). She is also the Associate Director at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Accompaniment at LUC. Rai comes with over 15 years of international community experience. Her areas of interest include immigrant and refugee well-being, with a focus on gender-based violence across minoritized communities.
Jyothsna Hegde
Jyothsna Hegde holds a Masters Degree in computer science from Loyola University and an Engineering Degree from India. She has served as adjunct faculty at Towson State University in Baltimore. She works in the IT field and is committed to serving her community.
Jyothsna currently serves as the City News Editor of NRI Pulse news publication. She also serves as the Media Director of charity organizations, India American Cultural Organization (IACA), and Sprinkling Smiles. She has worked with several local nonprofits in and around Atlanta in various capacities. She was one of the recipients of the Shakti Award, for Women Empowerment, and Presidential Awardee at IACA, among others.
As a mother of an 9-year-old high achieving daughter named Aarna, Jyothsna tries her best to strike a balance between family and work, while also helping her daughter appreciate her Indian roots/traditions as much as she does the American culture.
Meet Our Board
Marshalla Yadav, Philanthropist & Board President
Marshalla Yadav and her husband Dr. Jay Yadav have four children - three biological sons and a daughter adopted from a Pune, India orphanage. She is a devoted mother and an “event planner” for their children who are attending Yale and Emory universities. Because of her interest in Indian culture and festivals, Marshalla introduced her daughter to traditional Indian dance forms such as Bharat Natyam.
She met her husband at Duke University Medical School when she was a nurse there. Dr Yadav is a successful inventor of medical devices that improve quality of care. The couple is active in many organizations such as TiE and involved in renowned educational institutions such as Yale and Duke universities.
Veena Rao , Author/Journalist
Board Vice-President
Veena Rao is an award-winning journalist and author. Purple Lotus, her recently released novel, is the winner of the She Writes Press STEP manuscript contest and a nominee for the Georgia Author of the Year Award 2021. Rao is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of NRI Pulse, an Atlanta-based news publication. She has been recognized by The Limca Book of Records (the Indian version of the Guinness Book of Records) as the first Indian woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. She is also the recipient of several community service and media excellence awards.
Bhavya, Chaudhry Immigration attorney & Board Secretary
Bhavya Chaudhary is the Founder and Managing Attorney at Bhavya Chaudhary and Associates Law Firm, located in Atlanta, GA with satellite offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Macon, Georgia. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Tennessee, USA, and in India. Ms. Chaudhary practices U.S. Immigration Law specializing in investment and employment-based immigration including EB-5 visas, National Interest Waivers, EB-1/EB-2 petitions, E-2s, H-1bs, TNs, family-based immigration, removal defense, federal and appellate court litigation. Ms. Chaudhary has expertise with representing victims of violence and abuse in VAWA, U, and T cases. She represents clients in Immigration Courts throughout the country to obtain relief from removal.
Bhavya Chaudhary graduated from Delhi University School of Law with an L.L.B degree, and from Emory University, Atlanta, GA with an L.L.M., Master of Laws degree. Ms. Chaudhary is a speaker and an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA). She serves as the Chairman of Georgia-Alabama Chapter Liaison Committees. Bhavya does active pro bono work. She serves on the Board of nonprofit organization, RAKSHA, and on the Advisory Committee of SEWA International. She volunteers her services for several charitable organizations and contributes to ethnic community organizations. Bhavya Chaudhary is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu and several other Indian languages.
Mary Linen Annamraju, CFO
Board treasurer
Mary Annamraju was born in Georgetown, South Carolina’s Dunbar community. Working her way through college led her to New York City where she earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration and International Trade. She earned a Master’s in Finance from St. John’s University in New York.
She is currently CFO at ECOM America and has held finance positions in various industries including Banking & Finance, Insurance, Advertising, and Business/Industrial equipment sales. She taught Computer Studies was an adjunct instructor at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. She served on the executive board of Children’s Center for Health and Healing in Gainesville, Georgia for several years.
A few of her current and past volunteer activities include various PTA positions in the central Gwinnett County Schools cluster, a former parent member of the Central Gwinnett Cluster School Council promoting parent involvement and school support. She is involved in her church’s Youth Ministry, Community Gardening, and Scholarship Committee. A number of these positions include awards too numerous to mention – all held close to her heart and as a testament to her zest for life and love for people. The best job she has
ever had is that of being a mother.
Annapurna Bhat, MD
Dr. Annapurna Bhat. M.D., known as Anu Bhat, is a physician with a super specialty in rheumatology. She is a graduate of KMC, Manipal India, and has a degree in internal medicine from Downstate Med NY, and a former rheumatology fellow at Emory University, Atlanta GA, practicing in Stockbridge, GA. She was awarded Top Georgia Rheumatologist in 2018. Dr. Bhat has been involved in multiple charities donating to education, women’s issues, orphans, and domestic violence against women and children, in addition to promoting cultural activities. Some examples of organizations that she has contributed to in Atlanta, include Heaven House, A Friends House Inc., Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Clayton State University, Kennesaw State University, The Raksha Foundation. Ekal Vidyalaya, Habitat for Humanity, AIM for Seva, Nrupathunga Kannada Koota, Arts Clayton, Hands of Hope, Good Shepherd Clinic, and others. Her contributions to multiple cultural and charitable activities in Georgia, Florida, and India, have positively influenced the hopes of thousands of people. She received numerous awards including the 2019 Shakti award and the 2020 Sewa Lifetime Achievement Award. She and her husband have set up numerous endowment funds to give scholarships to high school and college students in the USA and India.
Together they have sponsored many medical students and built a library in a village in India. She fundraised successfully for Kodagu Flood relief in India and now is involved with the COVID crisis. Her next plan is to host an awareness program related to autoimmune rheumatological conditions, starting with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Parul Jha, IT Specialist
Parul is a senior IT professional and mother of 2 wonderful kids, son in college and daughter in middle school. Parul is passionate about helping others in need and has been contributing to her capacity. Parul graduated from Delhi University and also has Masters in history from Delhi University.
Parul has positive influence on people she interacts on a professional level or interpersonal level and inspires people to do the right thing. Parul went to Mexico on a humanitarian mission to build schools for underprivileged and lent a helping hand staying in Mexico for a week. That’s a testament to the practice what you preach.
Shinjini Das, Entrepreneur
Shinjini Das is the founder of Das Media Group which helps enterprises, small businesses, and individuals build content with motivation to convert followers to dollars. Her content goals include:
(1). Brand Awareness,
(2). Lead Generation, and
(3). Lead Conversion. She has earned her bachelors of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Abha Rai, PHD
Abha Rai is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago (LUC). She is also the Associate Director at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Accompaniment at LUC. Rai comes with over 15 years of international community experience. Her areas of interest include immigrant and refugee well-being, with a focus on gender-based violence across minoritized communities.
Jyothsna Hegde
Jyothsna Hegde holds a Masters Degree in computer science from Loyola University and an Engineering Degree from India. She has served as adjunct faculty at Towson State University in Baltimore. She works in the IT field and is committed to serving her community.
Jyothsna currently serves as the City News Editor of NRI Pulse news publication. She also serves as the Media Director of charity organizations, India American Cultural Organization (IACA), and Sprinkling Smiles. She has worked with several local nonprofits in and around Atlanta in various capacities. She was one of the recipients of the Shakti Award, for Women Empowerment, and Presidential Awardee at IACA, among others.
As a mother of an 9-year-old high achieving daughter named Aarna, Jyothsna tries her best to strike a balance between family and work, while also helping her daughter appreciate her Indian roots/traditions as much as she does the American culture.
OUR IMPACT
Our Progress Report
- 20 - Social justice/youth organizations impacted
- 100 plus Events/Conferences, speaking engagements about women's empowerment
- 3500 calendars - digital and hard copy donated; featuring 65 inspirational women - as a fundraising tool to charitable organizations and for girls.
- 1000+ - Women/ Youth Directly impacted from Funded projects for mission aligned organizations
Inspirational Changemakers from Pose for a Purpose Calendar campaign 2013 to 2020
INDIAN GIRLS HOLD CALENDARS AT RESCUE CARE FACILITY
Zero tolerance! Saris To Suits ® raises awareness to end gender violence and speaks up for those whose voices have been systematically silenced.
Join us now in our mission, and help put a stop to this crime against humanity and support educating girls so she may be inspired and empowered to reach her full potential by emulating her role model featured in the calendar. Contributions are supporting many causes, including 7 Sisters International (a non-profit organization operating in Assam, India provides rehabilitative care to girls rescued from trafficking and abuse), Smart Girls program via Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Hispanic community groups, and emerging professional women’s networking organizations. Bring your support now, and help us expand these success stories to an ever broader community
Among the beneficiaries past and present
Garments such as “saris” or “suits” do not make a person more or less empowered. Rather, our trademark and registered brand implies these savvy and worldly women travel fluidly between continents, chasms, and communities AND serve as real-life role models for young girls and women. It has multiple meanings – East to West, woman to man, and the assimilation process reflected in attire occurs when women enter the workforce.
Saris to Suits ® is incorporated as a non-profit public charity, and exempt from federal tax under 501(C)3 Revenue Code, which means contributions are deductible under section 170 of the code. Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 47-0977394