Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently celebrated the efforts of local volunteers making a difference in the state, including North Allegheny junior Aayushi Vardhan.
The 16-year-old was one of 14 girls, all members of the Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter of the National Charity League, to be invited to a luncheon Dec. 15 at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg.
The students were recognized for their volunteerism, leadership development and mother-daughter community engagement.
“Meeting the governor and his wife was a really memorable experience. They were both very interested in learning about the service we do through the National Charity League. It was really gratifying to see how much value our involvement in our community had. The opportunity reminded me that kindness we put out into the community often finds its way back to us,” Vardhan said.
The chapter is made up of mother-and-daughter teams who contribute hundreds of hours to local nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Ronald McDonald House Charities and The Education Partnership, supporting causes ranging from ending food insecurity and homelessness to senior care and children’s health.
Vardhan, who volunteers with her mother, Parul Mehta, has been part of the Linxx Chapter since she was a freshman.
“Volunteering alongside my mom has given me the opportunity to learn directly from her, as well as from other mothers in our chapter,” she said.
These experiences helped the Marshall resident develop leadership skills, compassion and a sense of responsibility, all core values of the National Charity League.
“What’s especially unique is that instead of just learning these principles in theory, we get to go out into the community and see their real-world implementation. By watching our moms lead through action, all of the daughters learn that we have the ability to make a meaningful difference when we apply ourselves,” Vardhan said.
Volunteering experiences include working with her chapter on Martin Luther King Jr. Day’s National Day of Service to collect more than 5,000 books to donate to Pages Through Progress, which provides books to children in the local community.
“It was eye-opening to see how many children in a developed nation still lack access to books, despite the powerful role reading plays in shaping young minds and futures,” Vardhan said.
Other memorable moments for Vardhan included serving at the Ronald McDonald House, where she and her mother, along with four other mother-daughter pairs, prepared and served breakfast for families of children receiving care at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
She said she loved the experience because it was “a great opportunity to learn from our moms, and it was also meaningful to give back to families who are going through an incredibly difficult time.”
At AHN Wexford Hospital, Vardhan helped with her chapter’s annual holiday blanket drive, collecting more than 100 blankets, wrapping them and distributing them to patients admitted to the hospital during the holidays.
Vardhan’s lunch at the governor’s mansion was impressionable, especially when Shapiro shared his personal story about a period during college when he felt he was at “rock bottom,” she said.
“But, how through a lot of hard work, he was able to completely turn his life around. His message showed that you can do anything you put your mind to, regardless of how small the first step may be, since persistence ultimately is key,” she said.
She enjoyed the unique experience of having one-on-one conversations with Shapiro, members of his cabinet and his wife, Lori.
Each year, both mothers and daughters hold individual leadership roles within National Charity League. This year, Vardhan served as president for the 11th grade class and served as vice president of leadership last year. Her mother served on the NCL Linxx board as vice president of membership.
“I had never truly seen my mom at work before. While I had heard her on calls and visited her office, watching her plan, lead and execute within NCL showed me a completely different side of her. Spending so much time together serving with NCL partners and nonprofits made the experience even more meaningful,” Vardhan said.
Discovering the National Charity League three years ago gave the mother and daughter a meaningful opportunity to serve together, Mehta said.
“Through this shared philanthropic journey, we have created positive impact, strengthened our bond and discovered new sides of each other while engaging in meaningful conversations around real and sometimes difficult issues,” said Mehta, noting the community value.
“Volunteering alongside other mother-daughter duos has been deeply fulfilling, and both Aayushi and I have found lasting friendships, gaining far more than we set out to give. Service became our shared language, strengthening our bond while serving the community,” Mehta said.
The National Charity League Pittsburgh Linxx Chapter continues to grow its footprint across Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland counties, supporting dozens of philanthropies through year-round service projects and leadership training.
To learn how to become a member, visit nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/pittsburghlinxx.