Priti Jhunjhunwala, founder of Helping Hands Foundation, was born and raised in Kolkata. A deep-rooted sense of compassion and service has always guided her. Her life took a transformative turn when her 13-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. After two years of relentless treatment in the U.S., she lost her daughter at the age of 15. Even with world-class medical care, family support, and financial resources, the journey was agonizing. It made Priti deeply aware of how unimaginably harder it must be for families facing the same battle without even the basics Place to rest, financial aid, and emotional support …
That realization became the seed for Helping Hands.
A visit to the pediatric cancer wards at KGMU, where children shared beds and families sat helplessly on the floor, cemented her resolve. In 2016, she turned her dream of one child, one bed into reality by building and donating two fully equipped hospital floors to KGMU.
In 2023, Priti expanded the Foundation’s mission to include education for children living in slums. Today, Helping Hands supports over 300 children, enrolling them in two partner schools and taking full responsibility for their admissions, fees, uniforms, books, and ongoing educational support. For many of these children, it’s their first step into a classroom—and into a brighter future.
Priti continues to lead Helping Hands with hands-on involvement, guiding programs, mentoring the team, and building partnerships to amplify impact. She believes every child deserves the chance to heal, learn, and dream.”
