Bright Minds Foundation is delighted to welcome Rakesh Pillai to our Board of Directors! Rakesh joins our board with valuable professional experience, community relationships, and a deep commitment to supporting education in our community.

Rakesh Pillai is Sr. Manager of Finance and Strategic Initiatives at W. R. Grace, a supplier of high-performance specialty chemicals and materials in Columbia, Md. As a member of the W. R. Grace Foundation Committee, he recommended Bright Minds to the company’s legal department. As a result, the foundation organized a fundraiser to benefit Bright Minds. W. R. Grace Foundation matches donations made by employees 100 percent.

Growing up in India, Pillai has always been interested in contributing to educational causes, volunteering as a tutor for children and working as counselor for overseas education. His membership in the Leadership Howard County Class of 2023 has provided him with an understanding of the unique needs and hopes of the Howard County community.

As a new board member for the Bright Minds Foundation, Pillai is motivated to contribute his skills and expertise to the work the foundation engages in. His educational training in engineering and finance and work experience, most recently at W. R. Grace, will allow him to make a meaningful contribution to Bright Mind’s operating system and strategy.

As the parent of children who attend Howard County Public Schools, Pillai has a passion for the betterment of society through learning and is eager to collaborate with fellow board members to drive Bright Mind’s mission forward.

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About Bright Minds Foundation
Bright Minds Foundation is the Howard County public schools education foundation. We work to ensure each child in Howard County has access to the education, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed at school and in life. We do this by bringing together community support for programs and initiatives that increase education access, equity, and innovation. Bright Minds programs respond to the urgent and ongoing needs of children in four areas: digital inclusion, literacy & kindergarten readiness, college access, and teacher support & classroom innovation. To learn more and contribute, please visit Bright Minds website.