Today we’d like to introduce you to Sridevi Swaminathan
Hi Sridevi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started in February of 2021 when I was in the eighth grade. It was mid-pandemic, and my twelve-year-old self was itching to make a change in the communities she was involved in after seeing the variety of injustices happening throughout the world. In the beginning, I founded my 501(c)(3) non-profit “Make Today Matter” with the intention to relieve health inequities globally, but it began to become much larger than that.
Over the years, I have led numerous initiatives aimed at supporting diverse communities, addressing critical healthcare needs, and promoting educational equity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I funded an oxygen generator for a Indian hospital in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, ensuring that patients had access to life-saving respiratory support. I spearheaded an environmental initiative by adopting a road in Troy, promoting sustainability and community cleanliness. My team and I clean this road at least three times a year. To bridge the digital divide, I organized the donation of over 200 laptops and uniforms to rural Indian students, empowering them with the tools necessary for academic success.
Recognizing the hardships faced by displaced individuals, I coordinated a clothing and hygiene products drive in my community for Ukrainian refugees, providing essential supplies to families in need. My commitment to healthcare access led me to organize and run three American Red Cross blood drives, helping address the ongoing demand for blood donations. Additionally, I led an eyeglass drive that collected over 200 pairs for Americans lacking equitable access to vision care.
Understanding the challenges and stigmas faced by visually impaired orphans in India, I facilitated the donation of over 300 smart sticks equipped with advanced sensors to enhance their mobility and independence. Furthermore, I championed menstrual health awareness by distributing more than 10,000 sanitary pads to rural Indian students and educating these students on the importance of sexual health, ensuring that young girls could continue their education without barriers.
These initiatives have reflected my dedication to global health, educational equity, and humanitarian service—values that continue to drive my work and aspirations. Furthermore, these projects have embodied my commitment to equal opportunity and peace, with my work here truly molding my perspective into a humanistic approach. My most meaningful experience with Make Today Matter was when I ran the smart-stick campaign. Here, I focused on raising money to donate “Smart Sticks,” allowing orphaned visually-impaired students to navigate roads independently. I ran in-person educational sessions for students to understand the stick’s technology, with my team and I making manual adjustments for students who required them. The joy and belonging I felt during these sessions emboldened me as I experienced the power of changing lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Most definitely not. As an eighth grader it was incredibly difficult navigating the non-profit space. There were lots of regulations and taxes to be paid. It was difficult raising money for these causes at first as well.. However, over the year,s our team and outreach has grown extensively due to various outlets (including WDIV Detroit News) covering the impactful work I do here!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently a high school senior who will graduate in a couple – very short – months. I attend the International Academy East: an international baccalaureate high school in Troy. I am an aspiring physician who hopes to work in policy advocacy/government advising as well. Make Today Matter had gotten me interested in the way our society functions and its interconnections with STEM at such a young age, fueling my passion for clubs such as Model United Nations and Chemistry club. At IAE, I am the president of both clubs and am happy to say that I have pushed these clubs to flourish in a post-COVID environment. She is a current and youngest board member of the Metro-Detroit Model United Nations Organization. As an avid healthcare professional and current advocate, I was sent by the state of Michigan to attend the annual CADCA/SAMHSA 2025 substance abuse conference and work with Senator Gary Peters on youth substance abuse policies in Michigan. I am also a certified phlebotomist and a current young scholar with the American College of Cardiology. In my free time, you can find me in the pool as a competitive and synchronized swimmer or singing as a professional Carnatic music singer and Isaikalaimani diploma holder. In terms of future plans, I will be attending either the Barnard College of Columbia University or a direct 7-year BS/DO program with the University of Akron and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in the coming fall.
I believe what sets me apart from others is my wholehearted passion to serve our community for the better. I truly believe that I want to make an impact and this desire is what sets me apart. I want to change lives, whether it be right now as a high schooler or as a physician.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Personally, I believe that taking risks I believe is the sole factor as to whether a non-profit’s campaign succeeds. I took risks reaching out to visually-impaired orphanages and other organizations, I took risks when asking my community for monetary donations, and I took risks as I put myself out there raising awareness for the causes I am passionate about.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maketodaymatter.wixsite.com/matter
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sridevi-swaminathan-33b563229
