Mission & Values
The purpose of The Rao Orengo Foundation is to give students with limited financial means the chance to pursue educationally enriching opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. We believe that when cost is no longer the barrier, students can explore their interests, grow their confidence, and build a stronger future for themselves and their communities.
Equity
We believe every student deserves a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed, no matter their financial situation.
Access
We work to remove cost as a barrier so students can join programs that enrich their education and expand their horizons.
Opportunity
We support experiences that build confidence, curiosity, and leadership in young people.
Community
We partner with families, schools, and local organizations to lift students up together.
Board of Directors
Srinivas "Vasu" Rao, MD
Claudia A. Orengo, MD, PhD
Karina Rao
Gabriella Orengo Lyons, Esq.
Co-Founder & Board Member
Co-Founder & Board Member
Executive Director
legal advisor & Board Member
Dedicated to fostering educational growth and community service through lifelong learning and leadership. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University, followed by medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine and a fellowship in Interventional Radiology at M.D. Anderson/St. Luke's Hospital. He practiced medicine in the greater Houston area for 20 years before recently retiring.
Committed to creating access and removing barriers for students pursuing higher education and specialized programs. She graduated from Rice University and earned her MD/PhD from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, completing her psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 1995. She practiced psychiatry in Houston for over two decades before retiring.
Karina Rao strategically drives the Foundation's impact through partnerships and educational equity programs. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her MBA at Rice University. Her background spans strategy consulting at Accenture and entrepreneurship as founder of an SMB consulting firm, and she currently serves as Chief of Staff at SmartAC.com.
Passionate about community development and ensuring all students have the tools to define their own futures, Gabriella Orengo Lyons brings extensive legal and family office experience to the Foundation's board. A Trinity University and UConn Law graduate, she currently serves as Executive Director of the Family Office at The Heritage Group
Our History
Two families, the Raos and the Orengos, established The Rao Orengo Foundation. While their roots go back to India and Italy, Houston has been home to both families. Education has always been a vital part of their story. Both Dr. Rao and Dr. Orengo moved to America to pursue higher education and built their lives around learning, service, and hard work.
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They have always believed in encouraging young people, providing opportunities, and instilling a strong work ethic so that students can succeed. The foundation was created to carry that belief forward, supporting others as they pursue higher education and build brighter futures.