Beena Parikh
“The rapid development of the internet and the powerful influence of social media on today’s kids sends the message that success is easy to get. These kids are, however, woefully lacking many of the basic skills needed to make their dreams come true. I love the fact that LTS endeavors to change that and teach our kids real, practical, and meaningful skills that will actually help them be and do anything that they want.”
Dr. Beena M. Parikh has been in Central Florida since the mid 1980’s. She graduated from Winter Park High School and then went on to the University of South Florida for her undergraduate degree. Beena continued her studies at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale and obtained her PhD. in Clinical Psychology in 1997. She maintained a private practice until 2009 and after taking a short break, went on to help her husband start up his solo practice where she is currently the practice sdministrator for his cardiology practice.
Beena’s passion for the arts, education, and health and wellness, rings through to her considerable list of projects and accolades. She and her husband were added to the Donor Wall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and are avid supporters of the arts in Orlando. Viewing education as a top priority, she serves on the Advisory Board for the Burnett Honor College at UCF as well as for Nova Southeastern University – Orlando and in the past, has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Windermere Preparatory School. They also support A Gift for Teaching with their efforts to bring free school supplies to at-risk kids in Central Florida. Lastly, they started an endowed scholarship in memory of her mother who was a registered nurse. This scholarship supports nursing students at Nova Southeastern University College of Nursing
Community service is a fundamental component of all that she does and as such, serves on the boards of a variety of community organizations. She has served as Secretary of the Governing Council for the Hindu Society of Central Florida and was a founding member of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce. Beena was a driving force behind the IACC’s growth and in 2013, launched one of its premier events, India Day with the Orlando Magic. Her involvement with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin was taken to a new level when she served as the Director of Operations for the 33rd Annual AAPI Convention and Scientific Assembly held in Orlando in June 2015 which had 1500 attendees and a budget of nearly $2 Million. She remains active with their local chapter, CAPI.
Beena presently serves on and was previously the Chairperson of the (CRP) Citizen Review Panel, an Orange County Advisory Board which evaluates and distributes funding to Orange County organizations focusing on children and families. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF). Beena’s service on these boards allows support of initiatives ranging from youth education and housing to health programs focused on preventing childhood obesity. Over the course of her time on these boards, they have been able to distribute nearly $20 million to Central Florida children and families. Finally, she serves as Chairperson for Harmony Healthcare Orlando, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide all-inclusive medical treatment and preventive care to members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as the community at large. We aim to provide free services to those that are otherwise unable to get proper healthcare.
Most recently, Beena and her husband started the Amish & Beena Parikh Giving Alliance Foundation, which will serve as a grant making and programming organization supporting education, arts, and health and wellness. As a public charity, she hopes to engage the support of friends, family, colleagues, and community members to support and grow the foundation so that it will remain impactful for generations to come.
Balancing passions is a great skill of Dr. Beena Parikh as she blends her professional, community and family lives together, bringing her personal brand of energy and enthusiasm to all she does. Her dedication to her family and community is plain to see, and, along with her husband Dr. Amish M. Parikh, they are honored to give back with an open heart.
