ABOUT
WriteCause is dedicated to inspiring teens to reflect on issues our world faces so they can be part of the solutions.
WriteCause is a volunteer-run organization that runs free quarterly writing contests with prompts centered around major world topics. Through writing, we encourage education about subjects of global importance to spur ideas for solutions. By submitting an entry you are making yourself more aware of these issues while developing your writing skills. Learn more about entering the competition on our Submit page!
Aanya Kolli
Co-founder
​Aanya is a student at the University of Washington, St Louis. She is the founder of WriteCause. From a young age, Aanya has enjoyed giving back to the community. When she was 7, she sold crafts and raised over 1,400 dollars for various charities through an initiative called Little Caring Arts. Additionally, Aanya loves competing at Math Meets and Science Olympiad competitions. In her spare time, she writes poetry. Spreading her point of view through writing has always been extremely important to her.
Anoushka Mitra
Co-founder
Anoushka is an engineering student at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She is the co-founder of WriteCause. She loves to play soccer and volleyball and watches tennis tournaments in her free time. When founding WriteCause, Anoushka’s goal was to help bring a younger voice into bigger conversations in our world during a time when much of what is happening affects our futures. Having traveled to over 30 countries, she knows the value of having a variety of perspectives and wants to share that value with as many people as possible.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ananya Mukherjee
Executive Director
Ananya is a student at Dougherty Valley High School. She is the Executive Director at WriteCause. Ananya is interested in pursuing business and additionally loves serving on the board of her school newspaper, dancing, traveling, competing at Model UN conferences, and writing pieces for the online news site she runs! Through WriteCause, she hopes to help teens express their opinions on social and political events, as well as initiate thoughtful solutions to global issues.
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Eleanor Day
Co-Lead & Marketing Director
Eleanor is a student at Unionville High School. She is the Marketing Director and a STEM Spotlight lead at WriteCause. In her free time, she participates in field hockey, track & field, and student council. Loving science and writing, Eleanor additionally helps run her school newspaper and is conducting research under multiple university professors. Through WriteCause, she hopes to promote teen education in global issues and writing.
Eleanor VanDuyne
Newsletter Director
Eleanor is a senior from Virginia. With a passion for reading, writing, and politics, she is always eager to explore new places and broaden her understanding of the world. Last summer, she had the incredible experience of traveling to Turkey with the State Department, which deepened her interest in international affairs. Eleanor's previous work with the government has further fueled her commitment to civic engagement and youth involvement in global issues. She is dedicated to raising awareness among young people about the pivotal role they play in shaping our world.
​Peyton Elise
TikTok & STEM Spotlight Director
Peyton is a student at McLean High School. She is the TikTok and STEM Spotlight lead for WriteCause and hopes to promote writing, especially STEM writing. Peyton wants others to be inspired by teen researchers, feel confident in their own research and writing abilities, and see TikTok’s use as a potentially academic resource. In her community, she’s an active volunteer and leader, playing crucial roles in many organizations and even aiming for the President’s Service Award this year. Additionally, Peyton also likes golf, coxing, and business!
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Olivia is a student at Salinas High School and a Marketing Coordinator for WriteCause. She is passionate about climate change and strives to advocate for the safety of our planet. When she's not reading or writing, she's an active member of her school's band, wrestling/softball/golf team, and chess club. In her free time, Olivia volunteers at the Monterey County SPCA to provide for the welfare of sheltered animals. She hopes to connect with young writers through WriteCause and inspire the next generation to change the world for the better.
Gargi is a student at Staples High School. She is a part of the Marketing team at WriteCause. Through WriteCause, Gargi hopes to make a difference by providing teens with information about current events and problems around the world so that they can generate solutions. Gargi is a part of her schools Jazz ensemble, robotics club, and squash team. In her free time, she loves playing her trumpet, writing and talking to her friends!
Mariam Ndao
Newsletter Coordinator
Mariam is a student at Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy and a Newsletter Coordinator at WriteCause. She has gotten involved in various community initiatives, including founding her own Diversify Our Narrative chapter and raising over 400 books for local elementary schools. In her free time, you can find her dancing, writing, reading, or volunteering at her local hospital. Through WriteCause, Mariam hopes to bring light to social issues through a creative lens that can reach a diverse audience.
Olivia Gott
Marketing Coordinator
Trinity Nguyen
Marketing Coordinator
Trinity is a part of the Marketing Team at WriteCause. She has been on the WriteCause Team since 2022. She is a senior at Gilroy Early College Academy and would like to pursue something related to business/marketing as a career. In her free time, Trinity likes spending time with her friends, family, and cats; writing; listening to music; and going to the library!
Gargi Karve
Marketing Coordinator
Bettina Gannon
Podcast Coordinator
Bettina is a student at Oxbridge Academy. She joined the WriteCause Podcast Team in July of 2023. Bettina loves to surf and has a passion for legal justice and advocacy. She founded a nonprofit organization, Justice Advocates Network, dedicated to giving abuse survivors the resources they need. Being an active member in her community has made a huge impact on Bettina’s advocacy journey, and through WriteCause, she hopes to reach a larger group of inspiring young people from all over. In her free time, she enjoys engaging in Congressional Debate and serving as her school’s literary magazine’s editor-in-chief. Bettina wants all teens to know that they do not have to wait to take action; anyone can make a difference.
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Addison Edelstein
Podcast Coordinator
Addison Edelstein is a student at Highland Park High School. She is a part of the podcast team at WriteCause. Beyond this, she is an editor of her school’s newspaper, an active member of the Model UN team, and publishes her own writing pieces on her blog. Addison strives to encourage other young teens to utilize the power behind words and their voice, and aims to expand adolescents knowledge on recent issues and global communities. With whatever time she has left over, Addison also enjoys playing the piano, baking, and reading!
Bella
Podcast Coordinator
Bella is a student at Julia R. Masterman. She enjoys reading, playing softball, and having fun with friends. Bella wants to help fight loneliness by connecting others from all over the world. In addition to Write Cause, she founded the first Pennsylvania branch for the international non profit known as Sending Sunshine. Everyone works together to decorate cards and write letters that are sent to senior citizen homes to bring a little brightness to the world. Bella believes everyone should get a say in the world they live in - whether it’s through a short letter or podcast interview.
Samantha Sandrew
Podcast Coordinator
Samantha Sandrew is a senior at Staples High School in Westport, CT. She is a part of the podcast team. Samantha enjoys beekeeping and playing volleyball for her school. Her English teacher encouraged her to join Writecause to find similar likeminded activists. Samantha loved the community and passion the Write Cause team brought to their work, so she decided to join!
Jenny Zhu
STEM Spotlight Coordinator
Jenny is a student at Livingston High School. She is a STEM Spotlight Coordinator at WriteCause. Jenny is interested in biology and medicine, and, through WriteCause, she hopes to help spread awareness and encourage the discussion of important global issues. In school, she plays varsity tennis and participates in orchestra as well as speech and debate. In her free time, Jenny loves to write, listen to music, and spend time with friends.
Ieleen
Outreach Coordinator
Ieleen Li is a student at Salinas High and part of the marketing team at WriteCause. In addition to the written and performing arts, she enjoys skateboarding and learning about evolutionary biology. At school, she helps front the Ethics Bowl and Mock Trial teams. Through WriteCause, Ieleen hopes to help share an avenue for emerging writers to have their works recognized and inspire others to start writing.
Atlas Saavedra
Fundraising Coordinator
Atlas Saavedra is currently a junior in West Palm Beach Florida. Atlas is a passionate advocate and activist, having led a walkout in their freshmen year of highschool in protest of banned books via Walkout2Learn. They are a proud member of the SEE Alliance, volunteer at local science and art museums, and thespian—having dabbled in acting, directing, stage management, and playwriting. A writer at heart, Atlas hopes to inspire and educate the world one word at a time.
Jaiya Patel
STEM Spotlight Coordinator
Jaiya Patel is a student at BASIS Scottsdale High School with a passion for both science and community service. She is a STEM Spotlight Coordinator with WriteCause. In her free time, Jaiya enjoys reading, writing, and playing volleyball. Additionally, she is a student leader in her school’s musical theater program and spends her free time researching the latest advancements in astrophysics. With WriteCause, Jaiya hopes to promote STEM to teenagers everywhere and raise awareness of global dilemmas and conflicts.
Ivy
Outreach Coordinator
Ivy is a new member of WriteCause! Their bio will be up shortly.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Maggie Abt
Maggie is a front-end developer, designer, and consultant with over 10 years of experience working with clients in both the public and private sectors to build modern, scalable, and user-friendly solutions. In her spare time, she collects unreasonable amounts of holiday decor and tacky coffee mugs, tends to a vast garden of seasonal peppers, and makes HOT, hot sauce.
Lisa Liu
Lisa is a Director at NetImpact Strategies Inc., an award-winning Federal Consulting firm inside the Beltway. She’s passionate about problem-solving and believes that our worlds and realities are all just constructs that we’ve built as a collective. This means that words are the most powerful peacemaking tools and weapons within us all so she’s delighted to be a part of WriteCause’s journey in encouraging future problem solvers to start exercising those powers!
Kavita Kalatur
Kavita is the founder of NetImpact Strategies Inc., and has spearheaded the company's growth of 75% CAGR over the last decade. With a “Customer-First” approach, she has built a collaborative culture where NetImpact professionals work as trusted advisors; prioritizing customers' needs and staying accountable for outcomes. NetImpact has been recognized by the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and the Washington Post to commend the company’s outstanding culture and employee engagement strategies.
Charles Stewart