Dr. Yogesh Shah and Deval Shah’s giving journey with Sehgal Foundation’s Transform Lives one school at a time program is rooted in quiet conviction. Theirs is a story of belief, gratitude, and the deep knowing that education, especially for girls, can alter lives for the better.
Married for thirty-one years, and based in Iowa throughout their married life, Yogesh and Deval shared a common belief that shaped each of their careers. Their philanthropy conviction, that education has the power to change the trajectory of entire families, is especially true for girls.
“Our thinking has always been that educating girls creates the greatest ripple effect,” Deval shares. “You’re not just helping one individual, you’re uplifting a family and, eventually, a community.”
The Shahs’ connection to the Transform Lives one school at a time program began with a simple meeting in Iowa with Executive Vice President Jay Sehgal of Sehgal Foundation. What later transformed that initial conversation into a firm commitment was the first time the couple stood inside a transformed rural school in India, seeing classrooms that had once been neglected now filled with light, color, and possibility.
The Shahs’ connection to the Transform Lives one school at a time program began with a simple meeting in Iowa with Executive Vice President Jay Sehgal of Sehgal Foundation. What later transformed that initial conversation into a firm commitment was the first time the couple stood inside a transformed rural school in India, seeing classrooms that had once been neglected now filled with light, color, and possibility.
“When we visited that school, something shifted,” Deval shared. “We could feel the difference. It wasn’t just infrastructure, it was hope. Once you walk into a school and see the change with your own eyes,” Deval said, “it stops being an abstract idea. It becomes real, and it stays with you.”
Deval’s own life has been shaped by perseverance and professional dedication, spending thirty years in information technology at Wells Fargo. But long before titles and institutions, a particular moment had stayed with Deval. “I attended a polytechnic where tuition was free,” she recalled. “That single opportunity changed my life and made it possible to be where I am today. It taught me that access to education is a form of justice.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Yogesh Shah’s path has been shaped by medicine, education, and global health, in a journey that has spanned continents and callings. Trained as a physician in Mumbai, he moved to the US before marriage, built a career at Mayo Clinic, later became the founding dean of Global Health at Des Moines University, and continues to practice medicine in Des Moines.
Through his relationships with Jay Sehgal and another friend, Reggie Sinha, Yogesh helped a small group of like-minded families in Des Moines who also believed deeply in long-term, community-led change. The group visited schools in rural villages before and after transformations, witnessing firsthand how infrastructure, teaching quality, and community engagement reshaped outcomes for children.
“Education is the biggest lever for change,” Deval noted, “especially for girls.”
The groups’ visits to India brought that belief vividly to life. They spoke of meeting several students, including a girl who dreamed of becoming an IAS officer, witnessing the advocacy of young girls that helped prevent a child marriage of one of their own friends, and seeing confidence take root where resignation had once existed.
“When you return to the same school years later and see how far it has come,” Yogesh said, “you understand that real change takes time and care. The impact compounds over time.”
What resonated deeply with the Shahs was Sehgal Foundation’s long-term impact model. “We were drawn to the fact that Sehgal Foundation doesn’t just build and leave,” Yogesh explained. “They stay engaged, strengthen systems, and work with the community so the change lasts.”
Family philanthropy also plays an important role in the Shahs’ giving. Yogesh spoke about his father’s contribution to Sehgal Foundation in honor of his late sister, describing it as a way to turn remembrance into lasting good. Over the years, through direct and indirect support, the Shah family has helped fund more than four schools. Upcoming plans include supporting the reconstruction of a school in Gujarat.
The Shahs introduced their children to community engagement and volunteerism at young ages, inculcating their enthusiasm for philanthropy, which they have continued to carry on in their adult lives.
Yogesh and Deval speak of Sehgal Foundation with pride as well as gratitude for what they admire as the organization’s integrity, clarity, accountability, and impact-driven approach. “This is an organization that knows what it’s doing,” Yogesh stressed. “The standards are high, the operations are clear, and the results speak for themselves. In addition, every donated dollar is matched by Dr. Suri and Edda Sehgal, which doubles the impact.”
“Our message to others considering partnering is to go and see for yourself! When you do, education stops being an idea and becomes a legacy, transforming lives one school at a time.”
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