CARSON SHEFFIELD AND PIYUSH CHINTALWAR
First meeting in the middle school band, the two trumpet players became fast friends—band has that effect on people. Though, their idea to start Toys for Texans wasn’t born at a Friday night football game; inspiration struck as the two were playing video games together one Friday evening.
Their original plan was simple: host a two-week toy drive and give the donations to local children. With the help of friends from their biology class, they were able to make their first donation to the Samaritan Inn.
Our Founders
Leading the Team
Founder
Carson Sheffield
Carson oversees the organization's board, manages its finances and accounting, and helps guide programs like the Little Libraries initiative and the annual toy distribution effort, work that has helped the organization raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and reach thousands of children across Texas.
A student at UT Austin, Carson's interest in business started early launching his first company at 15, his experience that now shapes how he approaches running a growing nonprofit. Originally from Bloomington, Illinois, he moved to Allen, Texas, as a teenager, and outside of TFT, he enjoys the financial markets, golf, and cheering on UT football.
Co-Founder
Mitul Gouni
Mitul serves as a co-founder and trustee of Toys for Texans, helping shape the organization from its earliest days and guiding its direction as both a founding voice and a steady hand on the board.
A lifelong Dallas resident of 15 years, Mitul is currently a college student balancing his studies with his commitment to the organization's mission, bringing an on-the-ground understanding of the community Toys for Texans serves.
Chief Communications Officer
Jakob Sheffield
Jakob serves as a crucial keystone to the board. not only by bringing hope and joy to families across Texas, but by leading and organizing the student team and their efforts, steering the helm of what to expect for Toys For Texan's future.
Having played baseball for 11 years, Jakob is also a proud member of the McKinney North team and cherishes his roots in Illinois, where he spent the first decade of his life. Coming from a big family with two older brothers and two step-siblings, he values teamwork and collaboration, which he brings to his role in the organization.
Director
Athena
Athena brings a director's perspective to Toys for Texans, advising on operations and helping ensure the organization runs efficiently as it continues to grow its impact across Texas.
She graduated from UT Austin with a BBA in Management Information Systems and is currently pursuing an MS in Robotics at Boston University. Her background spans tech startups, most recently in Growth Operations at Dili, giving her a sharp, operations-minded lens that she brings to her role advising the team.