Today we’d like to introduce you to Nisha Giustino.
Hi Nisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Nisha Giustino is a distinguished Army veteran, human resources leader, nonprofit founder, and
political advocate with a deep commitment to public service and community impact.
After enlisting in the U.S. Army directly out of high school, Nisha served in two combat tours in Iraq
and Kuwait and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. She earned her Bachelor’s degree while in
the military and later obtained a Master’s in Human Resources Management.
Following her honorable discharge, Nisha transitioned into the private sector where she served
as Director of Human Resources at Nine Line Apparel, helping grow the company from 65 to
nearly 200 employees. Her leadership in the HR department helped the company become a
standout business in Savannah and gain recognition on the national stage.
In 2021, she founded Operation Kid Forward (OKF), a Savannah and Richmond Hill-based nonprofit dedicated to
empowering underprivileged youth through educational trips, summer camps, mentorship, and
community engagement. OKF has become a vital resource for children from single-parent
homes and underserved communities, reaching hundreds of kids annually with programs like
the Princess Ball, Shopping with the Sheriff, and the “Love Gives” Gala.
Nisha is also the CEO of HRASAP, a consulting firm focused on providing tailored HR solutions
to small and mid-sized businesses. Her work has been recognized across Georgia, earning her
a spot on the 2023 Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 list.
In the political and advocacy space, Nisha is a graduate of the Georgia WIN List Academy, a
grassroots political action committee that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office.
She has used this platform to champion women’s rights, advocate for diversity in leadership,
and support campaigns that foster unity across lines of race, gender, and ideology.
Most recently, she served as a Legislative Aide during the 2025 Georgia Legislative Session,
where she supported State Representatives by conducting legislative research, drafting policy,
communicating with constituents, and analyzing legal frameworks.
Whether through military service, nonprofit leadership, or political advocacy, Nisha’s mission
remains the same: to uplift others, challenge inequity, and create lasting pathways to
opportunity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not having roots in this area was challenging to “break in” and to secure the trust and support of the community. When I first created Operation Kid Forward myself and the current VP at the time Vernon Donovan would literally review all weekly networking events and “divide and conquer”. It was a lot of us showing up and supporting other organizations proving our dedication to the community before any support was reciprocated. After our first year the community and other partners were able to see the opportunities and initiatives we provided to other organizations, and the support started to organically pour in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In 2010 I started a Christmas initiative in which I would solicit the Christmas requests of local children and then push the wish list to friends and families to fulfill. Every year we provided toys and clothing to over 60 kids. It was hrart warming to see how random people would “give” with no stipulations, this really renewed my faith that there are still so many good people in this world. That event somehow turned into me wanting to create a nonprofit (I did not know what I was getting myself into LOL) to not only provide tangible items but also transformative experiences. I didn’t want to duplicate a service that was already being provided so I solicited feedback from current nonprofits on the gaps in services and that’s how OKF was born.
Since the creation of Operation Kid Forward, we have hosted summer camps, college tours, scholarship writing classes, our Magical Princess Ball, Shopping with a Hero (formally known as Shopping with the Sheriff), Back to School events, and overnight fun and but also educational events.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My love to “give back” was embedded at a very young age from my grandfather aka “Nana” Samual Mahtab who recently passed in November 2025. He always told me to love everyone because “all people are gods children” and to always give back physically or monetarily when you were able. From the age of 6 years old I remember packing food at Shelters, helping with community food banks, or participating in fund raisers with our church. Even at a young age I never felt like it was work or I was forced but a “calling”. I have witnessed my grandfather take the jacket off his back to give to a stranger. If there were more people like him our world would be a better place, he is the true definition of a noble and god-fearing man.
Last, my husband Rocco. Rocco is a silent partner but plays a huge role. with OKF. There are many times I’m mentoring other children, and it takes away from my home responsibilities to my own children in which he gladly picks up. He is the logistics man, set-up and tear down man, and the continuous positive and most supportive person in my life. Even with tight deadlines he has flown gifts to children in Florida in a Special Ops Army Helicopter (that was pretty dope lol) to ensure kids would wake up to presents under their tree Christmas morning.
Running a nonprofit is a team effort and if it wasn’t for the support of my husband, Board of Directors, and our community we would not be successful.
Pricing:
- Donations would be great
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.operationkidforward.org/
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://www.operationkidforward.org/take-action
