Raj Mathai

Anchor & Journalist, NBC Bay Area

“When I immigrated from Mumbai to Palo Alto in 1977, there was no Asian Pacific Fund. I wish there was. In recent years, I’ve seen firsthand how the Fund impacts the Bay Area Asian/Pacific Islander community and changes lives. As our community continues to grow, the role of the Asian Pacific Fund is even more valuable as the organization not only helps people with grants and guidance, but also helps build community by encouraging those who have “made it” to give back.”

Ten-time Emmy award winner Raj Mathai is the weeknight news anchor for NBC Bay Area. Raj anchors the nightly 5 pm, 6 pm and 11 pm News and is among the Bay Area’s most well-known journalists.

Raj has interviewed many high profile newsmakers including Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Colin Powell, Tyler Florence, Jed York and many more.

He joined KNTV in 1998 as Sports Director and transitioned to primary news anchor in 2011.

He has reported on-location from the Olympics in London, Vancouver, Turin, Athens and Salt Lake City.

Raj is among the handful of people in the world to have run the Olympic Torch three times (1996, 2002 and 2008). He was part of the Giants broadcast team (2008-2012) with Jon Miller and Mike Krukow during NBC Bay Area telecasts of the Giants.

Raj grew up on the Peninsula and graduated from Los Altos High School. He went on to graduate from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and political science. Before arriving at NBC Bay Area, he worked for NBC stations in Fresno, San Diego, and Arizona.

In 1995, Raj became the country’s first Indian sportscaster. Prior to his career in television, Raj served as a public relations assistant for the San Diego Chargers for five seasons.

Raj and his family contribute to the Stanford Cancer Center, Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, College Track, Indian Community Center and various other Bay Area charities.

He is a regular guest instructor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Raj was born in Trivandrum, India.