For second-year Honors College student Aryeh Iosif, giving is an opportunity to be a catalyst for positive change. Iosif’s journey with service began before his time at Rutgers University through a volunteer opportunity with a children’s hospital to support children in the long-term care unit. This experience prompted Iosif to continue serving after starting his collegiate career at the Honors College.
“Where else could you just walk two minutes and have opportunities to serve your community?”asked Iosif of the Honors College.“That’s how I got involved with service at the HC. These small service events at the Honors College were a huge catalyst for me in getting involved further in service.”
Iosif keeps busy as a biology major on a pre-dental track with minors in Spanish, theater, and women’s and gender studies. When he isn’t pursuing his academic endeavors, Iosif gives back to his community as a resident assistant and the HC Serves leadership team philanthropy lead. An Honors College Alternative Break, which Iosif cites as his favorite Honors College service experience, connected him with the opportunity to serve on the leadership team.
“My trip was to Project Lazarus, an organization that provides transitional housing to people afflicted with homelessness and diagnosed with HIV in New Orleans” recalled Iosif. “The whole experience from start to end was very eye-opening.
I learned that the true meaning of service is doing what the community needs.”
Iosif also engages with philanthropy opportunities outside of Rutgers University, such as Broadway Cares, a non-profit organization that integrates fundraising within the theater community around the United States in support of HIV/AIDS-related causes.
“Giving my time to Broadway Cares has provided me a way to combine both my love for theater and my love for service,” said Iosif. “This experience has shown me that no matter what, there is a way to integrate service into your life. Even just helping out at a fundraiser could make a huge difference.”
As the philanthropy lead, Iosif dedicates some of his time to supporting Rutgers University Dance Marathon fundraising efforts. RUDM, the largest philanthropic event in the state of New Jersey, benefits the Embrace Kids Foundation, an organization that supports families with
children who are undergoing treatment for health challenges. After months of fundraising, participants are invited to celebrate their team’s hard work at a Dance Marathon with food and entertainment every hour. RUDM has become a staple of Rutgers University culture.
“I became involved with RUDM because many of my friends did it last year, and I absolutely loved the experience” said Iosif. “I also love the Embrace Kids Foundation. RUDM provides me the experience to help serve in my own community here in New Brunswick.”
According to Iosif, the Honors College has a strong and enthusiastic RUDM team, which will enable students to build community with one another while supporting a worthy cause.
“The HC is unique, as people from all different class years can join the team,” said Iosif. “This provides a great bonding experience beyond the marathon that allows students to get to know other HC students. I think HC students are genuinely very passionate in their work, and will stop at nothing to meet their goals.”
RUDM leadership has recently announced that the in-person event has been cancelled due to COVID-19. Despite this, RUDM leadership still encourages fundraising efforts and is in the process of planning a virtual experience for participants.
“There are hundreds of people who work behind the scenes to plan the marathon, help participants fundraise, and make the marathon enjoyable,” said Iosif. “Without the captains and executive board, there would be no marathon.”
Whether it is through RUDM or Broadway Cares, Iosif plans to continue to give to others in any way he can. He encourages others to follow his lead.
“You don’t have to be a billionaire to donate to a cause,” said Iosif. “I might only be a college student, but a dollar or two here and there could go a long way… That one dollar is more than a dollar. It’s a smile. It’s one stress-free day in a world of chaos. That’s why giving is important, and that’s why I give.”