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ONE: Meet Patricia!
Jenny Dodson Mistry (Scholars '99)
The New Jersey Seeds Alumni Alliance is thrilled to welcome Patricia Rodrigues as SEEDS' new Development Officer in charge of Alumni Relations. Patricia serves as the day-to-day contact for alumni, and is assisting the Leadership Circle with developing infrastructure and strategic planning. She will also work to increase alumni giving and to enhance the internships and career program to expand the opportunities available to our community.
Patricia is a Newark native who attended Newark Academy and graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in History. Before joining SEEDS, she worked at Bayada Home Health Care, where she was responsible for recruiting and hiring medical staff and managing a caseload of over 100 clients.
Last, but not least, Patricia is already a member of the SEEDS family! Her two sisters, Odette and Jessica, both graduated from SEEDS. We are so thrilled to have Patricia on board and can't wait to see how the Alumni Alliance will grow with her support. You can contact her at any time at prodrigues@njseeds.org.
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TWO: A Way to Give Back
Igor Alves (Scholars '95)
As proud as I am to have joined the SEEDS community (way back in the 90s), I have felt even happier to contribute toward the success of the next generation of SEEDS scholars. That may sound like an embellishment, but I know many members of the Alumni Alliance feel the same way. There are a lot of ways to give back, and one such way is to participate in the Alumni Panel series.
I want to briefly highlight my experience at two panels this spring at The Pingry School and Seton Hall Prep. I highly recommend joining fellow alumni at these panels, because the rewards are greater than I imagined. Obviously, the 20 to 30 soon-to-be-high-schoolers clearly benefit from hearing tips and insights from those who were once in their shoes and it is revitalizing to see a new generation of Scholars on the path to academic success. But I am convinced the panelists gain even more than the students. I know I did. I was energized by the wonder in the eyes of the scholars and their sensible questions. What I was most struck and most surprised by was when I listened to my fellow alumni describe the personal challenges and anxieties they faced during the private school experience. As I heard to their stories of grit and persistence, I saw parts of my own experience reflected in their words. I was humbled to hear how several of my fellow alumni had to overcome self doubt, social integration issues, academic hardships and culture shock. Once again, I felt honored to be among this family of dreamers and fighters, who seized the opportunity before them in spite of the many socio economic roadblocks.
So, next time you have a chance to sign up for an alumni panel, seize the chance. Compared with the Saturday class, it is an easy and immediately rewarding way to spend a few of hours!
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THREE: Blooming Donations
Andres Barrezueta (Scholars '05)
This spring, as nature’s creations blossom around us, NJ SEEDS scholars are flourishing thanks to generous donations, including those of NJ SEEDS alumni. As a group, we have contributed both our time and money to ensure that a new generation of bright, motivated kids are afforded the wonderful opportunities NJ SEEDS provides. Last year 8% of alumni donated, for a total of $28,000. That is a good starting point, but each year we should strive to increase both figures, particularly the number of alumni giving back financially. As the percentage of alumni who donate goes up, so does the leverage that SEEDS gains with other donors.
That total was made up of a few large gifts, but mostly through the collaboration of many alumni giving what they could. Even the smallest of donations of say $5.00--one cup of coffee or two slices of pizza--is valuable, both for the current scholars and for the benefactor, particularly if the benefactor is an alumnus. As alumni, we understand firsthand the significance of SEEDS, and feel gratified knowing we are doing our part to sustain it.
I urge the entire alumni community to consider donating to SEEDS. You can do so by visiting the website and choosing either the one-time donation or monthly donation option. Signing up for a recurring donation that is set once and charged to your credit or debit card each month allows $5.00 to become $60.00.
In addition, the Alumni Alliance is kicking off a major fundraising drive, the “SEEDS Impact Campaign,” to raise $15,000 and sponsor one scholar through the NJ SEEDS Scholars Program.If you would like to join please visit https://donate.njseeds.org/events/detail. Please take a few minutes today to help young SEEDlings grow!
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FOUR: Three Things Learned from Celebrate SEEDS
Nidhi Goyal (Scholars '05)
Did you know that the SEEDS alumni community is over 2,000 scholars strong (2,041 gradates from all SEEDS programs, to be exact)? As SEEDS continues its exponential growth in educating students, it also endeavors to foster relations with its alumni family. Throughout the month of April, dedicated alums across New Jersey, New York, Boston, Philly, and Washington D.C. hosted and attended "Celebrate SEEDS" events coordinated by the Alumni Alliance. Didn't get a chance to attend one of the events? No worries! Here are three takeaways from the celebrations:
SEEDS' alumni reach is expanding outside the Tri-State area!
We understand that you may not always stay close to home in New Jersey, or even New York and Connecticut for that matter. For alums who have relocated to Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., SEEDS has established Regional Networks for you to remain connected! If you attend college in these regions, reach out to your SEEDS regional leaders to find out about events happening in the area:
- Boston - Nidhi Goyal (ngoya430@gmail.com) and Lauren Mullins (lmullins6692@gmail.com)
- Philadelphia-Chatara Benson (benson.chatara@gmail.com) and Da'vion Louis (davion.louis@gmail.com)
- Washington D.C.- Elvin Merlo (elvin.merlo@gmail.com) and Katie Apolinario (katie.apolinario@gmail.com)
It is never too late to get involved!
A number of us receive invitations to events and reunions and think, "I want to go, but I don't know anyone there," or "I haven't kept in touch with anyone," or "I haven't been involved with SEEDS since I graduated, and it's been too long." The next time you receive an invitation, throw out those thoughts and register. Alliance events offer great opportunities to network with other graduates, make new friends, and most importantly, reconnect with SEEDS. The Alumni Alliance is growing rapidly as SEEDS welcomes more and more alums; by the time you receive your next invitation, you are bound to find an old friend. The recent "Celebrate SEEDS" proved this, as we had a record turnout of newer alumni attending. Join us and make the next round even bigger.
SEEDS' investment in you is for a lifetime!
You may have graduated from SEEDS and left the "nest," but SEEDS will still be there for you. Like a true family, the alumni community wants the best for you, wishes you success, and wants to help you. SEEDS holds numerous events throughout the year. From social networking to happy hours, to professional skills development events, to volunteer activities, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved! Reconnect with old friends, identify new job prospects, and take a few minutes to learn all that SEEDS has to offer.
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FIVE: Alumni Leading Change
On April 22, 2015 NJ SEEDS hosted it's 4th Annual Leading Change Benefit. With more than 300 guests in attendance, SEEDS alumni shared stories about their journey through the various NJ SEEDS programs and how NJ SEEDS made a lasting impression in their lives. SEEDS Trustee, Emmanuel Bello (Scholars '00) presented the Leading Change Awards to Arthur Levine, President of The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and to Bank of America whose award was accepted by Robert H. Doherty, NJ State President. With many alumni in attendance NJ SEEDS was able to raise nearly $700,000, including $200,000 during the evening's paddle raise, to support scholars. For more information please go to http://njseeds.org/2015-benefit.
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