Social impact is woven throughout the very fabric of RBS faculty, staff, and students

Arash Azadegan, associate professor in the Supply Chain Management department, Rutgers Business School, traveled with his wife and two children to the Dominican Republic this year with the Fathom Impact travel.  The program aligns with Azadegan's belief that one-on-one connections and cultural immersion can build long-lasting relationships and can make significant differences in peoples' lives.  Every other week, Fathom brings up to 700 traveler-volunteers to the Dominican Republic to build and distribute water filters, pour concrete floors, and participate in reforestation and education enrichment programs.

Azadegan's children are at an age, and amongst the generation seeking to "give back" while having fun.  Aboard ship, they learned about the culture and community with which they would work and play, and about the specific activities.

"Pouring the concrete floor was not watching a cement truck pumping out tons at a time.  It was a 'bucket brigade' of 40 people up a hillside," said Dr. Azadegan.  "My daughter spoke at length with a girl about her age who was so excited to be getting the cement floor.  The week was life-changing for both of them."

Another way in which RBS faculty, staff, and students just made a significant impact on a local family was through participating in the Adopt-A-Family campaign.  Forty RBS members contributed over $1,500 in food, clothing, and other household necessities to a New Brunswick family of both parents and three children in need. 

Administrative Assistant Michelle Tomitz, Office of Undergraduate Programs - New Brunswick, spearheaded the RBS-New Brunswick campaign.  "I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our staff and faculty members and I must say that I am still in complete disbelief as to how many people took the time out of his/her day to either get a gift card or buy items for our family. This is going to assist our adopted family tremendously," Tomitz said.

This year, twice the number of individuals contributed to Rutgers Business School's Adopt-A-Family campaign.

-Sean Ireland