The following post was originally written as an email from CSF Alumnus and recent NYU graduate Alex Olea to CSF alumni who are now in college, inviting them to join the CSF Alumni Network. We liked what Alex said so much, we wanted to share it on this blog also!
My involvement with the Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) began with an email I received last summer. It was a surprise request to attend a cocktail reception celebrating the achievements of CSF Scholars, both new and old, at the Princeton Club in New York. The main thing on my mind? The fact that the CSF was able to get in contact with me at all. It seemed like a stroke of luck that they were still in possession of an email address I had created nearly a decade ago. I could have switched accounts, or been unresponsive, but they were able to get through to me. This is how my newfound involvement with the organization began.
This isn’t to say that I wasn’t aware of the CSF before. I am a proud former recipient of a scholarship from the organization. During the time that I received a scholarship, I was unaware of the strides they were enabling me to take. CSF was directly shaping the course of my life through education, but this isn’t something I found myself thinking about much in middle school. With this request to attend an alumni event, I was confronted with a decision: respond and become involved, or disregard the e-mail.
I chose to reply and it is a decision I that I don’t regret. For the past year, I have been involved with the CSF Alumni Network and the organization in several capacities. From cocktail events to fundraising events and awards ceremonies, the CSF Alumni Network has proven itself to be excellent at what it aims to do: bringing together the diverse and accomplished alumni community of the organization through service and celebration. These opportunities have made lasting memories: hugging CSF’s President Darla Romfo in gratitude, meeting fellow alumni and making new friends at events, and sharing my story at a CSF fundraising event this April.
So, why get involved with the CSF Alumni Network? In my experience, it has been a great way to become acquainted the organization, and to give back, as well as make memories and friends. Beyond that, it is clear to me just how much time and effort the CSF staff puts into everything they do. By creating the CSF Alumni Network and offering us opportunities for learning, networking, and even mentoring the next generation, the organization is saying, “We care about you and your success, and want you to stay involved in the future of CSF.”
I challenge you to take a chance and reply just as I did. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed.
CSF Alumnus Alex Olea attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine School in the Bronx using a CSF scholarship and went on to graduate from Mount St. Michael Academy in 2012. He graduated from NYU in May, 2016, and is pursuing his Masters in Computer Science at NYU while working full time at the university.
CSF Alumnus Alex Olea speaking at a CSF fundraising event at Arader Galleries in New York City in April, 2016