The Light - An Alumni Publication Fall 2015 | Page 8

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Dear Alumni, Thank you for the warm welcome I have received since becoming the new Director of Alumni Engagement in August. I am extremely grateful to my predecessor, John Favazzo, and the many incredible YFU people that have set us on an exciting and evolving path. I’ve certainly hit the ground running, working on everything from a new venture for our young alumni, the Campus Ambassador Program, to completing our first JOIN THE national Alumni Reunion in Washington, DC in October. The momentum and CONVERSATION motivation gained during that phenomenal weekend, along with feedback from The Light welcomes your alumni across the country, will shape the plan for the year to come. Expect announcements around platforms to reconnect, relive, and remember. As comments and feedback, as well as a member of the YFU family, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on submissions for future editions. the important role that you play and the myriad of ways you contribute to our success. I look forward to building a thriving community together! Email [email protected]. Thanks and regards, Gina Palmisano Team When an organization supports more than 2,000 students each year, you hear a lot of stories about kids. Sometimes it’s a story of struggle; other times it’s the story of a remarkable deed. And every so often you hear a story like Vera’s. I’ll never forget the call from a colleague in Hungary. “I have a perfect exchange student for you. She has great grades. She’s well adjusted. She’s a model • 8 | The Light YFU Vera member of her family and community.” The lead up was too perfect. “What’s the catch?” I asked. “Vera,” my colleague says, “happens to be blind.” Among the many, many things I admire about my colleagues at YFU is their tenacious belief that any student that wants to come on an exchange year deserves a shot. It’s one of the things that sets YFU apart from other organizations, so I wasn’t