Written by Tatiana Joyce, Former Charity Partner Program Recipient and Current Young Professionals Board Member
I can still vividly remember heading to the Boys & Girls Club of South Boston, sitting down to do my elementary school homework, and having a staff member bring me a summer camp application to take home to my mom. That small act of kindness introduced me to a former Rodman for Kids Charity Partner, and changed my life forever.
At nine years old, I went to summer camp for the first time and fell in love with swimming in a pond, sleeping on a top bunk, fishing, kayaking, campfires, and the magic of summertime friendship. My time spent at camp got me out of the city and opened me up to an amazing community of chosen family that has supported me and enriched my life beyond measure.
In addition to the incredible memories I built at camp, I also participated in a year-round youth leadership program. This program taught me the importance of being character-driven, community-focused, challenge-ready, college-career bound, and committed to a better future. These values have shaped me into the person I am today, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities that were made possible through Rodman for Kids and its Charity Partners.
Tatiana volunteering at the Ride for Kids in 2014.
Now, as a Founding Member of the Rodman for Kids Young Professionals Board, it’s an honor and a privilege to give back to the organization that has given me so much. Rodman for Kids doesn’t just support individual programs; it empowers youth-focused nonprofits to provide experiences that truly change lives. By connecting resources, offering professional development, and fostering collaboration, Rodman for Kids amplifies the impact of every dollar raised and every effort made.
I know that all of our Charity Partners are making critical investments in our next generation, and I want to do everything I can to ensure that every young person has access to safe spaces that nurture and challenge them to grow and tap into their unique potential. The work Rodman for Kids does is about more than just providing resources—it’s about creating opportunities for kids like me to thrive, to discover who we are, and to build a future we never thought possible.
As I look back on my journey, from a curious nine-year-old heading to summer camp for the first time to a leader on the Young Professionals Board, I’m reminded of the incredible impact that Rodman for Kids has had on my life. And I know that this impact continues every day for countless other kids who, like me, are discovering their potential and finding their place in the world.
