In celebration of Rutgers University Dance Marathon’s 20th Anniversary and in honor of the thousands of people who made the past 20 years possible, RUDM is showcasing 20 Faces for 20 Years. This interactive digital showcase features the founders of RUDM, the Executive Director of Embrace Kids Foundation, patients and their families, and student volunteers who have made a last contribution to the Rutgers community, and how each of these individuals and families have played a vital role in RUDM’s development. Click on the individual bios below to learn about some of the individuals who truly made an impact over the past twenty years.

Meet Matt

Matt Ramina is currently a freshman in the Rutgers Honors College studying computer science. Although at first glance he appears to be a normal college student, Matt is one of the top fundraisers for RUDM 2018, and with good reason: he is a recent Embrace Kids Foundation patient.   At the start of his senior…

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Meet the RUDM Office

The DM office is where the CPT members of Rutgers Dance Marathon come together have meetings, plan and host canning weekends. This office is an essential symbol of the RUDM experience and planning process throughout the year. It is also an open door policy for anyone interested or involved in DM to go and get…

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Meet The Volpe Family

The Volpe family became a patient family of Embrace Kids Foundation in 2009 when their son, Johnny, was diagnosed with cancer. Although Johnny has now been successfully treated for cancer, the impact that RUDM has had on their family has been life changing.   When first introduced to Embrace Kids Foundation, Johnny was paired with…

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Meet Glenn

Glenn Jenkins, Director of Embrace Kids Foundation, has been an extremely valued member of the Rutgers Dance Marathon community since RUDM first re-started 20 years ago. He has served as the Executive Director of Embrace Kids Foundation throughout this time and although the organization has undergone a name change, the mission has stayed the same…

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Meet Amy

Most may know Amy as the energetic Jazzercise instructor who performs at Rutgers Dance Marathon. However, many do not know how involved Amy was with RUDM before she was on stage dancing. Amy was a Director of Fundraising and then an Entertainment Captain of the RUDM executive board during her two years of graduate school…

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Meet Jonathan

  RUDM has a strong relationship with Embrace Kids Foundation. Jonathan Walker has experienced both sides of this relationship. Jonathan was an Embrace Kid and now he attends Rutgers University as a captain of Event Logistics. He is giving back to the foundation that gave so much to him. From Jonathan’s perspective, the number 1…

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Meet Katherine and Stephen

Katherine and Stephen Budinsky have many things in common. They are both FTK, being involved with RUDM as captains and Assistant Directors. They are also siblings. Although they both had very different teams within the RUDM leadership team they both shared that love and passion for Embrace Kids that ran through their family tree. Katherine…

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Meet Mikayla

  Mikayla McLaughlin is a first year at Rutgers University within Mason Gross School of the Arts. As a first year, Mikayla is already getting involved on campus. Recently, she got a job at the Douglass Cafe and is a Captain for this year’s Dance Marathon. She is a captain on the Event Logistics team…

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Meet Jen and Bill

  Jen and Bill Starnick are a married couple, whose roots go back to their own days with Rutgers University Dance Marathon. Bill majored in accounting and economics with a minor in mathematics during his time at Rutgers University. Bill started his RUDM experience in 2005, as he danced for his organization, Chi Psi. He…

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Meet Vincent

Vincent Velasquez first experience with Rutgers University Dance Marathon came within his first year at Rutgers University. However, his time and involvement with the Marathon has gone beyond his years as a student at the University. Through peers and his fraternity, Vincent was exposed to Dance Marathon. In his first Dance Marathon, he participated as…

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Meet Julia and Christie

Rutgers University Dance Marathon planning has been an iterative process over the last 20 years. Each year the Board of Directors along with their Assistant Directors come up with and implement new ideas. Working alongside the Central Planning Team are the Advisors that are always there to help. One of the advisors, Julia Crimi was…

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Meet Rutgers University School of Nursing

Rutgers University School of Nursing is a leader in education, research, and practice to improve health care and health outcomes among diverse populations. In addition to studying to become a nurse and make people’s lives around them better, these students are an outstanding organization in the RU4Kids Program. Starting off in the program just 4…

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Meet Alpha Zeta Omega

Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) is a pharmaceutical fraternity composed of Pharmacists and Undergraduates in Pharmacy, selected on the basis of: Character, Fellowship and Scholarship. When you look at AZO you see an amazing organization that loves giving back to the community. One of their biggest involvements has been Rutgers University Dance Marathon where they have…

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