NEWS RELEASE
ALPHA EPSILON PI INTERNATIONAL JOINS THE JEWISH SERVICE ALLIANCE, POWERED BY REPAIR THE WORLD, TO FURTHER INSPIRE JEWISH COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN ACTS OF SERVICE
Partnership Launches in New Orleans With Community Clean-Up
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) – Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi), the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, has joined the Jewish Service Alliance (JSA), powered by Repair the World, to enhance and expand service opportunities for AEPi’s more than 8,000 undergraduate members on 150 college campuses around the world.
AEPi joins the Jewish Service Alliance, a group of partners which inspire the Jewish service movement and mobilize Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. Repair the World, as an organization that sits at the intersection of service, Jewish engagement, and social change, believes that every act of Jewish service can be a meaningful Jewish practice and create positive change in the world.
“We are excited to partner with AEPi to inspire young adults as they show up for their communities to meet pressing needs and connect to their Jewish value of repairing the world, tikkun olam. Through this partnership, we hope to catalyze tens of thousands of acts of service and learning to create meaningful social change and connect participants to their Jewish identities and communities,” said Celia Livshin, Repair’s Senior Director of National Partnerships Strategy.
AEPi Brothers on 150 college campuses in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Israel, will have the opportunity to further deepen their relationship to service and philanthropy through this new partnership.
“As the international Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi holds the Jewish value of pursuing a just world through service and learning. This is an integral component of our mission – to develop the future leaders of the Jewish community – and this partnership with Repair the World will provide our members with opportunities to get involved, take action, and make a difference on their campuses and in their communities,” said Rob Derdiger, AEPi CEO. “I’m looking forward to seeing our students continuing to explore their passion for making the world a better place.”
The Repair the World and AEPi partnership launched last month at AEPi’s 110th International Convention in New Orleans. Dozens of AEPi undergraduates from around the world joined with Repair the World staff and Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) to support an 81-year-old veteran, living in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, repair the exterior of his home by replacing rotten wood, caulking, priming, and painting. The service project connected students with the needs of those in different communities from their own and emphasized making a difference in people’s lives. Following are some comments from AEPi students who participated in the project:
Photos and captions from this event are available here.
- “This was a meaningful opportunity to volunteer for a community that wasn’t ours and to be with other brothers from around the world. It was even more meaningful that we were painting a hero’s house.” – Isaac Nathan, University of North Texas.
- “Today was a great experience overall! Not only did I have the opportunity to meet new (AEPi) Brothers but also to make a difference in a beautiful community! To be able to make a difference in someone’s life and have a good time doing it is what it’s all about.” — Jacob Rivers, Towson University
- “It was a great experience overall and I’m glad we were able to help Mr. Capers. No better feeling than seeing the results … and putting a smile on someone’s face. Despite the heat, I really enjoyed what we did …It has inspired me to find volunteering opportunities for our chapter in Nashville so we can make an impact there too.” – Ben Kurcz, Vanderbilt University
- “I had a great time volunteering and helping paint Mr. Capers’ house. This experience really put into perspective that Alpha Epsilon Pi betters communities around the world…It’s a great feeling knowing that, as an organization, we directly impact so many people with all of our service events.” – Alex Valdman, North Carolina State
“Seeing our undergraduates serving alongside each other outside in 100-degree heat to repair a stranger’s house in a neighborhood far from their own, was an unforgettable event. I know that every participant in that program came away with an appreciation for how Alpha Epsilon Pi, working with Repair the World, can make differences in communities around the globe. Just as importantly, though, is how we are impacting the lives of the future leaders of our Jewish communities,” said Derdiger.
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About Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) is the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, operating chapters on more than 150 college campuses around the world. Founded in 1913, AEPi has more than 100,000 living alumni. The fraternity’s mission – developing the future leaders of the Jewish community – is demonstrated every day through acts of brotherhood, Tzedakah (charity), social awareness and support for Jewish communities and Israel. More information is available at aepi.org.
About Repair the World
Repair the World mobilizes Jews and their communities to take action to pursue a just world, igniting a lifelong commitment to service. We believe service in support of social change is vital to a flourishing Jewish community and an inspired Jewish life. By 2026, Repair will inspire and catalyze one million acts of service towards repairing the world. More information is available at werepair.org.