“I think a lot about stored potential, about how many guys could be doing this kind of work. All of the philanthropy they were part of in AEPi often lies dormant for 15 or 20 years. We need to activate it,” said Brother Danny Rubin (Virginia, 2006).
When Danny Rubin enrolled at the University of Virginia in 2002, AEPi felt like a natural next step.
“I was very involved in BBYO growing up. I served on the Virginia state board and eventually as state president. When I got to college, I didn’t know much about AEPi, but a friend from home was in the chapter and kept reaching out. Rush at Virginia is second semester, but he stayed in touch all fall, inviting me out. By then, I’d connected with five or six other Jewish guys, and we all joined together in the spring.”
“AEPi is the only Jewish fraternity at Virginia; it has a distinct identity. I might have found it on my own, but having someone personally reach out made a difference. Because of BBYO, I realized I was already looking for something like AEPi.”
After graduation, Danny returned to his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he began building both a career and a family. He became active in the local Jewish community, volunteering with the Jewish Federation and the JCC. But something was missing — that sense of belonging and shared mission he had experienced as an undergraduate AEPi and in BBYO.
From that feeling, a new idea began to take shape.
“It grew out of conversations at our Jewish Federation and evolved into a fundraising group within the senior men’s division. We’ve essentially created a modern Jewish men’s club, not tied to any one synagogue and with no formal membership requirement. It’s a group built around connection, with a philanthropic mission running through it.”
Launched in fall 2024, Nadiv — which means “generosity” in Hebrew — quickly gained traction. The group now includes 45 members, ages 22 to 45. While connected to Jewish Federation, Nadiv operates independently.
“When we started, we met with senior Federation leaders to hear why and how they became involved in the Jewish community. We hosted local social events, worked the phones at the Federation Phone-A-Thon, partnered with the BBYO chapter, and helped refresh the garden at the Jewish Day School. Once we built momentum, we organized a community-wide Nadiv poker night. It sold out with 100 players and raised $30,000 for Camp JCC.”
Today, Nadiv is viewed as a community asset, involved in multiple initiatives across Virginia Beach.
“These guys come from all different directions, some just moved here, others have lived here for years. We’ve created a collective. A collective focused on doing good. They’re friends. They do business together. They give back together. And we built it from scratch.”
The parallels between Nadiv and his AEPi experience were obvious to Danny. Recently, he began brainstorming with AEPi CEO Rob Derdiger about what this model could mean for the fraternity.
“The idea has really crystallized. Rob and I started talking about whether this could become some kind of AEPi Men’s Club, something mission-driven, with philanthropy at its core.”
“There are a lot of great alumni networking events out there. But I believe that when a group is working toward a shared goal — when there’s purpose behind it — that’s what keeps it together.”
Danny’s calendar is already full. He and his wife of 14 years are raising two sons, ages 10 and 7. His business, Rubin Education, provides educational consulting modules to some of the largest school districts in the country.
Even so, expanding the Nadiv model — and connecting it to AEPi — has become a driving force.
“The journey from BBYO to AEPi didn’t have to end. There wasn’t a community-wide men’s club here, so we created one.”
“My AEPi experience never really stopped. I still keep up with my brothers. We have a regular group text and that’s kept me connected to the fraternity. I know we’re all capable of doing so much more. And I can’t let that idea go.”
#ProudtobeaPi