Ryan and Ali Gagerman feel blessed to be part of the JVS SoCal Scholarship Committee, which every year awards Jewish students the opportunity to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Although both lead busy lives– Ali leads an award-winning Real Estate team at Douglas Elliman and Ryan works in development and licensing in the entertainment industry – they decided to start giving back to their community.
A couple of years ago, former Board Chair Leland Felsenthal approached the couple. “Leland called us up and said: “There’s an organization that we want you to get more involved with,” remembers Ryan. Leland told them about JVS SoCal and all that they do including the Scholarship Program.
“One of the things that I will tell you is that, more than anything, Ali cares deeply about education,” shares Ryan about his wife.
“Growing up, her mom instilled in her the fact that education is unmistakably, something that no one can take away from you.”
They decided that volunteering on the Scholarship Committee was a perfect fit for both.
The Gagermans have two children who are currently working on their undergraduate degrees. They consider themselves blessed to have successful careers and not have to carry student debt neither for themselves nor their kids.
Ryan and Ali see their volunteer work on the Scholarship Committee as an extension of their family values.
“Being able to provide the opportunities and the gift of education for the persons that need assistance is something that has really become very important to both of us”, says Ali.
“Ryan and I want to celebrate and reward as best as we can the future generations by providing them access to education.”
One of the things that most satisfy them is the process of interviewing candidates. During this process, applicants share their lives, goals and dreams as they present their case to the members of the Committee.
“I think that the recipients sharing their stories, putting everything out there on a Zoom call, with five or six unfamiliar faces, their whole history and who they are…for any of them to be able to share their struggles is incredible!”, says Ali. “How many people feel comfortable doing that?
Most of all they feel that as members of the Scholarship Committee, they are doing something that will make a significant impact in the community.
“How can we not honor those individuals that are working so hard and against odds? They ask, “These students are the next leaders.”
2024 Scholarship recipients were recognized in July during a ceremony held at the Sinai Temple. A total of $914,000 was awarded on a need-based process.
If you’re inspired by Ryan and Ali’s story and would like to help someone else achieve their dream, please donate today.
