Aaron Cahn '06: Supporting and Improving Literacy

lumnus Aaron Cahn '06 never imagined that he would inherit thousands of dollars, especially not within six months of completing his bachelor's degree. As he thought about how to use the money and the many areas that mattered most to him, he concluded that the CIVICUS Living and Learning program at the university made a great investment.

Part of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the program attracts students whose personal and academic development are focused on citizenship, leadership, community building in a diverse society, scholarship and community service-learning.

Cahn, a CIVICUS alumnus, was also a government and politics major. He chose to direct his gift to the program because it "combined all the issues that are important to me" like medical care, the education and wellbeing of children and governance. Among the many enriching experiences for Cahn in CIVICUS, his work with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina stands out. "In a short amount of time, we really made a big difference in the lives of people in that community. It really helps you to understand the power of your time, skills and ability," he says. "People need to experience community service and they should have a feeling of satisfaction."

Cahn's endowment to service projects is part of a continuum of combining philanthropy and community service in his family. He received a scholarship to attend Maryland in part because of the more than 1,200 hours of community service he had logged by the time he graduated from high school. "For me to do this for CIVICUS is an honor and a privilege." Cahn emphasizes the importance of creating opportunity for others and more opportunities emerge from those. He is training to become a teacher, like his mom, and that sense of service is always present. "The best way to improve America is to improve education. By influencing a future policymaker or future school principal, you're improving all aspects of the future."