The Lasting Legacy of the Tend to a Friend Program

When Austin Ritter ’14 and Dylan Ritter ’13 helped create Tend to a Friend at Rutgers Prep, they couldn’t have imagined the long-lasting impact it would have.

Their minds were on their brother, Travis, who was born with special needs, and their parents, Scott and Kim, who worked tirelessly—like so many parents of children with special needs—to care for him.

"We were truly humbled when our two older children and their friends recommended starting Tend to a Friend," said Kim. "We knew it would be great for the children with special needs, their siblings, and their parents.

"However, we underestimated how it would provide life-altering experiences for the students at RPS."  

Tend to a Friend is a community service program that connects Rutgers Prep student volunteers with local children who have special needs for a fun, engaging evening on the RPS campus. Those evenings give participants the opportunity to take part in social activities such as games, seasonal crafts, and circle time, while their parents can take time for themselves to do errands, have dinner at a local restaurant, or just relax.  

More than a decade later, the program remains a favorite of Rutgers Prep students. They genuinely look forward to its four events each year and the opportunity to connect with the participants and their families. And the impact of Tend to a Friend goes beyond high school. Alumni recall their experiences fondly, and, for some, the program has even shaped their academic and professional paths.

Jayden Jenkins ’24 and Grace Williams ’24, co-leaders of the club last year, were actively involved with Tend to a Friend throughout their time at RPS. Jayden described it as an opportunity to make someone else’s day better, even if that meant stepping outside of his comfort zone. "Tend to A Friend for me was an outlet to step outside myself and put someone else first,” he said. “It made me feel great afterwards knowing that I can help someone smile and feel included.” For Grace, the program provided a welcoming and inclusive place on campus that she hopes continues to flourish. "Tend to a Friend was a community for me,” she shared. “I encourage current and future students to see the importance of the club and carry on [that community] into the future.”

Macaria Pelofsky ’23, who led the club before Jayden and Grace, also loved spending time with the participants in the program and came away from her time at Tend to a Friend having learned some important life lessons. “Tend To A Friend taught me about inclusion, patience, and unconditional love,” she said. “I truly appreciate everything that this program has offered me.”

Had Tend to a Friend existed when Micki Kaye Berg ’03 was a student at Rutgers Prep, she surely would have been an active participant like Jayden, Grace, and Macaria. After graduating from RPS, Micki studied molecular biology at Pomona College and earned a master's degree in special education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Micki returned to campus in 2019 to run the program and has been instrumental in its growth. 

"I am very proud to be a part of Tend to a Friend,” Micki said. “Our student volunteers learn how to be caring friends and community leaders, finding the best way to support our participants and help them find what they enjoy.” One of her favorite aspects of the program is watching how participants and students grow and gain confidence with each session.

For Julia Lombardo ’16, Tend to a Friend sparked a lifelong passion. While she initially took part to earn community service hours, Julia quickly found herself eagerly anticipating the first Friday of every month and another opportunity to connect with Tend to a Friend families and their children.

In time, Julia would be honored with the Arc Angels Among Us award for her work with the group, and, at the awards banquet, she discovered a new way to help those with special needs. There, Julia met the director of Camp Jotoni, a day and sleepaway camp serving individuals with disabilities, where she worked for two summers.

Inspired by these experiences, Julia studied psychology and education at Muhlenberg College and went on to earn a master's degree in Special Education from Lehigh University. Today, she is a lead high school teacher at the Centennial School of Lehigh University, an alternative school for students with autism and challenging behaviors.

"Without Tend to a Friend, I would not have found my passion or had a clear path charted for my career since sophomore year of high school," Julia shared. "Whenever I think back to my time at Rutgers Prep, Tend to a Friend is always a crucial component."

What Austin and Dylan Ritter began as an act of love for their brother and parents has become a legacy that will surely last for years to come. As we look to the future of the program, we can only imagine the new stories, memories, and connections Tend to a Friend will create.

If you know a family who would benefit from this amazing program, we would love to hear from you. Visit rutgersprep.org/tend-to-a-friend to learn more.