This article appeared in the Poughkeepsie Journal in August 2014. A direct link can be found under ‘Links to Articles.’

Traveling can be an immensely impactful event, and after Stan Rosenberg went on a three-week trip in 2007, he had the desire to help others have their own amazing travel experience. He created the non-profit organization Trip of a Lifetime to help low-income students have the chance to travel without the burden of the high cost falling on them or their families.

Speaking of his own experience, Rosenberg said, “It was the first time I was ever away from my family for an extended period of time. As a result of my experience, I just got this itch for travel and I just wanted to do more with it.” Trip of a Lifetime is now expanding from its initial areas in Westchester and New York City to include additional counties in the surrounding areas, including Dutchess County.

As the organization grew, Rosenberg began to get interest from local businesses, and in the fall of 2008 it was incorporated as a 501(c)3. The organization makes all the difference to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to travel. “Within the U.S., there’s over a million non-profits,” Rosenberg said, explaining why this organization and its expansion are important. “Being part of clubs in high school and middle school really shaped who I am today. Schools keep clamoring for more opportunities for their students to become engaged outside the classroom. Very few cater to students from Westchester, Putnam and surrounding counties to provide these sorts of experiences.”

Rosenberg began his personal travel experience on his own, but with the help of family and friends, he was able to put together the opportunity for other students to share a similar experience. “All of the friends I started with had some travel experience,” Rosenberg said. “Regardless of what the purpose was, all of them had this common connection of travel.”

Other than that, setting up a non-profit was new to him. “It was a complete learning experience. I had a group of close family and friends that was able to help guide me through the process,” Rosenberg said. He then attended business school, where he immediately began integrating what he learned, creating a survey to send out to students who attended a trip through the organization. This allowed Rosenberg to determine what the students were learning from their experience and adjust things accordingly to further improve the program.

The Trip of a Lifetime program looks for students who have a passion for travel, first and foremost. Students with intellectual curiosity are also sought. According to Rosenberg, “Very few students we take on trips have had the opportunity to travel much. We look for a student that will look at it with open eyes. We look for a student that is going to become a catalyst for change in their community, someone who is going to figure out how they can take what they learned from the experience and translate it into something to make a difference in their community.”

One such student is Monica Duque, who went on a trip through the program in the summer of 2010. Rosenberg was reaching out to high schools to bring awareness to the organization. “My principal told me I should do it and that it was a good opportunity,” Duque said.

The trip was a whole new experience. “I had never really traveled to the west coast or anywhere,” Duque said. “I was the only Spanish person on the trip. I didn’t know anyone. Everyone else was friendly to me. I didn’t think I would make lasting friends, but all of us keep in touch to this day.”

The trip was such a positive experience for Duque that she is hoping to be a counselor next summer. “Traveling really inspired me to want to do great things and succeed in life and also want to help others. I know that at one point, I wanted to be the president of my country,” said Duque, who is from Ecuador. “It really made me become active in my community. Now I’m a leadership coach.”

Duque advises students that are thinking about applying for the program to go for it. “Most people think it’s unrealistic. I would encourage people to apply and not be afraid. They might not think they are smart enough or have too much money to go on the trip. I encourage people not to miss the opportunity,” Duque said.

She served on the selection committee this year, and found it different to be on the other side of the process. “I got to see the way people would write. It made me think, ‘Wow, did I really write like this?’ For me, there was kind of a happy moment because the people who are applying, whether they get accepted or not, it will change their life.”

Another student to have an amazing experience with Trip of a Lifetime is Fatoumata Sanoe, who went on her first trip with the organization. “It was such an honor. Where I’m from, California is only a dream,” Sanoe said. “I’m from the South Bronx. It’s just something we see on TV.”

For Sanoe, the trip was inspirational. “When I learned more about Stan, and who he is and what he does, that empowered me,” Sanoe said. “I was 17 and I learned that Stan started this organization when he was 17. This is such a great opportunity. It motivated me to graduate high school a year earlier. I can honestly say that part of that is because of Trip of a Lifetime.”

One aspect of the trip that was an initial challenge for Sanoe was her religion. As a Muslim, she was concerned about the trip impacting her ability to participate in Ramadan, as well as being able to pray five times a day. “I didn’t feel comfortable throwing my religion away just for the trip,” Sanoe said. When she expressed this concern to Stan Rosenberg, he listened to her and worked to find a trip that didn’t conflict with her needs. “Now I’m open to more opportunities and I can try to push for things,” Sanoe said. “I owe that all to trip of a Lifetime.”

She is now an intern with the organization, where she has learned about how the blog works, how the corporate side of running a non-profit works and how the organization raises money.

Students accepted into the Trip of a Lifetime program travel to the west coast where they participate in team building and group activities while visiting sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon. All expenses for the trip are paid for by Trip of a Lifetime and each trip includes approximately 15 to 20 students.

“One of our goals this year is to really expand north,” Rosenberg said. “We’re going to have a much more aggressive campaign to get students from these districts to apply for our program. Luckily, we’ve raised enough money that we can dedicate resources to these other markets. We hope to see many apply.”

More information about the program, as well as the application, can be found on the organizations web site, http://www.projecttoal.org.