Difference Makers NY
Starting Year 9, Signup Now
College-Readiness via Academic Service-Learning Since 2016
Difference Makers
College-Readiness via Academic Service-Learning
Accepting Registrations for 2024-2025 Program
533 Certificates Conferred in 8 Years
DMs Enter Great Colleges and Finish Studies
Welcome to our Newest High School, Staten Island Tech
New Dorp, The Mary Louis Academy. Special Thanks to Richmond County Savings Foundation
USASBE 2020 Finalist: Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation
Who are we
Difference Makers are high school students in New York City who are learning and applying service-learning from college professors in partnership with working Not-for-Profit organizations to solve some of the world's most challenging problems. They take these skills forward to college and to future careers. Principals at 9 NYC High Schools value after school enrichment that helps participants enter and finish great colleges. Contact Dr. William Reisel to join our high schools now participating, reiselw@stjohns.edu.
We partner with not-for-profit organizations
Here are a few studied by our high school students
Food Insecurity
Meals on Wheels
We partnered with Meals on Wheels to study food insecurity and learned a great deal about elderly people, some of whom, fought overseas wars in defense of freedom.
HIV Orphans in Zambia
American Friends of Cecily's Fund
We partnered with American Friends of Cecily's Fund to study lending support to educating HIV Orphans in Zambia.
True 2 Life
Violence Interruption
Our partnership with the incredible team of violence interrupters at True 2 Life, taught us so much about how professionals can reduce gang violence.
Reasons to join Difference Makers
Distinguish your college application
There are a lot of reasons to join Difference Makers but none is greater than learning life-long service alongside of experienced college professors. Not only will you meet similarly minded students from across New York, but you will also show admissions officers that you are more than GPA.
Get service hours for graduation
Improve your college preparation experience by engaging in academic service-learning
Do good in New York City by working with actual not-for-profit organizations and their leaders
Raise funds for a cause and donate the funds
Learn leadership skills and meet like-minded students from many other high schools
True 2 Life Team at Curtis High School
Contact Difference Makers
Dr. William Reisel, Professor of Management at St. John's University is Director of Difference Makers
William Reisel, Ph.D.
Director of Difference Makers NY
Robert Fanuzzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of American Studies
Our 7 Years of Outcomes
Certificates of Completion 2016-2023
Difference Makers Fundraising
$13,937
Donated to Not-For-Profit Partners
Difference Makers in College Report
College-Readiness Results
Let's Reach Students at More Schools
Grow the Good
