HOW IZABELA RUTKOWSKI PROVED THE BEST IDEAS ARE BUILT TOGETHER
When Izabela Rutkowski joined the WMCD Youth Team, she wasn't looking for leadership experience, volunteer hours, or even a particular cause to champion. She joined for a much simpler reason.
“It just seemed like something I'd enjoy,” she said.
But little did she know that instinct would turn into two years of friendships, laughter, creativity, and service that would leave a lasting mark on her high school experience.
It all began at her first event, the Tropic Fever Charity All-Nighter in 2024. “I remember the intro and dance music and the sense of community I felt,” she said. “We were all so hyped and the music was on point. The energy during that all-nighter especially was great.”
This energy was the key to showing her something she’d never seen before: people her age coming together to create memories, have a good time, and support great causes at the same time. Shortly after the event, she joined our youth team as a sophomore, quickly becoming a familiar face at meetings and events. All the behind-the-scenes moments stood out to her, sometimes more than the all-nighters themselves.
“The meetings were always kinda silly” she said, noting that her favorite ones were “definitely the ones at Mrs. Monti’s house with [her dog] Pippin.” It’s all the little moments like these that stood out to her – conversations with fellow youth team members, inside jokes, and the reward of planning the event together. “Going to all these all-nighters and being with these people, meeting several times a month, just the amount of inside jokes and laughs and memories that I have,” she reflected. “It's so incredible.”
She found leadership and event planning experience through these meetings too, such as when one of her ideas ultimately shaped what became the “Musical Midway” theme of the 2025 all-nighter. “Being able to see my idea for the name and the music and decorations and food ideas come to life in the gym was so cool,” she said. “Watching others enjoy something I contributed to is a special feeling.”
A year later, she helped spark another conversation when she suggested a jungle theme during planning for the 2026 all-nighter. That initial idea eventually grew into Enchanted Rainforest, continuing a pattern that became characteristic of her time on the youth team. Even though Izabela rarely fought for the spotlight, her careful listening to each person on the team often turned brainstorming sessions into something the team was really proud of.
Through experiences like these, she began to understand that making a difference in the community was not as out of reach as she once imagined. “Being a part of WMCD has helped me see that making an impact in your community is achievable,” she said. “The realization that I as a high schooler can help put on a big event, raise a ton of money, and bring joy to others has stuck with me.”
As the years passed, the impact of the organization became clearer. Through fundraising efforts, recipient visits, and conversations about the causes WMCD supports, Izabela gained a deeper appreciation for the people behind the mission. “These organizations are so powerful, and they help so many people,” she said during WMCD's 2026 closing ceremony. “It's important to inspire our youth and to serve our communities and to help those that are less fortunate than us.”
Yet when she reflects on her experience, she often returns to the connections she made along the way. The friendships, shared memories, and sense of belonging became just as meaningful as the events themselves.
WMCD showed her that service can be joyful. It taught her that communities are built through relationships. And it gave her confidence that she could help create something impactful, even as a teenager.
This fall, Izabela will attend Smith College to study Environmental Science and Policy. As she prepares for that next chapter, she leaves knowing that some of the best things happen when people come together, share their ideas, and work toward something larger than themselves.