In late April of 2022 a cherished and beloved Alumni of SUN, Robert Dudchik, tragically passed away in a car accident along with his younger brother, Anthony Dudchik. Robert was one of the very first students of SUN Scholars Inc. and a beloved member of our community.

At SUN, and with the blessing of the Dudchik family, we aimed to establish a legacy for Robert and Anthony by establishing the Robert & Anthony Dudchik Memorial Fund. Robert was an avid traveler, and had recently begun a wonderful career as a flight attendant at Avelo Airlines. The Robert & Anthony SUN Memorial Fund brings this joy and world humbling experience of travel, the spirit and legacy of these brothers, and the importance of community and volunteering for our students at SUN.

At SUN Scholars Inc., we work with foster and adopted students throughout their college experiences, as only 3 percent go on to receive a degree. Many of our students come from backgrounds of serious trauma, remarkable resilience, and a willingness to succeed in life despite their adversity. The Robert & Anthony SUN Memorial Program directly benefits these foster and adopted young people by breaking boundaries and exposing them to life outside of Connecticut, strong community building activities, adventure, volunteering, and an emphasis on the lives of Robert & Anthony.

We believe this program has the power to build a legacy for these beloved brothers through changing the lives of other foster and adopted youth here in Connecticut. With the support of our donors, we are hopeful of providing this program for many, many years to come.

Robert & Anthony Dudchik were pillars of community, and were known for volunteering, recreational activity, and being a part of the communities around them. At Sun Scholars Inc., we were always able to count on Robert whenever we need help or a volunteer.

The Year of Compassion honors the Dudchik brothers by providing a 9-month servant-leadership opportunity for young leaders to orchestrate a community giving project of their choice, culminating in a National Parks Trip.

NOW ACCEPTING 2026 YEAR OF COMPASSION APPLICATIONS!

About the Program:

The Year of Compassion program is eligible for anyone between the ages of 18-24 years old with current or former foster care/adoption experience. Post-secondary education experience is NOT required.

The Year of Compassion program runs from March 2026 - November 2026. During these 9 months, leaders will plan and execute a self-led, community-supported passion project of their choice, culminating in a Summer 2027 National Parks trip.

Projects are expected to be in an in-person medium, local to your community. Leaders direct their vision, with program and community resources available throughout. Examples of past projects include a community clean-up, a sporting event, and a holiday potluck and donation drive. 

The Year of Compassion program workshops (excluding National Park trip) and coaching sessions are entirely virtual. The only in-person component is the day(s) of your project, where Program staff will be in attendance.

Expect to dedicate about 5-9 hours per month towards virtual program calls and project development. The first and last months leading up to project execution will be the most time-intensive as we help you prepare and launch your project.

Project Guidelines:

Your project proposal should take just 10-15 minutes to develop. It's designed as a creative exercise to articulate your vision clearly. We want this to feel inspiring, not burdensome, so choose the format that works best for you: written document, video, slide deck, or voice recording.

Project Parameters

• Projects are self-led and community-supported - you'll drive your own vision while tapping into program resources and a supportive community along the way

• Projects should be realistically achievable within a 9-month period. Projects do not need to be grand to be meaningful

• Projects must be completed in an in-person medium, local to your community. Virtual projects such as social media campaigns are not eligible

• Every YOC Leader is allocated $500.00 towards their project. Projects are encouraged to be within this low-cost budget of $500.00

What to include in your project proposal

1. Project idea, the need it addresses, and your motivation

2. High-level steps that will bring your project to life

3. Estimated budget (within $500)

Apply here - submissions due by February 20th, 2026. Applications are received on a rolling basis.

A full program schedule, policies, and application guide are included in the application.

Email the RAD Memorial Fund at radmemorialfund@sunscholarsinc.org with any questions or assistance.

FAQs

• Are projects financially supported? Yes, each leader is allotted a $500.00 budget towards project needs.

• How much time will I need to invest in the program? In total, programmatic features and individual project development time ranges from 5-9 hours per month. The first and last months leading up to project execution will be the most intensive as we help prepare and launch your project.

• Where do the workshops and coaching sessions take place? Zoom, scheduled based off members’ availability (in-person coaching sessions may be available if centrally located)

• Why aren’t virtual projects eligible (e.g., social media)? While program components are virtual, projects themselves are centered on direct community engagement. In-person projects allow participants to develop critical skills like navigating group dynamics, building relationships, problem-solving in real-time, and creating accountability through presence. These embodied experiences form the foundation for the kind of sustainable, community-rooted leadership the Year of Compassion aims to cultivate.

At the heart of the RAD Fund and the Year of Compassion is the deep embodiment and value to justice for communities who have been historically and are currently systemically disenfranchised. Service to our kin, to Mother Earth, and to ourselves is as much of an individual practice as it is an ancestral one. We will be inviting folks to dig deep into themselves and their lineaged ways of co-existing, to remember the medicine ways that call us into stewardship.

In that, YOC Program Staff are dedicated to upholding true shared leadership. Through power sharing, continuous feedback loops, and co-design we show up with humility and reverence, understanding that this is a collective constellation that will never replicate itself exactly the same again.

We aim to hold communal spaces with intention that actualizes into personal meaning-making. Invitations for YOC leaders to contribute:

• Providing thoughtful feedback on program policies and procedures

• Contribute ideas towards curriculum development, program evaluation methods, feedback loops, and sustainability planning

• Participate relationally in group discussion and decision-making processes

• Complete co-design surveys and feedback forms

2025 launched the RAD Memorial Fund’s inaugural Year of Compassion Program. Prior to that, RAD Memorial Fund members participated in a study abroad program in partnership with Connecticut’s Capital Community College, embarking on a trip to Peru. The first RAD Fund cohort traveled to Florida to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and to adventure at Disneyland!

Explore more below:

• 2024 Report: Trip to Peru

• 2023 Report: Trip to Florida

May 2025, the RAD Memorial Fund welcomed Program Manager, Maria Aoki-Chavez (MPA), and Program Assistant, Astrid Turmeque-Gallego. Their lived experiences and background in servant leadership shape how they show up for our Year of Compassion members and the foster care/adopt community at large.

Email the RAD Memorial Fund at radmemorialfund@sunscholarsinc.org to connect further.