Dan Arom’s friendship with Edina High School (EHS) classmate Spenser Somers set him on his path of volunteerism. A member of the class of 1990, Somers fought cancer for five years before passing away following graduation. Friends created the Spenser Somers Foundation in his honor. As a founding member, Arom works to bring together resources and people to serve others in need. In 20 years, this organization has raised and distributed $700,000 to numerous charitable causes including Loaves & Fishes and Camp Breakaway, a summer camp and year-round support program for children with cancer and blood disorders and their siblings. Every month since 2006, the foundation has led a group of volunteers at Loaves & Fishes in Bloomington, serving over 50,000 meals to individuals and families.
Arom also served on the board of Good Grocer, a nonprofit volunteer-operated grocery store in Minneapolis founded by fellow EHS graduate Kurt Vickman. Arom still volunteers there monthly stocking the store. He’s also served as a captain and volunteer recruiter for the Best Christmas Ever,
an organization that serves families who have fallen on hard times, tailoring a Christmas celebration to each family.
He serves on boards for the Edina Education Fund, Edina Athletic Booster Club and Edina Football Association. He also volunteers at TreeHouse, a nonprofit that serves teens through support groups and mentorship. The Edina Community Foundation recognized Arom’s extensive service to youth in our community with a Connecting with Kids Leadership Award in 2000.
Arom says these endeavors leave him feeling fulfilled. He enjoys meeting people and getting to know people he might not otherwise interact with, saying, “You can learn something from everyone you meet.”
Contributed by the Edina Community Foundation; edinacommunityfoundation.org
