MEET THE FOUNDER
Scott's Story
Before there was Team Rudd Foundation, there was simply a boy who believed kindness could change the world.
The Man Behind the Mission
Although I joke that I'm a rockstar... I'm really just a guy.
It was never my intention to start a foundation. I simply kept saying "yes" whenever life presented another opportunity to make a difference.
People sometimes ask about my childhood. I never describe it as bad, because I don't believe it was. As a kid, you don't always realize what you're missing until you see that others have something you don't. There were certainly things I wished for, experiences I missed, and moments that shaped who I would become. But I also learned to appreciate what I did have, and to make the very best of it.
Years later, when David and I learned there were children who would wake up on Christmas morning without a gift, something changed inside me. We couldn't change the entire world overnight, but we could change Christmas for a few more children. That single decision became the beginning of a ripple.
As the years passed, that ripple continued to grow, finding its way into every cause that mattered to me—protecting animals, strengthening communities, caring for our environment, supporting families, and standing beside people who simply needed someone to care.
Looking back now, I realize every opportunity, every challenge, and every experience was another stepping stone leading me toward my purpose: to spend my life helping others and making this world a better place.
Am I a rockstar?
Maybe.
Am I just a guy?
Absolutely.
But I believe something with my whole heart...
Everybody has the ability within them to make this world a better place. I believe in them.
— Scott Rudd
Getting to Know Scott
A few things that have shaped the person behind the mission.
💛 Favorites
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite flower: Daisy
Favorite season: Autumn
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite animal (besides schnauzers): Don’t laugh -Skunks & Ducks 🦨🪿
Favorite place you've ever visited: Vermont (with David & Daisy 🧡❤️)
Favorite food: Sliders & fries-vegan of course
Favorite dessert: Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite music: 80’s Alternative/New Wave
Favorite TV show: Vox Machina or Young Justice
Favorite Superhero: Pickpocket
Favorite vacation: Vermont (with David & Daisy 🧡❤️)
Favorite Hobby: Writing & Comic Books
😊 Just Scott
Coffee or tea?
Coffee -most definitely!
Morning or night?
Night- Family time!
Sweet or salty?
Sweet trumps Salty
Beach or mountains?
Whichever has the nicer hotel?
Favorite Book?
A Separate Peace by John Knowles or The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Favorite movie?
Its a toss up between The Pirate Movie, The Breakfast Club & Grease 2. (Yes- all three.)
Favorite quote?
“Fear & Procrastination are the two things that hold a person back. When you conquer those two, you become unstoppable!”
What would be your superpower?
To time travel
What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I can walk on stilts
What's one invention you wish existed?
A machine that either cured canine cancer or at least a machine that let you know where and why a dog was in pain or a way they could communicate it to you.
What makes you laugh every time?
David-he’s quite funny without trying. And my pups of course- they are just pure sunshine.
Pickpocket of The Infinite Heroes Universe
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or gone, who would it be and why?
My parents.
There are still questions I'd love to ask, but more importantly, there is understanding to be shared and forgiveness to be given.
I'd want them to know that I love them.
And I'd want them to know that I wouldn't change a single chapter of my life. Every joy, every struggle, and every lesson shaped the person I've become. If changing the past meant changing the man I am today—or the life I've been blessed to build—I wouldn't change a thing.
I'd simply want to share one more meal together... with love, understanding, and peace.
🌎 Deep Thoughts
What act of kindness has stayed with you forever?
When my dog Zane was having a nightmare, I watched my Daisy hop up on the bed and she laid on top of him—like a hug—to make him feel safe. That was the most pure form of kindness I have ever witnessed.
Which Team Rudd Foundation initiative is closest to your heart?
The Hearts & Hands Toy Drive. The Hearts & Hands Toy Drive.
It started the ripple. Hands down.
What began as one simple act of kindness—to help make Christmas a little brighter for local children—became something so much bigger than either David or I ever imagined. That single project gave us permission to step beyond our own lives and become active participants in building a stronger, more compassionate community.
The toy drive opened our hearts in a way that's difficult to describe. It introduced us to incredible volunteers, community leaders, local businesses, and families who all shared the same belief: that when people come together, remarkable things happen. It showed us that kindness isn't limited by one season or one project—it has the power to grow.
Every initiative we've created since—the breakfast drive, environmental cleanups, animal advocacy, community events, and everything still to come—can trace its roots back to that first toy drive.
It wasn't just the beginning of Team Rudd Foundation.
It was the moment we realized that making the world a better place wasn't just something we believed in—it was something we were meant to do.
What gives you hope?
Maybe it's the lifelong superhero fan in me, but I've always believed that good can overcome evil. I don't think heroes only exist in comic books. I think ordinary people become heroes every time they choose compassion over indifference, kindness over judgment, or courage over staying silent.
But just as much as people inspire me...my dogs do.
Over the years, they've experienced loss, illness, pain, fear, and heartbreak. They've had every reason to become bitter or withdrawn. Instead, every single day they wake up and choose love. They choose forgiveness. They choose joy. They greet the world with wagging tails, open hearts, and an excitement for a brand new day, no matter what yesterday looked like.
I think there's something profoundly beautiful about that.
If a dog can experience so much and still choose to trust, to love, and to find happiness in the smallest moments, then surely we can too. My pack reminds me every day that hope isn't something we wait for—it's something we choose.
Maybe superheroes wear capes in comic books...but in my life, they've always worn collars.
That's what gives me hope.
What makes you believe people are good?
I still see acts of selflessness every single day. They remind me that kindness isn't something we've lost—it's part of who we are. Sometimes it's buried beneath fear, anger, or life's challenges, but I truly believe there is goodness inside every one of us. The question isn't whether it exists. The question is whether we choose to act on it.
I've been incredibly fortunate to spend my life surrounded by people who answer that question with action. I've watched Marge Petrow dedicate countless hours to caring for the cats of Woodbridge through the Woodbridge Animal Society, despite having little financial support. I've watched Robyn Urman of Pet ResQ open her heart to the animals others overlook—the sick, the broken, and the forgotten—and give them a second chance at life. I've watched Pattie Rogers devote herself to senior and hospice dogs, Brett D'Alessandro of Backpacks for Life tirelessly serve fellow veterans, and Tiffany Banks work every day to bring hope, stability, and opportunity to children in the Middlesex DCPP system.
I've seen the volunteers of the Kiwanis Club, our community partners, and countless ordinary people quietly step forward simply because they could help—not because anyone asked them to.
People like these remind me that heroes don't just exist in comic books.
They live in our neighborhoods.
They volunteer after work.
They rescue animals.
They feed families.
They comfort strangers.
They quietly change lives every single day.
I don't just believe people are good. I've been blessed to know them.
What life lesson took you the longest to learn?
Learning that healing takes time...and that I was worth waiting for.
For a long time, I measured my value by my past, my mistakes, and the opinions of people who never truly saw me. There were moments when I questioned whether the world would simply be better off without me. Looking back now, I realize those thoughts came from pain—not truth.
The hardest lesson I've ever learned was to be patient with myself. Healing doesn't happen overnight. Dreams don't become reality overnight. Becoming the person you're meant to be is a journey, not a destination.
When I finally stopped fighting my past and started believing in my future, everything began to change. I learned to love the person I was becoming instead of mourning the person I thought I should have been.
Today, I look back on every challenge, every disappointment, and every detour with gratitude. They didn't define me—they prepared me.
Sometimes the person you're waiting for is the person you're still becoming.
What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for the life we've built on love.
When I look around our home, I don't see walls, furniture, or possessions. I see a lifetime of memories shared with my best friend, David, and the incredible family we've created together. Every chapter of our story has been written with unconditional love, laughter, resilience, and the joyful chaos of wagging tails and muddy paws.
Abbey, Oliver, Shannon, Daisy, Oren, Zane, Gwen, Kippy, and Opal weren't "just pets." They are family. Each one has left an indelible paw print on my heart and helped shape the person I am today. They have taught me about loyalty, forgiveness, resilience, living in the moment, and loving without conditions.
When people ask me what I'm most grateful for, the answer has never been success, recognition, or achievement.
It's home.
A home where love is abundant, kindness is expected, everyone belongs, and every life—whether it walks on two legs or four—is celebrated.
That's the greatest blessing I've ever known.
❤️ Finish Strong
What do you hope people remember about you?
I hope people remember that I loved without limits and believed that kindness could change the world. I hope they remember my love for animals—especially schnauzers—my determination to be a voice for those who couldn't speak for themselves, my passion for giving children hope, and the imagination that allowed me to see possibilities where others saw obstacles.
More than anything, I hope people remember that I never stopped believing in the good that exists within people. Every initiative I've ever dreamed up, every community project we've launched, every animal we've rescued, and every child we've tried to help came from one simple belief: that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary kindness.
If my life inspires even one person to love a little deeper, dream a little bigger, believe in themselves a little more, or leave the world just a little better than they found it, then I've accomplished everything I ever hoped to
What do you hope your legacy will be?
I hope my legacy is simple. That people knew they were loved, accepted, and valued whenever they crossed my path. If I can inspire others to share those same gifts, then I'll know I lived a life that mattered.
“Some people wait for the world to change.
I'd rather help change someone's world."
— Scott Rudd
Founder & Visionary