Page 106 - 2018 B2SI Recap Binder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Kurtzman.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Wilmette and had somewhat of a storybook childhood. I went to good schools, lived in a nice safe, suburban community. My parents were very supportive and involved. I was fortunate to have two brothers I got along with well along with a solid circle of friends. I had a great foundation and was taught the importance of hard work. I attended the University of Illinois, majored in speech communications and lived the majority of my time in the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi.
About 15 months after graduation from college, I moved to NYC and got a job working on Saturday Night Live as a production coordinator on the film unit. After 12 months, I moved back to Illinois as I had an opportunity to work with my dad in his start-up ad agency. Over time the agency grew and I spent about 15 years as a partner focusing a lot of my energies on account management and producing TV and radio spots. Then I moved on to do marketing consulting on my own.
One of my client’s, the Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois (CCEA) allowed me to create a school supplies program for them as a community relations effort. The program evolved and expanded so that by 2010, the CCEA created a nonprofit, put me on the Board of Directors in addition to having me serve as the Executive Director.
In 2015 we changed the name to Back 2 School Illinois (B2SI). I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and worked to contribute to society. I was fortunate that many of my volunteer experiences, as well as consulting gigs for charities, helped to prepare me to run a nonprofit.
Recognizing how fortunate I was to have a good childhood and receive a first-rate education, helped to set the stage for where I am today. Every day, I try to make a contribution, whether it’s running B2SI, volunteering for other nonprofits, helping young people find jobs and launch their careers or being a good steward of the environment.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have had some challenges or obstacles in my life but it’s a relative thing. I try, not always successfully, to keep it all in perspective. Compared to so many people on the planet I’ve had it easy. It is hard for me to complain when I think of those who have had to really struggle just to survive.
Millions of people don’t have a safe place to live, a roof over their head, fresh water to drink or enough food to eat. They don’t have access to decent health care, are living in communities or countries where it is not safe to walk the streets or speak their minds.
With that being said, one of my biggest challenges had to be “coming out.” It was a secret I kept for over a decade. It caused a tremendous amount of angst and self-doubt. It gave me an ulcer as a young adult. The fear of rejection by family and friends was painful and at times debilitating. In the end, though, everyone accepted me but not knowing led me to hide a part of who I am. The plus side to the entire experience is that it taught me to be more accepting of others in general.