Our Story

The Rubin Foundation began from humble origins, family values, and a leap of faith. We hope that our story is a testament to the change an ordinary person can bring about when they decide to take action for a worthy cause. We are always working on expanding our operations, and helping those in need. Our operations are always growing.

Founded by Joseph Rubin in 2023, The Rubin Foundation was conceived not from the vision of one man but from the values of a family. Like so many Jewish-American families, the Rubin family came to America during the Second World War, fleeing from Nazi-occupied Alsace-Lorraigne in 1940 and narrowly escaping the horrors of war. Firm believers in the promise of America as a haven for the vulnerable and displaced, Joseph’s parents passed on these beliefs to their children. Compassion and service for those in need are the cornerstones of The Rubin Foundation today.

Joseph’s experience in migration aid work began with California-based NGOs distributing food and water to migrants in the harsh Colorado Desert near Calexico. In the field, he interfaced with migrants and listened to their stories first hand, hearing how many thousands braved treks through dangerous jungles, exploitation by human smugglers, and abuse by immigration authorities in Central America. The humanitarian crisis, contrary to what the media reported, started far from the US-Mexico border.

The Rubin Foundation was as yet little more than a spark in his mind, but Joseph knew that something had to be done, and that he could not stand by for someone else to do it. Paperwork and bureaucracy could wait. Joseph did not have a grant or even a working name for his organization, but he had experience, willpower, and enough funds on hand to organize a three week trip to the Darien Gap. After several months of planning, Joseph and his brother Joshua assembled a small team. With a handful of migration experts, half a dozen aid workers, a camera, and a few trucks full of aid supplies, they headed south to Panama in July of 2023.

Joseph knew that the first trip would be a trial run for the viability of a long term operation. As expected, it was a challenge – and a bigger one than expected. Working alongside established NGOs like the IOM, UNHCR, and HIAS, the team cut their teeth on field work in the Darien Gap, and learned to adapt to the myriad complications that arise in this line of work. Supplies ran short, several workers fell ill during the third week, and nearly everything that could have gone wrong did. But the team never faltered, and after distributing food, water, and other much-needed staples, they headed back with empty trucks and weary bodies, but full of hope. All things considered, the operation was a success.

Thus the Rubin Foundation was born. With a newly minted organization, we were able to expand our operations beyond the Darien Gap, adding to our team local workers recruited from the very areas most affected by the humanitarian crisis unfolding along migration networks.

With three different field operations in Central America and a growing network of donors, The Rubin Foundation is focused on expanding its operations to help migrants in need.