FIU alumnus Daniel Rodriguez ’11 has spent more than a decade turning a formative service experience into a mission-driven nonprofit with global reach.
As co-founder and CEO of BLUE Missions, Rodriguez has helped mobilize volunteers, students, and rural communities around one essential goal: expanding access to clean water and sanitation. His leadership and impact also earned him recognition as a 2024 5 Under 35 Awards Recipient, highlighting his work as an FIU alumnus creating meaningful change in communities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
BLUE Missions (BLUE) continues to grow its long-term impact by partnering with rural communities in Latin America and the Caribbean to expand access to clean water and sanitation. To date, BLUE reports to have connected over 55,000 people with clean water, sanitation, and filtration.
A lot of that impact is made possible by volunteers and students. BLUE has welcomed more than 6,600 service trip participants and engaged 4,238 students through programs in the U.S., totaling over 1.27 million hours of community service. As Rodriguez says, “When done thoughtfully and in partnership with communities, service helps us grow in compassion and self-awareness while supporting meaningful change.”
In 2025, BLUE continued to grow by helping more young people get involved and lead. Its “Building Young Leaders” program trained 30 high school students through mentorship, field trips, and a pitch competition. It also launched the “thinkBLUE Challenge,” a school-based competition that helps students learn about water issues and inspires them to take action. In its first year, 62 schools registered, and BLUE taught 36 lessons.
Read more of Rodriguez’s story on FIU News: https://news.fiu.edu/2024/alumnus-leads-nonprofit-to-ensure-clean-water-access-for-communities-in-latin-america