By Ethan Kopelman
For years, Maccabi USA U-19 outfielder Asher Belfer has dedicated countless weekends to volunteering at various food pantries across Southeast Florida. It was just recently that with the help of artificial intelligence, the high school senior engineered software that made a lasting impact and even got him on the news.
Working with The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard in Davie, FL, Belfer created Volunhelp, an app that automatically assigns volunteers to deliver food to clients. Previously, all of this coordination was done manually through email. Now, Belfer intends to offer up his program to other food banks across South Florida and beyond.
“Instead of just having an email in your inbox, which is easy for you to lose track of… it’s much easier for everyone to know what’s going on,” Belfer said.
Last September, the 17-year-old’s story was picked up by CBS 4 Miami, where Belfer was given his first opportunity to appear on the news.
“It was a little bit nerve-racking at first, like I wanted to say the right thing; I didn’t want to mess up,” admitted Belfer. “But when I was done, I was like, wow, that was very fun; that was very cool.”
Through designing Volunhelp, Belfer was able to combine his commitment to decreasing food insecurity with his academic interest in artificial intelligence. While the David Posnack Jewish Day senior was more broadly interested in business data analytics, he says that his dad, who works in healthcare technology, opened his eyes to artificial intelligence.
“We were having challenges with building and programming some of the aspects of the software,” explained Belfer. “And [my dad] was showing me [about AI]; he’s like, ‘We’re both kind of learning together.'”
Expecting the project to take 2-3 years, with the help of AI, Belfer was shocked to have a completed product in just three months.
“Instead of having to code in all of these programming languages, I code in English. I say, ‘Make the application do this.’ ”
His success with Volunhelp has additionally led him to seek out some component of AI discovery in his college degree program. While Belfer does not know where he will be attending college, he believes that continuing to learn about the rapidly evolving field in the classroom will advance his ability to use it for data science and business.
Athletically, Belfer is as versatile as they come; the Hollywood, Florida, native has experience playing every position on the diamond besides catcher. In high school, Belfer has primarily played shortstop but will move to the outfield for the Games in Israel this summer.
The aspiring business data analyst is also a multisport athlete, playing both basketball and flag football at David Posnack Jewish Day. But undoubtedly, baseball remains Belfer’s favorite sport.
“[Baseball’s] been a mainstay since before I even remember having memories. It’s been something that I’ve always loved and has always been a part of my life,” Belfer added.
Looking ahead to the competition this summer, when Belfer touches down at Ben Gurion Airport in late June, it will be his first time in Israel. The senior was on last year’s initial U-18 baseball roster before the Maccabiah was postponed, but the extended wait hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm.
“To represent the United States and to go into Israel, a place I have been wanting to go for years… to play a sport that I love, it’s going to be very cool.”
Ethan Kopelman is an aspiring sports broadcaster from Villanova, Pennsylvania. He studies broadcast journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and is about to complete his sophomore year. You can find him on X and Instagram @ethankopelman.