More Than a Business: Jen Ritz ’08 Leads with Purpose
“Owning a successful business is one thing, but using it as a way to help others Fight the Good Fight for their own cause is more than I could have imagined.“
Jen Ritz ’08 is the owner of Sweet Tees Custom Apparel Inc. in her hometown of Yorktown Heights, N.Y. She was recently recognized with a New York State Commendation Award, recognizing her significant impact on the local community, and a New York State Empire Award, acknowledging her philanthropic efforts through her business. As a former member of Iona women’s basketball and a graduate with bachelor’s degrees in English and Communications, Ritz continues to use her platform and business to uplift others and give back.
Philanthropy and Community Impact
“In 2013, I helped launch a fundraising effort called Jason's Army in honor of Jason Needle with a goal of giving back to the community who supported him during his battle with cancer. I bought my first screen printing equipment as a way to make fundraising t-shirts. Jason's Army grew over time and went on to raise over $100,000 and, to date, has granted eight wishes with Make-a-Wish Hudson Valley. Sweet Tees was officially born in 2015 and now serves communities throughout the tristate area. We often host free online stores to raise money through apparel sales for various organizations. In 2024, Sweet Tees gave back over $15,000 to schools, sports teams, and charitable causes throughout the Hudson Valley.
I donated to the women's basketball team most recently on Gaels Giving Day. I know Coach Ang's goal was to raise funds towards their new locker room. I loved that goal because, as a player, you spend a lot of time in there. You want it to be a comfortable place where players want to be.”
Learn more about Jen Ritz
What do you love most about what you’re currently doing?
All my life, one of my favorite things was getting swag from events I went to. Whether it was catching a t-shirt thrown by a cheerleader at a game or getting a free water bottle after running a 5K. My favorite thing about what I do now is I get to create that excitement for my clients whether it's a team, school, business, or event. Sweet Tees is a full-service shop offering all types of printed apparel and more.
How did Iona prepare you for your career?
Iona always felt like home to me and still does. Playing basketball and traveling with the team was one of the best experiences of my life. I think what stuck with me the most, though, is as a student-athlete we learned to balance many things at once. Between workouts, classes, games, and traveling, our schedules were packed. This has definitely translated to being a business owner and the level of multitasking that is required of me.
What advice would you give to a student?
I took a lot of different paths before landing where I am today – take classes that interest you and do your best in them. We have a vast alumni network and a passionate one at that! Get to know the people in school with you as well as alumni. These relationships are the ones that will help you no matter what your career path ends up being.
What’s your fondest Iona memory?
Iona brought me all over the world. I've been inside the Colosseum in Rome and outside of Buckingham Palace in London. I went surfing for the first time on Waikiki Beach. I've stood on the football field at Notre Dame. So many of my best memories are because of Iona Women's Basketball.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.