Aspire Higher for The Movement!

2011-09-19

As a student you have probably participated in community service multiple times. Usually, you are partaking in these activities because you need service hours to graduate or it is required by a club. This is exactly how I started getting involved around my hometown. I began helping out around my community so much that my volunteer experience began to take on as much importance as my actual work experience.

It is easy to sign up and volunteer for an event such as a local 5K that benefits a non-profit. Maybe you are assigned to sell t-shirts at one of the tables. At the end of the day, you have your service hour form filled out and you are one step closer to completing the required number of hours. What you may not have stopped to think about was how your volunteering helped that non-profit and where all the money raised went to.

One of the reasons I love DECA so much is because it encourages its members to become community oriented and helps provides the information on the significance of your donation. This year DECA has a new project called The Movement. The Movement is our mission to raise an additional $100,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

I do not know exactly how other non-profits utilize their funds, but I can tell you how the Muscular Dystrophy Association uses theirs. During training in July, Team 66 met with a representative from MDA. He told us about several of MDA’s members and how our fundraising has made their life easier. Did you know that MDA can now provide a way, for those who cannot speak, to communicate through eye motions? Did you know that those who have muscle diseases now have the option to hold a job and live on their own? These are all advancements that were unimaginable not too long ago. With our help, MDA is able to provide these amazing opportunities for their members!

Next time you are getting ready to volunteer in your community, remember that you are a DECA member who has the opportunity to help others aspire higher. You have the resources to make a difference in other people’s lives.

Get moving and join The Movement!