To fundraise for their state-level competition, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) hosted a shoe drive during February and March with collection points throughout the high school.
“Our leadership team for FBLA sits down at the beginning of the year and maps out our fundraising goals,” FBLA advisor Amanda Davoli said.
“I received information from the organization, Funds2orgs. This particular organization collects all the shoes and distributes them to small business owners across the globe so that they can run their business.”
According to FBLA president Pranati Jammalamadaka, “For every 100 bags that we donate to the organization, we get money. So that was our main idea for this shoe drive.”
For people looking to support the drive, collection spots included Davoli’s classroom, the front security desk and the school store.
Jammalamadaka said any shoes could be donated as long as they were in “good condition.”
FBLA members made sure to include a wide range of shoe types when packaging up the donation bags.
According to Davoli, “The shoes have to be inspected because these are shoes that are actually going to be worn by somebody and sold in the future.”
“We put a good combination of shoes within the donation bags so that the micro entrepreneurs are getting a variety of shoes,” Davoli said.
“One of our main goals in FBLA is fundraising, and especially for states, because states are so expensive,” said Jammalamadaka.
According to FBLA officer Chloe Ha, “The goal of the drive was for states.”
“[It] was to lower the cost for each person who’s going to states,” Ha said.
States took place in Hershey.
“We’re there for three nights. This year, we have 35 students going to Hershey,” Davoli said. “Hershey, for us this year, costs us about $17,000. So when we talk about fundraising for our chapter, Hershey is by far the most expensive item on our list.”
Davoli said that the fundraising can sometimes seem like a “chore” and “tough” to execute.
“We try to think of ways that are easy for people to fundraise,” Davoli said, “ just bringing shoes from your house.”
Along with the shoe drive, FBLA also uses the school store as an effective way to fundraise for the club.
“The school store is mainly to help support the club,” Ha said.
According to Davoli, “The profits help fundraise for FBLA. Selling school merch is our primary fundraiser.”
Selling school merchandise at the school store allows students to gain real-world business experience.
It also cut costs for FBLA trips.
Participating in FBLA and being involved with activities such as the school store or competing in FBLA competitions can “change people’s lives,” Davoli said.
“It’s helped me develop leadership skills, but also managing a team, and working with different kinds of people,” said Jammalamadaka.
As for Ha, who does not have an interest in business, she said she has gained “leadership qualities and teamwork” from FBLA.
“FBLA is a business-oriented club that pushes me to become more well-rounded with presenting,” Ha said.
Participating in FBLA has helped students discover their “passions,” Davoli said, both professionally and personally.
“Having a student recognize that they’re really good at something and get excited about that and seeing the pride they have,” Davoli said.
“It’s influential on a child’s high school experience, on a personal level.”