West Bloomfield High School DECA Students Raise Money for MDA

West Bloomfield, MI- Three West Bloomfield High School School DECA students raised more than $1600 for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) with their Holiday Pinup Cause Raiser.

West Bloomfield High School Seniors, Jack Stuit, Ryan Lynch, and Tage Seglund, worked closely with the West Bloomfield High School DECA chapter and high school student body to raise awareness of Muscular Dystrophy and raise enough funding for two children ages 8 to 17 living with Muscular Dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases to attend summer camp at no cost.

MDA Summer Camp provides children and teens with the opportunity to gain critical life skills, including self-confidence, independence, and self-advocacy, along with the opportunity to create friendships in an accessible environment. This summer will mark the first year since before the pandemic that children can return in person.

To accomplish their goal, students first took the opportunity to take a section of fifteen teachers' classes to share information about Muscular Dystrophy, as well as the MDA and their summer camp.

In early August, they held a “Miracle Minute” during the homecoming football game. An announcement was made asking everyone to donate whatever change they had in their pocket during the 60-second countdown. During that short minute, $166 was donated by local community members in attendance, as DECA students ran up and down the aisles collecting their change.

In November, collections began for the main fundraiser, a Holiday Pinup Cause Raiser. The online donations brought in over $1,100. Additionally, the school store Laker Landing left a donation jar for loose change.

In both November and December, games were held each Monday outside the cafeteria, including a jelly bean guessing competition to raise additional funds. The community and students were informed of the events via social media postings, weekly district newsletters, and announcements.

Students will share their accomplishments at the Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference in March, which they will attend along with the top 500 marketing students from across Michigan. At that time, they will meet and greet a representative from MDA.

About West Bloomfield High School DECA-West Bloomfield High School DECA is a Career and Technical Student Organization of over 200 members. West Bloomfield High School DECA works to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in four fields of business: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA integrates classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business, and promotes competition to prepare the next generation to be academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders.