When Family Resource Connection (FRC), a crisis center that provides services to reunite children with their families, was given the opportunity to run one of the concession stands at the Jaguars games to earn much needed dollars, they thought it was a dream come true. Unfortunately there was a problem: the center only had three full-time staff, and the concession stand needed 16 people at each event. Staff members from Family Resource Connection visited
Stanton College Preparatory School to ask if the students would be willing to provide the needed staff, and the organization was thrilled when Business Leaders of Tomorrow stepped up.
After just two games, Business Leaders members were told that others who had made commitments were not able to give further support, and the FRC asked if the Business Leaders Club could provide an additional 10 students at 13 events, three times what they had originally committed.
“It proved to be a bigger challenge than we anticipated” said student Rani Morales, one of the two community service directors for the club. “We were shocked, but we never really considered saying we couldn’t do it. The charity was depending on it.”
Next came the hard lesson about leadership.
“For the next game we had 10 volunteers sign up, but only five showed,” said student Sybil Wright, the co-community service director. “We were horrified! From that day forward we set a plan of action in place to make sure we did a better job.”
The service commitment became much more than a Business Leaders Club project. More than 75 Stanton students from throughout the school participated. Lunch times became recruiting sessions. “Come, and bring a friend” was the mantra.
Club members learned that after someone signed up, they should follow up with a call and an email, and have a contingency plan for when people cancel at the last minute.
“This project was an excellent lesson in leadership,” said their club sponsor.
In the end, FRC earned more than $10,000 from the concession stand earnings.
“The Stanton students not only made this possible, they brought fun to the events,” said Sue Hutchins, FRC Executive Director. “Every student brought a positive attitude that was contagious.”
Stephanie Morrow, case manager for FRC, added “We could not have done this without the Stanton kids. We will be forever grateful.”
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