When West Brunswick High School DECA set out to create a service project, their advisor, Olivia Fluharty, saw an opportunity to blend student involvement, community engagement and brand partnership. The result? DECA x Chick-fil-A Bingo Night, designed to support local senior citizens in a fun, welcoming way.
What began as a simple idea from members of the North Carolina chapter grew into a meaningful event that showcased the power of student-driven leadership. Partnering with Chick-fil-A for the community service event was a no-brainer, as it added an exciting brand presence, delicious food and a mission-aligned focus on serving others.
West Brunswick DECA is partnered with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school program that focuses on developing students into servant leaders, guided by the philosophy "impact through action," which leads students to community service and leadership training.
After exploring a variety of event concepts, a Bingo Night quickly emerged as the perfect fit for the event since it’s easy to play and encourages interaction between students and senior attendees.
Behind the success of Bingo Night was a strategic planning process led by students in various committees, which managed every aspect of the event, including senior community invitations, coordinating the venue, gathering bingo materials, securing donations from local businesses, managing supplies and planning the setup.
During Bingo Night, members of West Brunswick DECA played a meaningful role, whether calling bingo numbers, engaging with senior participants, serving food, distributing prizes or offering support wherever needed.
What made this fundraiser shine was the combination of accessible fun, strong partnerships and genuine student ownership.
"Having strong collaboration and communication between our student leaders and our community partners helped with the overall success of this event. The students explained the importance of this event and showed their passion for this cause. Having the students have ownership in their planning and execution of this event helped create a positive experience for all parties involved!" - Olivia Fluharty noted.
Fluharty also encourages other chapters to seek similar collaborations, emphasizing that having students personally connect with local business partners strengthens relationships and builds confidence. At West Brunswick, these connections extend well beyond Chick-fil-A, with the chapter proudly engaging a wide network of supportive local businesses.
For advisors seeking to replicate this success, the message is clear: select activities that foster connection and empower students to take the lead. When students feel a sense of ownership and community partners feel valued, the impact speaks for itself.
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