Hi everybody! My name is Christian Morrow, and I’m raising money to help cover the cost of DECA’s International Career Development Conference in April.

DECA is a business club that I’ve been a part of for two years now. Students role-play as executives in a variety of situations, from Sports Marketing to Finance to Hospitality and Tourism. I can’t even begin to explain just how much it has helped me break out of my shell. Being able to expose myself to those public-speaking situations has radically increased my confidence and self-esteem in social situations.

My specific competition - called an event - is called the Innovation Plan. I role-played as an entrepreneur who was pitching a start-up to a venture capitalist. My idea revolved around a new email client that made it easier to keep inboxes clean. I really hate dealing with my emails, and I felt that the issue was relatable and widespread enough that it could be a valuable company idea.

My presentation ended up winning second place at the State Career Conference, where all of the 3,000 students across every New York state DECA chapter gathered to compete in their respective events. I thought my presentation was good, but I never expected it to be the second best in all of New York.

This is the first time I have ever been eligible to go to the International Career Development Conference, where all of the state winners compete against each other for a chance at scholarship money and DECA glass (that’s what the trophies are called!)

Unfortunately, the cost to attend the conference is over two-thousand dollars, and to make matters worse, the money is due back to our chapters by Wednesday, March 13th. The price, along with the tight deadline, has proven to be a challenge for me and my family.

If I am able to attend ICDC at Anaheim, I’ll be able to present my pitch and compete against thousands of other international winners for a chance at a scholarship, as well as having the ability to network with other students, businesses, and executives from around the world. It truly would be a life-changing opportunity for me.

Any amount, no matter how small, would help tremendously. Even if you can’t donate, sharing this page and spreading the word helps just as much!

I am so incredibly grateful for every contribution. Thank you so much for supporting me in my educational journey!