Rock The Block Foundation

Rock The Block Foundation was an organization I started in college to raise money for those in need. The goal and mission statement of the organization, was to "provide safe and wholesome entertainment for college students while simultaneously giving back to the community." We wanted to inspire all college students at Brigham Young University to give back to the community. Our organization put on large charity concerts and dance parties. We have worked together with many companies, both local and national, as well as with the city of Provo, Utah to put on these events. Approximately 3,000 students attended each event. The first event was a disaster relief for the Hurricane Katrina victims. We raised over $2,000 and collect 1,034 cans of food. We sent the food and money down to Louisiana through the LDS Church. The following four events were dedicated to raising money to purchase a crate of wheelchairs to ship to Peru. We needed approximately $42,000 to purchase and deliver the chairs to Peru. Together with the Pro Sports Club of Bellevue Washington, we raised the $42,000 in approximately eighteen months. As the president of the organization, I oversaw approximately 50 volunteers during each event. Companies such as Jet Blue Airlines, Kohl's Department Stores and The Utah Jazz donated money and merchandise to auction to college students to aide our fund-raising efforts. Local companies provided food for those in attendance. Local police officers and EMTs donated their time to ensure the safety of the college students. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel down to Peru once we had collected sufficient money to purchase the wheelchairs. We delivered 288 wheelchairs to those who are immobile in Peru. I saved up enough money to purchase my own ticket, as did every other person involved in the organization. In total seven people from my organization and thirteen from the Seattle-based company traveled to Peru. Seeing the fruits of my labors of the past eighteen months were finally viewed. Seeing the smile on the Peruvians' faces made each minute I had ever spent on raising money worth it. Through past experiences, I had learned that the Latino people are the most loving and giving people. Although often times poor, the are always willing to give to those who are less fortunate than themselves. It was a great blessing to me to be able to give to those people that have always set a good example to me. The organization continues to raise money. Although I have moved, I am working to find corporate donors. Our next project is for Bolivia. We will be traveling in the summer of 2009.