Monarch DECA’s second annual Taste of Monarch donates profits to Colorado Flood Relief.
On September 20th 2013 Monarch DECA held its second annual Taste of Monarch. Like the Taste of Colorado, Monarch’s Taste had food vendors, face painting and raffles. All activities were organized by the students and advisors in Monarch’s DECA chapter. In hopes to top last years 500 attendees, and $2,300 profit, planning began in March. Tragically, a week before the event, 15 inches of rain and intense flooding devastated the Boulder Valley community.
The Taste was one of DECA’s most profitable fundraisers in 2012, although this year they decided to do something a little different with all of the profits. “We really wanted to give back to the community and not just to DECA. Thats why we decided to give all the profits to Colorado’s Flood Relief.” said Monarch’s DECA president Carly Donner.
Nicole Barbour, the chapter’s secretary, had the idea to donate the profits to the Flood Relief. “It really hits close to home. It was a big disaster that happened in such a short amount of time and the floods really devastated those around us. I thought that it would be a great way for DECA to help out” said Barbour. The DECA members who organized, planned and volunteered at the event, as well as guests who attended, helped out the Monarch DECA chapter and the Colorado community.
There were quite a few changes from the first year. Other than the profits going to the flood victims, the Taste of Monarch was “more fun this year and there was more to do,” said sophomore Ryan Crist on his second year attending. The grass was too wet for the jumpy castles but there were more raffle prizes, games and booths representing local businesses than there were in 2012.
Last years DECA president, and one of the previous organizer’s, Nikky Venkataraman, was in attendance. “It was a lot more lively, there were more booths and you could hear the music! It was a big improvement from last year” said Venkataraman. Qdoba, Panda Express, Regal Movie Theatres and Haagen Dazs were among the 24 business that were at the Taste of Monarch, nine more than in 2012. There was even a costumed cow and panda among the crowd to entertain.
This year at the Taste of Monarch, guests and volunteers had plenty of food and fun. After a week of rain and devastation people were grateful for the sunshine. While enjoying pizza, frozen yogurt, chicken marsala and live music, the Monarch community came together and helped benefit flood victims.