Wauconda FBLA: Empowering youth and strengthening the community through volunteering

The Wauconda High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America is making a difference through a student-driven community service project that provides volunteering opportunities for future generations while serving the community. FBLA, a national organization preparing students for careers in business through leadership and service, encourages members to develop real-world skills while giving back to their communities. It is a mission this project exemplifies, providing students with hands-on business experiences while fostering a culture of generosity and community involvement.

Upon recognizing how much Cale Domek gives back to the community of Wauconda through his local restaurant, Panhandlers, Rohan Aulakh and Ryder Majestic thought this could be an excellent chance to get some students involved toward a mutual objective of serving the greater good of Wauconda. The students and Domek hosted a fundraiser event that raised more than $200 for the FBLA chapter.

Building on this momentum, students are now organizing a Wauconda Meals for All, on Feb. 12. It will feed more than 100 people in need. Those who attend will receive pizza from Panhandlers and salad from Luke's of Mundelein, all generously donated. Additionally, FBLA will promote a frozen pizza fundraiser to give each student the opportunity to raise money for their state competition expenses. This is considered an altogether separate fundraiser to build community service and volunteer hours in the hope of instilling the culture longer term. This fundraiser is expected to be annually repeated, helping FBLA members fundraise their way to state, all while supporting a local restaurant.

Aulakh and Majestic said the eventual mission is to instill a sense of responsibility and compassion within all young people in District 118.

“We want to teach and remind students about the community, the importance of community to be able to provide and help one another,” Majestic said.

“This isn't just about one project. We want to create a movement that lasts for years to come,” Aulakh said.

A big part of the motivation behind this effort was the fact that middle school students have very limited opportunities to volunteer, Aulakh and Majestic both experienced firsthand. To change this, they hope to start FBLA chapters at Wauconda Middle School and Matthews Middle School, exposing younger students to leadership and service opportunities early in their careers. This blend of business knowledge with a commitment to service has helped the FBLA students at Wauconda High School prove that leadership is not confined within the four walls of school. Through continued efforts, they want to inspire a new generation of young leaders committed to creating lasting change within their community.