High School FBLA students donate 50 books to elementary school and read to students as part of FBLA challenge work

FBLA and elementary school kidsStudents from the Minisink Valley Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) visited Minisink Elementary on Jan. 25 to present 50 books to the school’s library, with FBLA officers taking the time to read books to Mary Kelly’s first-grade class.

Every year, New York State FBLA puts out a “program of work,” explained adviser Seth Johnson.

“This is a series of challenges for FBLA chapters to accomplish,” he said. “The chapters that complete the most challenges are given awards/recognition at the FBLA State Leadership Conference each year. The New York State charity is ‘Reading is Fundamental.’ Because of this, one challenge this year was entitled ‘Book Buddies.’”

Students Ben DiTrocchio, FBLA president and vice president Patrick Lynn and Stevie Walker were in charge of setting up the visit, and along with Mr. Johnson, read to students.

“They reached out to Mrs. Fitzgerald to set everything up,” said Mr. Johnson. “They also helped organized a book drive in December. FBLA donated over 50 books to the elementary school library as a result of their efforts.”

FBLA is a nonprofit educational association for middle school, high school, and collegiate students who are interested in learning more about the free enterprise system. FBLA’s purpose is to prepare members for careers in business and to assist them by becoming better employees and citizens. FBLA helps students develop leadership abilities, prepares them for entry into business-related occupations, and offers a setting where members compete at regional, state and national levels in business and technology curriculum.