As the giving season is at a peak for most people, it is just starting for DECA. On Wednesday Nov. 22, DECA held a benefit concert for a local charity called Homeward Bound.  This charity helps put homeless people off the streets and teaches them life skills to get back on their feet. Throughout the year, DECA has been raising money to donate in one total at the end of the year.

Outreach coordinator, Lois Zozobrado shares “for it being the day before thanksgiving it went really well.”

The concert was held at a time where people were coming in and out of town and needed some Thanksgiving eve entertainment.

Zozobrado shared how the “Performers did really well, and the raffle brought in a lot of money.” As a whole, DECA had a goal of three hundred dollars and ended up raising four hundred and five dollars.

Vice President Kendall Penrod, shares “If this concert happens again next year, I think we should do it at a different date so that we have a better turn out.” Both representatives agree that if the concert were to be held again next year that they would advise students to organize it on a date that was not close to a holiday.

As a whole the DECA program brought in a great turnout of people and a great amount of money for Homeward Bound. Marketing teacher Robert Lang shares that “the students put this together, and they take care of the whole night, if the students decide to do this again I will support them all the way and help them with the challenges.”

Lang is letting his kids step out on their own and practice skills that he is teaching them. This whole night was put together by students, Lang shares that if the students next year want to put together another event like this that they are more then welcome to and will have his full support. Penrod shares that the best moment of  the night was “having so much talent being shown from Perry, we had the band, some Perry singers and an alumni, the talent that was brought was great on its own.”

Throughout the night, the café was swarming with people and supporters of the cause. The money from the concert as well as the money from the rest of the fundraisers, will be donated as a whole and will be presented to the charity at the end of Mr.PHS. The giving season is not done just yet for DECA as they have many more fundraisers to help donate money and bring together a community for Homeward Bound.