Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Allen.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Monique. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I struggled financially through my college journey. I had to witness my peers depositing hopes and expectations of a great college experience, only to be shortchanged by homelessness, hunger, and the classic conflicts of the registrar’s office. I wanted to help, even if that meant I would only be alleviating stress. I started raising money by raffling my Creative Gesture baskets and then giving the proceeds back to students who participated in my online trivia and games. I later began hosting events (I.e., poetry slams, dances, game nights, etc.) so that I could give back in the form of cash, supplies, or apparel. We host our biannual Restack the Snacks event as a welcoming gesture for students the first week of each semester. Each year we try to increase the amount of care packages distributed and invite sponsors to participate.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The only challenge thus far is, figuring out what to do next.
We’d love to hear more about the organization.
College Elite hosts fundraising events to give back to college students. We are known for our poetry slams and Restack the Snacks events. On our site, we provide volunteer opportunities with our activities. We’ve setup a forum where students can network and exchange tips and notes, or express themselves. Although our primary focus is helping college students, we’ve helped other fields also (i.e., veterans, parents, homeless, sick). Our care pages are passed out to students, the homeless, and the NICU, with aspirations of reaching the military. The greatest moment is watching them disperse in every direction. What makes us different is that our comprehension of “students possessing multiple roles” has allowed us to focus on multiple niches that perfectly coincide.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Compassion and comprehension.
Contact Info:
- Website: Collegeelite.org
- Email: collegeelitellc@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/collegeelite
- Facebook: Facebook.com/collegeelitellc
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