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Deon Harrison: Bee the Difference Month Feature


11/22/2022

St. Ambrose business student Deon Harrison '25 leaned on his entrepreneurial spirit to maximize his impact for a special campaign during Bee the Difference Month.

The Cedar Rapids native was recently nominated for the United Way Quad Cities Pay it Forward campaign. The campaign provides community members with $100 and asks them to find ways to multiply the funds for the betterment of our community.

"With 25 of the 100 dollars, I started a raffle for a Whitey's gift card and allowed people to enter with cash or through a Venmo I created," Harrison said.

Campus community members could buy one raffle ticket for $3 or two for $5. Harrison also received in-kind donations along with raffle ticket purchases.

Deon Harrison '25


"To me, being the difference means making an impact in someone's life for the better. It's being able to put your own agenda aside to assist those not as fortunate as you are."

"With the rest of the $75 dollars, I plan on doing a similar thing but with a Christmas gift card of some sort," he said.

Friend, St. Ambrose alum and current United Way Quad Cities board member Ty Lewis ‘22 nominated Harrison for this challenge.

"Everything fell right into place," he said. "To me, being the difference means making an impact in someone's life for the better. It's being able to put your own agenda aside to assist those not as fortunate as you are."


Learn more about Bee the Difference Month: 30 Days of Prayer and Service

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