When I was a freshman in high school, I knew I could do more. At that point in time, I had gained some credibility for a sports media company I founded, The Sports Court. I interviewed Shaquille O'Neal, Saquon Barkley, and some other big-time athletes, but I knew that it wasn't enough. I decided to finally take action and begin raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - a cause I loved and I knew was worth fighting for. Since that moment, I've been hooked on fundraising and have raised a total of over $17,000 for St. Jude's. I've been awarded by Governor Murphy for my exemplary citizenship and won the National Awareness Award from St. Jude at the St. Jude NextGen Event. The fulfillment I feel when organizing a fundraiser and seeing how much I was able to raise for a great cause is bar none. I started fundraising with the goal of $100, I've 170x that amount. My volunteer experience has made me a more knowledgable person, but perhaps more importantly, it's showed me the true value of integrity. The value of pursuing a cause for the right reasons and then acting upon your words is something that is beneficial in all aspects of life. With every conversation I am in, and every situation I end up in, I always lean back to having the simple trait of integrity. To be honest with both yourself and other people and hold yourself to high moral principles is at times challenging, but always worth it. People can sense when other people are fake, but at the same very time, people can also sense when people are true to themselves and the cause that they stand for. I am a little different than most kids my age - I'll be the first one to admit. However, I also know that I will approach each day with an open mindset, eager to listen and learn. These are the core values that keep me going in both business with The Sports Court and with my fundraising projects for St. Jude. I am now on a mission to raise $100,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and I'm using my integrity to get me there. I love the cause of St. Jude. The thought of kids not being able to play soccer like I did when I was a kid hurts me. It's this thought and the passion for the cause that keeps me going. Everything I do, I do head on. There is no halfway in, halfway out. I'm extreme with all of my doings whether it's The Sports Court or fundraising, and I plan to keep on being the same way in college and beyond: authentically myself.

For four years, I've endlessly put my community first while making the world a better place. From my fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to growing a popular sports media company, I've worked hard on bettering both myself and others. In July of 2019, I started The Sports Court - a sports media company in which I combine my passion for storytelling with sports. Since then, I've interviewed over 220 professional athletes including Shaquille O'Neal, Saquon Barkley, and Gregg Berhalter. In addition, I've been credentialed to some of the biggest events in sports such as the College Football Playoffs, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and several USMNT & MLS games. These experiences have formed me into an improved writer, broadcaster, and simply a better young man. However, in 2020, at the height of the quarantine, I knew interviewing famous athletes wasn't enough. I knew I was capable of more. So, during Christmas time, I hosted a fundraiser on Instagram Live called, "The Sports Christmas." The fundraiser consisted of my brother and I playing funny games and challenges while we waited patiently for donations. In total, the fundraiser raised $150. The fulfillment I felt in that moment was unmatched and I've since raised $17,000 - primarily through my main fundraiser, the TSC Futsal League for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The TSC Futsal League has grown rapidly in my Jersey Shore town and I have a waiting list for players wanting to join the league. The league initially started in early 2021 as just four teams with sixteen players total. Since then, the one-day tournament has had a total of five seasons and has grown to nine teams with thirty-six total players. Season six will feature a staggering thirteen teams and over fifty players. All of the games are filmed, edited, and put on The Sports Court's social media channels. The league is competitive and more importantly, impactful. I've since been awarded by St. Jude at the St. Jude NextGen Experience for a video I made regarding my favorite leadership trait of Danny Thomas as part of the St. Jude Leadership Society. I've met fellow students from around the world who share the same unique passion as me - fundraising. It's been an absolute pleasure to be a small part of such an amazing cause - beating childhood cancer. This scholarship would help ease the pressure of college for myself. I'd love to attend a top-tier school and continue to chase my academic and career goals, but the price of most schools is limiting my ability to do so. The scholarship will allow me to not worry about paying for college, but rather the impact I can make on the world whilst in college. I've consistently shown that I can make a change, and I want to continue that in college. This amazing Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship will unlock doors for me that otherwise would've stayed locked forever.