Ross School Student Creates Non-Profit Company For Senior Project

She may still be in high school, but Ross School student Dillon Kab has created a company that she hopes she can grow well into her college years, and beyond.In the spring, Dillon established Connecs, a limited liability company that creates customized fundraising programs for nonprofit organizations. Connecs is responsible not only for developing and carrying out a program, but also furnishing websites, press releases and other materials to help market it.Dillon’s first program, Ties for a Cure, raises money for the Max Cure Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity. She has been selling neckwear donated by Dr. John Brennan of Hampton Handmade Ties—the local orthopedic surgeon happens to have a tie business as well—at local events and stores for $25. Dillon donates 85 percent of the gross revenue to the nonprofit. Over the past few weeks she has already raised $2,000, which has gone directly to Max Cure’s Roar Beyond Barriers Program, which serves low-income families with children being treated at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.While all of this work is part of her mandatory senior project at the Ross School, the 17-year-old Southampton resident said it’s more of a passion than anything: Since a young age, she has been inspired by her parents, Vyto and Patricia Kab, to pursue a career in business. She has her sights set on studying at New York University’s Stern School of Business after graduating from the Ross School in June.“I really fell in love with business, so I wanted to start my own company for my senior project,” Dillon said. “I wanted to create a company that could help a lot of charities and nonprofits that are close to my heart, and I really care about.”The Max Cure Foundation was Dillon’s first choice for a nonprofit because her family has been supporting it for years. Next, she hopes to develop a program to raise funds for the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation, as her cousin has retinal blindness. She is still searching for a sponsor to donate items she can sell.Dillon said she is floored by the support Ties for a Cure has received so far, and that has encouraged her to believe that she will reach her goal of raising $25,000 from the program. “I wasn’t really expecting people to really love it this much,” she admitted.“I wanted to give back to my community and give back to nonprofits and people who are doing good,” Dillon continued. “I hope this program goes for as long as it could run.”Ties to support Ties for a Cure can be purchased at Therapy Life & Style, or 27 Hampton Salon, both in Southampton Village, or online at tiesforacure.com. For more information about Connecs and how to get involved, visit connecs.net.