Money may not grow on trees, but in Baton Rouge, you might be lucky enough to find cash taped to an old oak.
Cash Stash Baton Rouge (@cashstashbr on Instagram) is the mysterious entity hosting money scavenger hunts around town. All you have to do is find the cash before someone else does.
It all started when St. Louis native Dylan Garcia, 20, was inspired by a cash stash happening in his hometown. When he realized that Baton Rouge didn’t have one, he jumped on the opportunity.
“I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to spread some love,” Garcia said.
Garcia places the money in random spots around Baton Rouge, with a video revealing where the newest prize can be found. He said it usually only takes a few minutes before someone can be spotted jogging up to claim their cash.
The most rewarding part to Garcia? Getting thankful messages from those who found the stashes.
“Honestly, nothing beats that feeling,” he said.
Building from the ground up, Garcia used his own money for the first few hunts. The first of many stashes went live on Sept. 5, with $20 hidden in front of Tiger Stadium. Garcia was determined to set the account in motion, so he followed this stash with two other $20 prizes.
As a marketing senior, Garcia has applied what he has learned at LSU, as well as in internships, to grow a following. Having connections with the larger Baton Rouge community proved to be vital to the success of the account. The connections Garcia had made through work, as well as running @OldRowLSU on Instagram, gave way to his first sponsor: the Revelry.
From Sept. 12 to Sept. 16, three cash stashes of $100 were sponsored by the Revelry. The Baton Rouge bar posted hints on their own Instagram, while Cash Stash Baton Rouge tagged them in each sponsored post. This mutually beneficial relationship was a direct application of the hard skills taught in the Ourso College of Business.
The partnership proved to be successful. One Revelry stash placed by the University Lakes took less than two minutes to be found. With the promotion by the Revelry, the Instagram account was off the ground, with students and townies alike anxiously waiting for the next bundle to drop.
Though it only launched on Sept. 3, Cash Stash Baton Rouge has already accumulated over 5,000 followers. For Garcia, this is only the beginning.
The LSU senior plans on expanding the account — and its influence — as fast as he can. He plans to start other series, including paying for people’s groceries and giving food to Louisianans experiencing homelessness.
“I think this could be something bigger than just dropping cash off at random places,” Garcia said. “I just want to make a positive impact on Baton Rouge. I love this city.”
Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it can inflate your mood. To find more information on Cash Stash Baton Rouge, visit @cashstashbr on Instagram.
