Liberty Middle School & GrillSmith Donate Thousands To Schenecker Fund

By Matt Wiley

For the third consecutive year, the Liberty Middle School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) clubs have made substantial contributions to the Calyx & Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund through a fund-raising campaign held in conjunction with the school.

This year, students at Liberty were able to raise $5,000 for the memorial fund established in memory of Calyx and Beau Schenecker, who were tragically killed in 2011. The fund was set up by the late children’s father, U.S. Army Col. Parker Schenecker to provide scholarship opportunities to those in need in the Tampa Bay community.

A check presentation ceremony was held at Liberty in the media center on December 16, during which an oversized check was presented to Col. Schenecker and Calyx and Beau’s grandmother Nancy. Liberty students sold more than 3,000 pounds of cookie dough during the fund-raising process, which took place during the past several months.

“I’m always amazed when you give students a task that they truly believe in,” said Liberty principal James Ammarati during the ceremony. “When the students believe in it, the sky is the limit for their cause. I commend all of the students here and in FBLA and NJHS. The skills you are learning now you will take with you for the rest of your lives.”

A crowd of faculty, parents, staff and even District 3 Hillsborough County School Board member Cindy Stuart watched as FBLA and NJHS members helped Col. Schenecker unwrap the check. “This is the best gift I’ll unwrap this holiday season,” Col. Schenecker said in a speech, following the unwrapping. “This is about doing something bigger than yourselves. What you all have done, once again is just incredible.”

So far, Col. Schenecker said that fund-raising efforts have helped provide one full scholarship to Hillsborough Community College that will be awarded next year and set the fund on the right path for funding another opportunity.

But, Liberty students weren’t the only ones recently raising money for the memorial fund.

Tampa-Area Grillsmiths Raise More Than $8,600

According to a press release from GrillSmith, the restaurant chain’s president Billy Grimm and corporate chef Joe Guli presented a check for $8,644.54 at the Nov. 23 USF football game to Col. Schenecker for funds raised during the annual scholarship drive held at local GrillSmith restaurants, including the location in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, for the Calyx & Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund.

Since the fund began, through the generosity of Tampa Bay residents, $120,000 has been raised for the memorial fund.

Thanks to the Tampa Bay community for your continued support of the Calyx and Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund and thanks to Parker Schenecker for continuing to make a difference in our community.