Community Corner
GrillSmith Fundraiser Raises $10,500 For Calyx and Beau Schenecker
Tampa Bay areas GrillSmith restaurants are hosting a fundraiser to support teenagers Calyx and Beau Schenecker. Their mother is accused of fatally shooting them.
A fundraiser at Bay-area GrillSmith restaurants — including the Brandon location — to support the Calyx and Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund raised $10,500 for the fund which recognizes local teenagers for their leadership, athleticism and ability in the performing arts.
The weeklong fundraiser saw 100 percent of sales from Calyx’s favorite GrillSmith dish, the Caribbean Pumpkin Crab Bisque soup, and Beau’s favorite appetizer, the Spicy Thai Shrimp, get donated to the memorial fund.
In total, the six restaurants took 885 orders for the Caribbean Pumpkin Crab Bisque soup and 938 orders for the Spicy Thai Shrimp appetizer.
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Calyx and Beau Schenecker were killed in January, allegedly by their mother, Julie Schenecker, in New Tampa.
Calyx was to start her junior year in the international baccalaureate program at King High School this fall, while Beau was going to be a freshman at Freedom High School. The killings drew worldwide media attention and online memorials created by those who never knew the family.
Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Calyx and Beau were devoted friends, classmates and teammates,” said Parker Schenecker. “They were everything a parent could ever ask for — responsible, loving and connected to those around them,” said Parker, a career U.S. Army officer at U.S. Central Command in Tampa. Parker was on assignment in the Middle East when the deaths occurred.
“Both were model citizens, standouts in the classroom and on the sports fields and big fans of GrillSmith,” Schenecker said.
“My family and I would like to thank GrillSmith for their generosity and support,” Schenecker said.
“It is our privilege to be able to help in whatever way we can,” said Billy Grimm, president of GrillSmith. “Our hearts certainly go out to the entire Schenecker family who are trying to heal from this tragedy. By celebrating their lives during this Back-to-School Week event at all GrillSmith locations, we aimed to raise awareness about this memorial fund as well as shine a light on two amazing kids who were taken too soon. Thank you to all who came out to support the memorial fund and celebrate Calyx and Beau’s lives.”
