With his mother on staff at Crown Center for Senior Living and his father a past board member of Lift for Life Academy (LFLA) in Soulard, Adam was already familiar with the impressive work of the organizations he chose to support for his mitzvah project.  

Son of Randi and David Schenberg of Chesterfield, Adam collected new games and sporting equipment for Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital, Lift for Life Academy and Angels’ Arms Foster Care. A note enclosed in his bar mitzvah invitation let his family and friends know about his project. 

Although drop-off day at Adam’s house was the week before his bar mitzvah, several guests brought their donations to his celebration party. The 103 games that were collected were mostly board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry, and Trouble. Adam also received basketballs and soccer balls that went to LFLA. Everything was delivered to the organizations the following week.

“When my mom and I went to Ranken Jordan, we saw the kids working in rehab and I realized how hard they worked so that they could get better and I felt bad for them “ said Adam, a student at Parkway Central Middle School. “By bringing them games, I hoped that I could help them have some fun. Also, when I went to Lift for Life Academy with my donations, I got to see how excited the P.E. teachers were when they saw the new equipment and things I had brought them. I felt really good afterwards.”

Adam chose Ranken Jordan because its president’s mother resides at Crown Center. This hospital provides a continuum of care for medically complex children and their families. 

Adam selected Lift for Life Academy because of his father’s board involvement and his brother supported it with his mitzvah project as well. LFLA is the first independent charter middle school in the city of St. Louis and offers students a creative and motivational alternative to public middle and high school. 

Adam’s connection to Angels’ Arms was through his father acquaintance with the director from his LFLA days. Angels’ Arms has been providing a nurturing temporary group home for difficult to place foster children since 1999.