Make a Difference 2012

On June 22, 2012, some of Southwest Florida’s finest students and young community volunteers assembled at Sasse’s Italian Restaurant in Fort Myers, FL for Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner’s annual Make a Difference Award Luncheon. The event, designed to celebrate and rewards the spirit of community service in young people, drew a crowd of award winners, friends and family members that packed Sasse’s normally spacious dining room.

Continuing a tradition of more than 14 years in the making, the administrators and staff at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner picked the most exemplary graduating 8th and 12th grade student volunteers, civic activists, and community innovators to receive formal recognition and a monetary rewards for their selfless service her in our Southwest Florida community. This year, the firm selected 10 middle school and 8 high school students from the tri-county area based on their extraordinary commitments to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

As a special treat for the students, this year’s awards were presented by Circuit Judge Meg Steinbeck, who donned her judicial robe for the occasion. Judge Steinbeck was introduced by Attorneys Dan Dalesandro and Warren Zimmerman, who both attested to the importance of compassion and dedication in public service and thanked the students for their commitment to these often neglected ideals. Judge Steinbeck, backlit by the warm orange flames of Sasse’s roaring pizza oven, spoke of the fiery passion for making a difference and commended the students for putting it into action so early in their lives. “You all have learned something at a very young age that most people don’t get until later, if at all” she said. “That’s a testament to your character, and to the tremendous job your parents have done in cultivating it.”

To the sound of roaring applause, each student was called up to receive their check from Judge Steinbeck and a personal thank you from Cheryl Scheiner.

During lunch, the students, families, and staff mingled, swapped stories, and shared in the spirit of good will. All of these students are sure to have bright futures, and we wish them the best in all of their endeavors.