Concert fundraiser aims to fund student travel scholarships

September 7, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout 

The memorial nonprofit Launch Into Foreign Travel – or L.I.F.T for short – is hosting a fundraising concert and party on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Camp Meade in Middlesex from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Logo image courtesy of L.I.F.T. 

The event will feature musical performances by Soulstice and Ragged Company. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from All Good Eats and The Local. 

Started in 2017, L.I.F.T. provides scholarships for students to take advantage of educational travel opportunities to broaden their horizons and make new connections with other cultures.

The organization grew from a memorial fund in honor of Cyrus Zschau, a Harwood Union High School junior from Moretown who lost his life along with four friends in an October 2016 car crash. Cyrus had a love for travel and adventure and aspired to travel the world after his graduation.

The fund so far has supported Harwood students with scholarships to help fund educational travel experiences. Fund organizers say they would like to expand the program to include students at other schools as well. In February, the group announced it had awarded seven scholarships totalling just over $6,500 to Harwood students traveling earlier this year to Rwanda, Denmark and India. Since the fund began by Cyrus’ parents, it has awarded nearly $20,000 to local students. Applicants must be high school sophomores or older. 

The suggested donation for attending the Sept. 14 event is $25 for adults and $10 for students.  Purchase tickets online in advance or at the event. 

The concert performances are sponsored by Vermont Beer Shepherd.

Learn more about L.I.F.T at czlift.org. Donations to L.I.F.T are tax-deductible.