There’s a brand new therapy room at United Cerebral Palsy Tampa Bay in Tampa. It’s all thanks to a Boy Scout named Bob Schofner. Schofner said he wanted to make a difference.
“I was born with a cleft lip and palate and I thought it would be really great if i could help other people with special needs,” Schofner said.
The 15-year-old helped design and build a sensory room at the UCP headquarters. Schofner was helped by staff therapists to create a place that will help children develop their motor skills. To fund the project, Schofner set up shop.
“I got for Christmas a dehumidifier for making dried fruits and beef jerky and I thought, ‘Hey, the best idea would be to make beef jerky and sell it,’” Schofner said.
Sales were a hit and along with other fundraisers, the teenager collected about $2,000. Laura White, executive director at United Cerebral Palsy Tampa Bay, said the new room will help change lives.
“A room like this does a lot. It touches a lot of lives because there’s so many different disabilities and developmental delays that can be improved by a room like this,” White said. “It can touch physical disabilities, sensory behavioral types of disabilities.”
Schofner says he’s pleased with how the project turned out.
“I hope this really helps children get through their challenges in life,” Schofner said. “That at least is what I anticipated that to be, to help kids.”