Ten Fisher College of Business students spent their spring break engaging with a longtime friend of the college and working side by side to help improve an agency that is serving the needs of many in Florida.

The students and faculty member Ty Shepfer spent the week beautifying and organizing the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center in Sarasota, Florida as part of a Buck-I-SERV trip. The center houses 13 buildings and provides rent-free space for 18 agencies dedicated to serving the unemployed, mentally ill and at-risk kids. The center was made possible by the support of the late Alex Schoenbaum (BSBA ’39) and his wife, Betty, who earned a certificate of commerce at Ohio State in 1939.

The Schoenbaums met at Ohio State, married and later founded a restaurant that evolved into the Shoney’s chain. Longtime supporters of Ohio State, they created the Alex and Betty Schoenbaum Undergraduate Support Fund and were honored by the college with the naming of Schoenbaum Hall.

Fisher students spent their spring break volunteering at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center

in Sarasota, Florida. The center was made possible by the late Alex Schoenbaum and his wife, Betty,

(back row, far left), both of whom are longtime supporters of Fisher College of Business.

FisherCares, a service-based student group, organized the trip, while Betty Schoenbaum provided the financial support. The students had the opportunity to have dinner with her during their week in Florida and heard a number of inspiring stories, including how she met her late husband at a student mixer in 1935, and how she ended up at dinner at Leslie Wexner’s house sitting directly between Max M. Fisher and former President Gerald Ford.

• See video of the students' trip

“It was an honor to have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Schoenbaum and hear her message that education is the future, and nothing is more important than giving back and making a difference in the community that we live in,” said David Edwards, president of FisherCares.

Fisher students painted as part of their volunteer work at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center in Sarasota, Florida.

While in Florida, the students mulched and weeded the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center complex, planted flowers and painted. They also provided office support such as data entry and filing. In all, the students logged more than 300 hours of service throughout the week. Students who participated included:

“This was a great chance to give back and do some good in the community,” said Cieniewicz, a junior majoring in finance who was on the trip for the second straight year.

“It’s inspirational to see 10 dedicated students giving up their spring break to make a difference for so many people,” said Shepfer, a senior lecturer in the Department of Management and Human Resources who also earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Fisher.

Fisher students spent the week beautifying and provding office support at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center in Sarasota, Florida.