Hello, my name is Lorenzo Liberti. I am a 16-year-old sophomore at Lakewood Ranch high school and a proud craftsman dedicated to serving those in need by donating proceeds from my hand made rustic, American flags to local charities. The idea of giving back first occurred to me in January 2019 (I was 14 years-old), when I went to feed the homeless with my church and met a veteran in need. The event opened my eyes and heart! For months I struggled to figure out how a teenager could help those in need within our community. However, during my summer break, my prayers were answered.
I discovered a cool DIY project that I wanted to try. My dad helped me get the right tools and materials. After a few attempts and several modifications, I completed my first rustic American flag. It looked so good, that my little brother along with neighbors, insisted I make them one too! With such a positive response, I began to wonder if I could use my talent to support the less fortunate people like I had met at the soup kitchen earlier in the year. I reached out to Turning Points (a non-profit organization supporting veterans in Bradenton), and instantly hit it off with them. They invited me to their Christmas Gala where I donated a flag for their silent auction and kicked off the evening by performing the National Anthem on violin. By the end of the evening, I sold two flags and helped Turning Points raise over $2,300 for their mission! My summer DIY project became a much bigger endeavor than I could have ever imagined.
