Aug. 29 fundraiser at Lawson’s will boost local student travel scholarship fund

August 23, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout 

For the third year, a local nonprofit created to support high school travel study scholarships will host a fundraiser to continue its work in the coming year.

L.I.F.T logo, courtesy image

Known as L.I.F.T. (short for Launch Into Foreign Travel), the organization invites community members to Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield on Saturday, Aug. 29. From 2-7 p.m., the event on the lawn will feature live music by Madigan Linnane and Ragged Company, local food and craft beverages. 

The annual celebration aims to raise vital funds for L.I.F.T.: The Cyrus Zschau Memorial Fund, which provides educational travel scholarships to Harwood Union High School sophomores, juniors and seniors. Since its founding in 2017, L.I.F.T. has awarded over $37,000 in scholarships to dozens of Harwood students to support life-changing international educational trips to destinations including Rwanda, France, Spain, Denmark and India.

In addition to the entertainment, food and beverages, organizers say that attendees at the Aug. 29 event will have the opportunity to learn more about L.I.F.T.’s impact, meet past scholarship recipients, and donate directly to support upcoming student travel.

The event is free, with donations welcomed. Those who wish to donate but are unable to attend may support the fund with an online donation at czlift.org.

L.I.F.T. 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 aims to remove financial barriers for students—with a special commitment to expanding access for historically underserved youth—giving every eligible student the opportunity to expand their education through travel.

More information: czlift.org.