FEATURE
����������������������������������������
A���������������������������������� and Mac
���������������������� were hanging out one
day during their freshman year,
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������
such a strong commitment to service.
How could they establish their own
legacy of service, they wondered.
Though just freshmen, they were
thinking long-term, sustainable, creative,
and practical.
����������������������������������������������������������������������������
the water,” said Carideo, who lives near
Tampa Bay, and near Heldfond, in South
Tampa. “Why not try to connect our
service to what we love?”
����������������������������������������������������������������������������
tournament involving underprivileged
kids, and also a toy drive for Christmas.
Sophomore year, Carideo and Heldfond
16 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2020-21
Zachary Reich '22 and Daniel Vargas '22 connected
with migrant children on Nov. 1, see page 18-19
put their ideas into action. They
connected with a local Boys & Girls Club,
which quickly signed up about 20 youths
who had little or no experience boating
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
participate in this new venture.
Carideo and Heldfond pursued
sponsors and used those sponsorship
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
They also enlisted some friends with
������������������������������������������������������������������������
as �������������������������������������� and Cameron
������������������������ They grouped four Boys &
Girls Clubs kids per boat and took off
into the bay.
“Most of the kids hadn’t even been
on a boat before,” Heldfond said. “We
went out and caught snook, sea trout,
mackerel – they loved it. The smiles on
their faces.
“We brought them back in and the
captains showed how to prepare the
������������������������������������������������������������������������������
The call for Jesuit
students to fulfill their
mission as ‘Men for
Others’ has never been
greater, yet it also
has never been more
challenging. Due to
COVID-19 protocols and
restrictions, the number
of service opportunities
has been reduced.
However, with initiative
and determination, the
young men of Jesuit
High School are making
an impact. Throughout
the 2020-21 school
year, the Jesuit student
body has answered the
call to serve.
the pelicans. It was an amazing day.”
Heldfond and Carideo were hooked.
Their idea had come to fruition, and
they made a genuine connection with
the kids. Something simple that they
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������
– could be a transformative experience
for the children while also becoming so
meaningful to them.
They segued into Part II of their idea, a
Christmas toy drive for kids. Once again,
their initiative, and love of being on the
water, played a major role.
“We posted to our Instagram and
��������������������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������
all the houses on the water plus some
others in the neighborhood,” Heldfond
said. “We established a drop-off point
for those people not on the water, where
������������������������������������������������������������������������������
others, we said what date and time we
would take our boat by the docks and