Boy's helpful ways live on through fund

The parents of a 12-year-old who died will help others pay tuition at his private school.

By MONIQUE FIELDS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 2, 2001

Ask friends and family about Austin Cadwallader, and a rush of memories spring to mind.

He was a star Little League player who also found time to play golf. He was the first to come to another's aid in time of need. And most of all, he had a strong faith in God.

Those attributes drew nearly 1,000 people to his funeral in July. They said goodbye to the 12-year-old who died of inoperable brain cancer and left gifts totaling more than $10,000.

The money will become part of the Austin Cadwallader Foundation, which his parents, Ted and Meredith, are establishing as a non-profit organization. The foundation will help parents pay tuition at Austin's school, Trinity Christian School in Dunedin.

Principal Kelli Gordon and the school's former principal, Bonnie Dohner, were happy to learn that the family had thought of the school. Tuition is $3,400 a year, and at least five families whose children attend the school need help with education costs.

"He always thought of other people," said Gordon, who also was Austin's second-grade teacher. Ultimately, the Cadwalladers, who live in Holiday, hope the foundation will grow so its money can help parents whose children attend any Christian school in the Tampa Bay area.

That's the way Austin would have wanted it, said Mrs. Cadwallader, who attends First Christian Church of Tarpon Springs.

His school "was such an incredible sanctuary for Austin," she said. "He knew he was so safe and so loved even in the midst of his illness."

Austin was found to have brain cancer on Dec. 28, 1998. Until then, the only sign anything wrong was a slight tremor in his right hand. The trembling worsened and kept him from doing his schoolwork. That was no problem for Austin. He simply kept on writing with his left hand. "He was just totally confident in God's ability to take care of him," Mrs. Cadwallader said, "whether here or in heaven."

Want to help?

Please make checks payable to First Christian Church of Tarpon Springs, 2795 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Please note that the donation is for the Austin Cadwallader Foundation.

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