LORENZO LIBERTI – HEROIC FLAGS AND GIVE-A-BUCK BY EMMA TAYLOR
Lorenzo Liberti has just graduated high school, but his story is unique from those of most recent graduates. Not only is Liberti moving forward into adulthood with a diploma, but he has also established a successful non-profit organization, given away tens of thousands of dollars to combat veteran homelessness and other social crises, and graced several local, and one national, news programs to share his mission and seek support for his efforts. Liberti grew up in a family that prioritized helping those in need. “My mother was homeless when she was growing up, so we always made it a mission to help the less fortunate,” he said of his upbringing. On one such occasion, Liberti met a homeless Vietnam War veteran, and
the experience changed his life. His eyes were opened to an ongoing issue for many who have served our country, and it sparked a desire in him to find a way to help. Having always wanted to serve in the military himself, Liberti holds a great reverence for those who sacrifice their lives to serve our nation. In the summer between Liberti’s eighth and ninth grade years, his father urged him to find a project — something aside from video games and pestering him in his home office. A Go Army ad appeared as Liberti was searching for fatherand-son DIY projects. The ad made him begin to ruminate on the conversation he had with the homeless veteran he met 11 months prior. “My dad saw me looking at it and said, ‘Hey, wouldn’t BMAG | 11
