Welcome to An Evening Anchored in Education

A Celebration to Honor Thomas Knox

About the Event

The third and final Evening Anchored in Education is being held to benefit the Thomas James Knox Rink and the St. Charles Thomas James Knox Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. We have made a significant positive impact on both educational financial assistance at St. Charles Preparatory and in our community with the help of your support. Over 450 guests attended each of the last two memorial events in January 2017 and 2018 and we can't thank you enough for your role in keeping the memory of Thomas alive.

The Thomas James Knox Rink opened to the public in June 2018. The rink was built with love to honor Thomas and his passion for hockey. It was fully funded by generous donations from family and friends in partnership with the City of Westerville and The McConnell Foundation. The City  of Westerville partnered with the Columbus Blue Jackets' Street Jackets hockey program and offers learn to play classes for Columbus-area youth. The City will maintain the facility and proceeds from this year's fundraising event will be allocated for additional amenities to continue to make the rink a state of the art facility.

The Thomas James Knox Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in 2015 and has been actively awarding scholarships to prospective and current St. Charles Preparatory students in need of financial assistance. We will continue to offer annual scholarships from the fund's investment income, while maintaining the endowment corpus. In this way, the endowment will last in perpetuity.

We hope the memory of Thomas will live on through the community members who use the hockey facility to engage in the sport that was Thomas' passion and also through the St. Charles Preparatory students.

Event Details
January 26, 2019, 7-11:30 p.m.
@ St. Charles Preparatory School
2010 East Broad St., Columbus
Business casual or cocktail attire
$100 per ticket

Entertainment by The Reaganomics
Dinner by Berwick Catering
Amazing Live and Silent Auction Packages
Purse Pull - $3,000 Diamond Necklace for the Winner!

Buy Tickets

2017 Evening Anchored in Education Event Video

Who is Thomas Knox

Thomas was a St. Charles Preparatory freshman when he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep in December 2015. Thomas had a passion for ice hockey and is known for his kindness, smile and wit. He began playing hockey at age six and was involved in both the CAHA and CCYHA programs. He started school at St. Charles Preparatory in August 2015 and got involved in their hockey program in the summer of 2015.

Although Thomas hadn’t been at the school for long, the impact his new friends, teammates, coaches and faculty had on him was profound. We witnessed significant growth in Thomas’ self-confidence during the time he attended St. Charles. Thomas loved the school and he immediately felt accepted and a sense of belonging. Shortly before he passed away he thanked us for letting him attend St. Charles.

We are grateful for the wonderful friends Thomas made through CAHA, CCYHA and the brotherhood he was part of at St. Charles Preparatory. Our final memories of Thomas were of him filled with so much happiness. Our hope is that the hockey rink and scholarship endowment fund will help keep the memory of Thomas alive, and that others will repeat the acts of kindness and inclusion that made such a positive difference for our angel. 

~Jim and Lisa Knox

hockey pic

Why the Anchor?

Thomas and his homeroom friends started the tradition to wear anchor ties to school on Mondays and Thomas encouraged his other friends and hockey teammates to do the same. We think that maybe he and God knew we would need this symbol. After Thomas passed away his friends began to honor him by continuing to wear anchor ties. 

One of Thomas’ friends, who was also a St. Charles hockey teammate, designed the TK anchor logo below. Thomas’ St. Charles hockey jersey number was 87. The English translation of Familia Supra Omnia is "family over everything" and is included on the logo to represent the strong brotherhood of St. Charles. Thomas immediately felt this brotherhood upon attending the school and it impacted him profoundly. Many Columbus-area hockey players wear this logo or his TK initials on their hockey helmets, and friends and family members wear things adorned with anchors to honor Thomas. The anchor has become a symbol that many associate with Thomas, and when they see an anchor they think of our sweet angel.


As the world and life in general are like a tumultuous sea, made dangerous by the wind, Jesus is like an anchor for the soul. Stability, confidence and certainty are found in Christ and can be known and experienced by those who follow Him.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
~Hebrews 6:19

Thomas' life was too short, and his family and friends will forever miss him. We hope you will continue to keep Thomas alive in your thoughts, prayers and actions. When you see an anchor, remember how Thomas touched many with his smile, wit and kindness and pass it on.


Anchor Logo for Landing Page

Auction Packages

We have several exciting packages for both the live and silent auctions including vacations, sports and entertainment. Some of the live auction packages would be great to share with friends or family. Check out some of them below and consider coordinating with your friends or other family members to plan your bidding strategy early so you can be the winner of your favorite package!

OSU game

Auction Preview