Caleb's Legacy of Love is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit created in memory of our son, Caleb Rickenbacher, to help those in need.
What We Do
Because our goal is to carry on Caleb's legacy of giving and helping all those in need, we have established the Caleb Rickenbacher Memorial Scholarship to the School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University. We are pleased to announce Tresten McArthur as the first recipient of this scholarship. We are excited to see what God has in store for Tresten and future scholarship recipients going forward. In addition, we have given bags of toys and gift cards to families who needed a little extra at Christmas. It was always Caleb's heart that no child should be without presents on Christmas morning. We have also provided food and necessities for the homeless, especially those with pets because Caleb thought it was sad that the homeless would have to leave their pets behind if they wanted help at homeless shelters. At the start of this school year, we have helped families with their back-to-school clothing and supply needs.Going forward, we have a long term goal to create a homeless shelter for those with pets. We want to establish a place where the homeless can stay with their pets while getting the help they need. Our goal is to help the homeless and those in need to make positive life changes.There is more to come; so stay tuned!!
Why a Butterfly as our Logo?
Caleb had a butterfly tattoo on his chest because he had pectus excavatum (an indentation in his chest), and he wanted people to notice the butterfly instead of the pectus excavatum. He chose a butterfly because he said that a butterfly starts out as a caterpillar that doesn’t do much but eat and devour plants. However, through a metamorphosis and a struggle to get out of its cocoon, it transfers into a beautiful butterfly. Likewise, we hope through Caleb’s Legacy of Love, we can help to transform the most tragic and horrific event that no parent should ever have to experience into a beautiful legacy of replacing pain with hope and encouragement as Caleb did.
Events
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!We are incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in our Houston Open Birdies for Charity Campaign! Thanks to your generous support, Caleb’s Legacy of Love finished 5th place among all participating nonprofits in donations received. As a result, the Astros Golf Foundation has graciously awarded us an additional $5,000 to further our mission!We had an amazing turnout at the Birdies for Charity tent during the Houston Open on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, and we had the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful people throughout the day. We handed out over 500 wristbands featuring Caleb’s Legacy of Love and had 62 people sign up to learn more about our mission and our Annual Golf Tournament!A special thank you to Caleb’s friends who came out to volunteer on Saturday—your support and dedication mean the world to us! We couldn’t have done it without you.Thank you all for your continued love and support. Together, we are keeping Caleb’s legacy of kindness and service alive!
Past Events
We would like to convey a sincere heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our first annual Caleb’s Legacy of Love Golf Scramble Tournament! You, our wonderful Sponsors, Golfers, Auction Donors, Bidders, and Volunteers were all a part of making this event such a success.As a result of your generosity, we will award two new scholarship recipients of the Caleb Rickenbacher Memorial Scholarship to the School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University. These two students will join Tresten McArthur, who was announce earlier this year as the first recipient of this scholarship. We are excited to see what God has in store for these three students in the coming years.Your generosity will also support Operation Caleb’s Christmas, which consists of four parts: (1) supporting Houston’s First Baptist Church’s The Christmas Store; (2) working with a local store to identify needy families in the Houston area and paying off their Christmas layaways; (3) providing Christmas gifts to children in CPS custody; and (4) cooking for and feeding the homeless and their pets on Christmas Day. All of which were important to Caleb.We want to thank each of you for getting to know our son a bit more through this event and keeping Caleb’s Legacy alive. He was an extraordinary son and he would be thrilled that so many people came out to support the causes that were always so dear to him. Knowing that Caleb now lives on in each of you through getting to know him and his heart is priceless to us! We love and miss our Sonshine more than words can ever convey!
About Caleb
Caleb went to be with the Lord on November 19, 2022, at the age of 20, a life cut too short. Caleb was murdered by a man fleeing from the police in a stolen vehicle and driving at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of a divided road. Caleb saw the danger approaching at the last moment and, realizing he couldn't avoid the crash, swerved his car to save his girlfriend's life. Caleb died a hero, but the devastation we have felt since is indescribable.Caleb was our beautiful treasure from God — joyful, funny, compassionate, and full of light. His smile could brighten any room, and his heart was deeply devoted to others, especially his family, friends, children, and those who were mistreated or overlooked. Caleb had a generous spirit and always made time to listen when someone’s heart was hurting. He loved helping people, never seeking recognition for his kindness. His legacy of love and compassion will live on through his nonprofit — Caleb’s Legacy of Love.Caleb had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. He and his mom made it a goal to visit all the Disney theme parks, a dream they achieved as a family. He and his dad shared an annual father-son ski trip, creating cherished memories together. Throughout his life Caleb was active in church and volunteered for many mission trips. At one time, driven by his passion for helping others, Caleb thought a Youth Pastor would be the perfect career for him. At the time of his death, he and his dad were remodeling a condo together. He was pursuing a dual degree in business and criminal justice, with plans for a career in the legal field. He enjoyed cooking and was an excellent chef. He loved passing out food to the homeless and those in need. His dedication to serving others extended to volunteering for suicide prevention efforts. He lived by his favorite motto, which he had tattooed on his arm: “It’s Only a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life.”Though we grieve beyond words, we take comfort in knowing Caleb is in Heaven. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, seeking the forgiveness that God freely gives to those who ask. This assurance brings us peace, knowing he is now in the presence of Jesus. If you would like to know more about how you can have this same assurance, please reach out to us at CalebsLegacyOfLove@gmail.com.“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Contact Us
Melissa and Gary Rickenbacher proudly honor Caleb as the caretakers of Caleb's Legacy of Love. You can reach us at the email address shown below or clicking on the email icon. You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook icon below.
Donate
If you are interested in donating to Caleb's Legacy of Love, you have several options, all of which are tax deductible. You can make out a check to Caleb's Legacy of Love and send to 15802 Rosethorn Ct, Cypress, TX 77429. To donate via Venmo, click on the QR Code icon below. To donate by credit or debit card or by PayPal, click on the yellow Donate button.All donations are tax deductible as Caleb's Legacy of Love is an approved IRS 501(c)(3) organization and 100% of your donation goes to the causes that were important to Caleb, as all our services are provided on a volunteer basis since we do not have any salaried employees.
CalebsLegacyOfLove@gmail.comIRS EIN 93-3965665
For Venmo, please click on the QR Code above.For Credit or Debit Cards or PayPal, please click on Donate Button below.