This fund was established in 2011 by the Thomas A. Plein Foundation to support scholarships for students in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida.

Thomas, whose family owned several 7-Up bottling plants in the Midwest, established his namesake foundation in the 1980s to advance his family’s philanthropic interests. The foundation has many charitable interests and provides education opportunities for those in need. In addition to supporting UF, Thomas established an endowed scholarship at Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, FL. He has also contributed to Nevada charities, including donations to the Siena Campus of the Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican Hospital, where the Oncology Unit was named in his honor.

Thomas earned a law degree from Marquette University Law School in addition to helping the family business, he practiced law in Wisconsin for many year