The Ryan Nece Foundation celebrated leadership and community service at our May 13th Morning Huddle, a breakfast presented by Suncoast Credit Union at Armature Works. The event featured a panel including 2003 Super Bowl Champions Martin Gramatica and Dexter Jackson, along with 2021 Super Bowl Champions Chris Godwin and Lavonte David. Moderated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ gameday reporter Casey Phillips, the panelists discussed behind-the-scenes moments of making a Super Bowl-winning team, leadership, and the Power of Giving.
So many community leaders united to celebrate these panelists, who were recognized for their commitment to community. Those unfamiliar learned: Chris Godwin has a passion to rescue neglected, abused, and homeless animals, Lavonte David provides mentorship and scholarships to inner-city youth, Martin Gramatica builds and repairs homes for our country’s veterans, and Dexter Jackson helps mentor and coach local youth through the Tampa Housing Authority.
The Morning Huddle served as a signature fundraising event to support the Ryan Nece Foundation’s Student Service Program which builds the next generation of servant leaders in our community. The program provides high school students in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties with leadership curriculum, unique service experiences, and access to local community leaders.
“What I believe is unique about our work is that we are making an impact across the Greater Tampa Bay Area in so many areas of need,” said Melissa Neeley, Ryan Nece Foundation CEO. “Over the past 11 months, our students have worked with 18 nonprofit organizations, impacting thousands of lives through more than 1,000 hours of service collectively.”
The Ryan Nece Foundation works with a diverse variety of nonprofit organizations – like Feeding Tampa Bay, Operation Code Vet, Goodwill, Friends of the Children, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, Metropolitan Ministries, and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, just to name a few. This is all so students graduate the Student Service Program with a well-rounded understanding of the needs in a community and ways they can best address them, while also homing in on their passions. Each step they take in life, these students can use the skills and talents they discovered and sharpened in the Student Service Program to serve a cause they care about – just like the incredible group of panelists who were recognized today at the event.
The Ryan Nece Foundation is grateful to all those who came out to celebrate their mission, support the Student Service Program, and hear from these inspiring panelists! If you are compelled to make a donation, thanks to Suncoast Credit Union’s generous sponsorship, 100% of funds raised through this event go directly to support the Student Service Program. Donate at ryannecefoundation.org/donate.
