Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth
Industry Insights

TBBW announces winners of inaugural Philanthropist of the Year Awards

| Jo-Lynn Brown
2021 Philanthropy Winners

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth named the winners of the inaugural Philanthropist of the Year Awards Tuesday night, at Armature Works, in Tampa.

More than 250 people were in attendance. Presenting sponsors included the Community Foundation Tampa Bay, Pilot Bank and Sabal Trust. Gold sponsor was Valspar Championship.

Winners included:

Covid Hero

Brooke Palmer Kuhl

President, RSBP Events + PR 

Rising Star

Nicole Hubbard

Regional Chief Certified Nurse Anesthetist, TeamHealth

Chief Certified Nurse Anesthetist, Tampa General Hospital

Corporate/Business

GTE Financial

Individual

Tony DiBenedetto

Founder & Chairman, Think Big For Kids

At the event, there was a silent auction that raised funds to be donated to the charity of choice from the winner of the individual category. DiBenedetto chose Feeding Tampa Bay, which will receive $3,200 on behalf of TBBW and DiBenedetto.

Photo credit: Maureen Famiano

You May Also Like
University of South Florida entrance sign with the USF Bulls logo on a brick and white monument surrounded by landscaping.
Chefs and judges on stage at the Publix Culinary Stage during the Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival
Composite rendering of Saravela condominium and rooftop amenities in downtown Sarasota
Exterior of the healthcare facility at 3000 University Center Drive in Tampa
More Industry Insights Posts
$2.6M deal completes full West Tampa block
 |  Chuck Merlis

A $2.6M sale completes a full block assembly at one of West Tampa’s key intersections.

Read More
McDill Columbus Plaza at 2700 N MacDill Avenue in West Tampa
The ReliaQuest Bowl’s $1.2B Impact on Tampa Bay
 |  Chuck Merlis

How a New Year’s Eve bowl game became a $1.2B economic engine for Tampa Bay.

Read More
Downtown Tampa skyline alongside the ReliaQuest Bowl logo highlighting the event’s economic impact on Tampa Bay
St. Pete adds condo supply while Tampa stays tight
 |  Chuck Merlis

As St. Petersburg adds new condo inventory, Tampa’s market remains tight heading into 2026.

Read More
St. Petersburg skyline with downtown waterfront and marina
Tampa team leads high-risk extraction of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado
 |  Chuck Merlis

A Tampa rescue leader reflects on his highest-risk mission yet.

Read More
María Corina Machado appears publicly after her extraction while Bryan Stern, founder of Greybull Rescue, is shown in a portrait inset.
Other Posts
Academy of the Holy Names unveils $16.5M campus upgrade with new 2-story Health and Wellness Center
 |  Chuck Merlis

The Academy of the Holy Names is investing $16.5M in campus upgrades anchored by a new 2 story, 13K sq ft Health and Wellness Center.

Read More
Collage showing the new Murphy Health and Wellness Center at Academy of the Holy Names with renderings of the restored chapel, second floor terrace, and upgraded athletic locker room.
How does philanthropy fuel Tampa Bay’s economic growth?
 |  Contributed Content

Data shows how philanthropy powers Tampa Bay’s economic growth by strengthening the systems that help people and businesses thrive.

Read More
Aerial view of downtown Tampa showing the Hillsborough River, Riverwalk, high-rise office towers and neighborhoods stretching toward Tampa Bay under a bright blue sky.
How Water Street hotels increased food and beverage revenue in 2025
 |  Chuck Merlis

A case study on how Tampa’s Water Street hotels used food and beverage to drive growth in a year when room revenue stalled.

Read More
Aerial view of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street and Tampa Marriott Water Street overlooking the waterfront and marina in downtown Tampa.
D.C. based firm buys garden-style apartment complex east of downtown
 |  Chuck Merlis

A D.C. based firm has acquired Luxe at 1820, a 300 unit apartment community east of downtown as Tampa’s growth keeps attracting national buyers.

Read More
Exterior view of Luxe at 1820 apartment buildings in Brandon with palm trees in front, alongside inset images showing the community’s resort-style pool and a modern clubhouse interior.