Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth
On The Scene

On the Scene: Metropolitan Ministries turns 50 (PHOTOS)

| Jo-Lynn Brown

Tampa’s Metropolitan Ministries used its annual Bridge Builders event to kick off a celebration of hope, celebrating 50 years of the organization.

Jeff and Penny Vinik were the honorary chair couple for the event. Since 2007, the Vinik Family Foundation has donated more than $128 million to nonprofits working in the areas of education, human services, health care and the arts – including 600 local nonprofits through the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero program.

Metropolitan Ministries presented Penny Vinik with the Bridge Builder award in 2017.

Former Ministries’ chief executive officer and current Metropolitan Ministries Foundation president, Rev. Morris E. Hintzman, and his wife Paula, were presented with the 2022 Bridge Builder Award in recognition of their 40 years of service at Metropolitan Ministries.

The event was held at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, in Tampa.

Photos by Carrie Wildes Photography

[image_slider_no_space on_click=”prettyphoto” height=”300″ images=”16645,16644,16643,16642,16641,16640″]

You May Also Like
Dr. Irfan Ali speaks during Tampa Bay Business & Wealth’s CEO Connect event, sharing his perspective on leadership, empathy and building a people-first health care organization in Tampa Bay.
Ashley Butler speaks on stage during a CEO Connect interview hosted by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
TBBW’s 2025 Philanthropists of the Year honorees stand together on stage during the annual awards event.
Frank Fiume and Bridgette Bello smiling together as Fiume holds the TBBW magazine featuring his cover story
More On The Scene Posts
On the Scene: South Tampa Chamber Honors 2025 Business of the Year winners (PHOTOS)  
 |  Jo-Lynn Brown

The South Tampa Chamber celebrated the achievements of local businesses and leaders during its 2025 Business of the Year Awards, held at the Westshore Grand Hotel. The annual event recognized outstanding contributions to the region’s economic and social vitality, with honors spanning a range of industries and categories. A record number of nominations were submitted

Read More
On the Scene: Frameworks’ 2025 Head & Heart Luncheon (PHOTOS)
 |  Jo-Lynn Brown

  Nearly 600 community members, educators, donors and civic leaders came together for Frameworks of Tampa Bay’s 14th Annual Head & Heart Luncheon, an afternoon of inspiration, celebration and impact.  This year’s event raised more than $365,000, in just one hour, to support programs that build emotional intelligence in youth. Highlights included a student drum-circle

Read More
On the Scene: ‘Passport to Paris’ fashion show raises $100K for local nonprofits (PHOTOS)
 |  Jo-Lynn Brown

Nearly 250 guests gathered at the newly renovated Sundial Plaza for a charitable fashion show that raised more than $100,000 for two Tampa Bay nonprofits supporting children with special needs and life-threatening illnesses. Hosted by Jackie Z Style Co. and philanthropic group Booze and Boutiques, the “Passport to Paris” event, held May 10, blended runway

Read More
On the Scene: 14th Annual Dreammaker Luncheon (PHOTOS)
 |  Jo-Lynn Brown

The Children’s Dream Fund hosted its 14th annual Dreammaker Luncheon, at Armature Works, in Tampa, honoring Randy Ware of WestCMR as the 2025 Dreammaker of the Year.  The event, emceed by Fox13’s Allie Corey, brought together 300 guests including business leaders, medical professionals, and families of Dream Children, to celebrate the power of dreams. Highlights

Read More
Other Posts
Sip into a world where every chapter connects and empowers us
 |  Julie Edelman

A Literary Sips conversation with Dr. Sarah Combs on leadership, reading and serving with purpose.

Read More
Dr. Sarah Combs and Julie Edelman share a glass of wine during a Literary Sips conversation at a wine bar.
Who pays for Tampa’s New Year’s Eve fireworks?
 |  Chuck Merlis

Tampa’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are privately funded by local businesses, not the city, a nearly 20-year tradition led by Jackson’s Bistro.

Read More
Fireworks light up Tampa Bay as a Starship cruise vessel passes the downtown waterfront during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
How a Tampa company built a bar crawl business at scale
 |  Chuck Merlis

A Tampa company scaled a bar crawl model nationwide, with Gasparilla serving as its largest annual test of growth.

Read More
Three founders of Tampa-based Downtown Crawlers pose inside a bar, reflecting the company’s growth from a Gasparilla event to operations in 28 cities.
Why Lions World Vision Institute is moving beyond mobile care
 |  Chuck Merlis

After years of mobile screenings, Lions World Vision Institute is building a permanent vision care hub to close gaps that mobile care cannot solve alone.

Read More
Rendering of Lions World Vision Institute’s planned Vision Health Center interior in Ybor City, showing a reception area, exam spaces and families receiving care.