St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation has named Sam and Casey Ellison as co-chairs for the 2025 Heroes Ball, set for April 5, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. The annual black-tie fundraiser, which attracts more than 600 attendees, supports the hospital’s pediatric services. This year’s event aims to raise $2 million to expand the hospital’s Nurse Navigator Program.
Casey Ellison is the chief executive officer of Ellison Companies, overseeing major development projects in Tampa Bay including The Central, in St. Petersburg, and the YMCA redevelopment, in Tampa Heights. His firm, Ellison Construction, has been involved in projects such as the Oxford Exchange, Armature Works and Hotel Haya. He serves as the 2024 chair of the University of Tampa’s Board of Fellows and is active in the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and Young Presidents’ Organization.
Sam Ellison, chairman of Ellison Companies, has been a key figure in Tampa Bay’s construction and development industry for more than four decades. He previously served as chairman of EWI Construction and led The Beck Group’s Florida operations. His community involvement includes leadership roles with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Boy Scouts of America. He has been recognized in the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame and received multiple business and civic leadership awards.
The funds raised from the Heroes Ball will support the Nurse Navigator Program, which helps families navigate the complexities of pediatric health care. Launched in 2019, the program provides specialized nurses who assist with clinical assessments, care coordination and patient education. The planned expansion will allow St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to add five additional nurse navigators over the next five years.