Education & Philanthropy

A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that provides residential foster care, broke ground on The MacKinnon Family Activity Center, a new 12,000-square-foot facility, in Brandon.  The center is part of the nonprofit’s $8 million “Building a Brighter Future” capital campaign, launched in August, to expand services for foster children in Hillsborough, Pinellas and

Two long-standing youth development organizations, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, have officially merged under a new name: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay. The merged organization combines decades of experience, leadership and community impact across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Leaders say the

Helios Education Foundation marked its 20th anniversary with a scholarship presentation and community celebration, at the Tampa Museum of Art, in St. Petersburg, awarding $500,000 in scholarships and student support to 20 community college transfer students, across Florida. The Helios 20th Anniversary Pathway Scholarships support students transferring from Florida community colleges to one of four

A Parisian-inspired fashion show at Sundial Plaza will spotlight luxury, community and giving back this Mother’s Day weekend.

For many young people, thinking about the future can be stressful, especially if they have grown up in poverty or with uneducated parents. A surprising number of children and adolescents are unaware of the career opportunities available to them. Think Big for Kids is changing that, on a national scale. Its impact begins in middle

Jesuit High School has announced a $1.7 million donation to fund a major stained-glass installation inside the school’s Chapel of the Holy Cross. The gift, made by longtime benefactor Ray Hyer, will support the addition of sacred imagery depicting the crucifixion and resurrection. The stained-glass windows were designed by American artist Kurt Wenner and will

The 2025 Heroes Ball raised a record $2.6 million for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, drawing nearly 900 attendees to the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Funds raised will expand the hospital’s Nurse Navigator Program, which provides families with specialized nurses who help coordinate complex care and offer personalized clinical and emotional support. The program

The second-largest planetarium in the United States is now open at Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry. Daily space and science shows are now included in general admission. MOSI’s new Digital Dome Theatre—an 82-foot-wide, 330-seat venue—replaces the museum’s previous 46-seat planetarium, featuring a 10,000-square-foot NanoSeam screen and an 8K projection system. Each show begins with

Girls Inc. of Pinellas will host its annual #FuelHerFire Gala on Saturday, April 26, at The Fort Harrison, in Clearwater. The organization aims to raise $300,000 to fund summer camp scholarships and expand transportation services to four additional middle schools. The event will feature student speakers and a showcase of fathers sharing their daughters’ Girls

United Way Suncoast has received a $1 million grant from the PNC Foundation to support its United We Learn initiative, aimed at improving kindergarten readiness in the Tampa Bay area. The funding will benefit children and families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties by expanding access to high-quality early learning and addressing achievement gaps

The University of South Florida has received a $2.5 million donation from Pete and Cynthia Zinober, marking the largest gift in the history of its College of Design, Art and Performance. The donation will support arts programs and rename the School of Music’s concert venue as the Peter and Cynthia Zinober Concert Hall. The 450-seat

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation has named Ronald and Joyce Wanek as recipients of its 2025 Community Hero Award. The couple will be honored at the annual Heroes Ball, on April 5, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. The Waneks are being recognized for their contributions to children’s health care, education and community initiatives.