Alan Bomstein honored as Lightning Community Hero

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Alan Bomstein as the 38th Lightning Community Hero this season today at AMALIE Arena on the Pepsi Porch. Bomstein, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate the money to WEDU, the USF Foundation, Morton Plant Mease Foundation and Congregation Beth Shalom. Despite the NHL pause, the Lightning will continue to honor the final Community Heroes of the season, including today's at WEDU. Each week the Lightning will travel to the hero's charity of choice to honor the great work done by the chosen Heroes. The Community Hero award is proudly celebrated by Jabil, who is the sponsor of the Lightning Community Hero Program.

As the founder of Creative Contractors, Inc., Tampa Bay's largest locally headquartered commercial construction company, Bomstein has dedicated his time and resources to making the community a better place. He's volunteered many hours to countless organizations helping with education, healthcare and cultural arts for more than 47 years. He served on more than 50 boards in his life, including currently sitting on four boards: USF Foundation, WEDU, Congregation Beth Shalom and the Morton Plant Mease Foundation.

Since moving to Clearwater in 1972, Bomstein has impacted many across the Tampa Bay region by donating more than 8,000 volunteer hours. He will be using the hero funding to support on-air programming across WEDU. The programming will help educate, engage and inspire through shows engaging viewers important community information.

Bomstein becomes the 403rd Lightning Community Hero since Jeff and Penny Vinik introduced the Lightning Community Hero program in 2011-12 with a $10 million, five-season commitment to the Tampa Bay community. Through today's presentation, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $20.25 million to more than 750 different nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2016, the Vinik's announced that the community hero program will give away another $10 million over the next five seasons.