Rhode founded Red Tent Women's Initiative in 20212, which is a nonprofit that provides women who are incarcerated and at-risk of being incarcerated with the skills to heal and improve their lives through trauma informed programs. Her passion for supporting incarcerated women is rooted in a transformational moment of volunteering in a maximum-security prison as a college student. This experience shifted her mindset about how incarcerated individuals were treated, and the damage being done outside of prison facilities. After volunteering at Pinellas County Jail, within six months she had created a program for women inmates focused on trauma resolution and empowerment. Her work has transformed countless lives and given many inmates hope for the future.
The grant tonight will be used to support the mission of Red Tent Women's Initiative by expanding its programs into Hillsborough County. Specifically, the funds will be used to enhance their Project Redirect program, which provides healing and trauma informed services to those currently serving time for non-violent crimes. The funds will assist 90 women in a 12-month period.
Rhode became the 541st 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 tonight's game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $29.42 million to more than 700 unique nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2021, the Viniks announced that the community hero program will give away another $10 million over the next five seasons.
