David Siracusa honored as Lightning Community Hero

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning honored David Siracusa as the 40th Lightning Community Hero this season today at Religious Community Services (RCS) Pinellas. Siracusa, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate to the money to RCS Pinellas. Despite the NHL pause, the Lightning will continue to honor the final Community Heroes of the season, including today's at RCS Pinellas. 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.

Siracusa is very involved in the Tampa Bay community, a place he has always called home, and is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for RCS Pinellas. He and his wife of more than 20 years do everything they can to help the community they love so much. Siracusa contributes to support the mission of RCS, which is to feed the hungry, help families facing homelessness return to self-sufficiency and empower survivors of domestic violence. His tireless advocacy has singlehandedly led to significant increases in support and community awareness of RCS Pinellas' programs and impact, enabling 130,000 individuals and families each year--or about 15 percent of the Pinellas County population-to have food, shelter and support.

A father of two, Siracusa is a powerful advocate for RCS within the Tampa Bay community and truly believes in helping people whom are in dire need. Food and shelter are critical and basic human needs that we can provide when our neighbors are at their lowest point. He is moved by this mission and wants to be an active participant in ensuring that those who live in his community are supported when they need it the most.

As Chair, Dave leads efforts in helping the homeless, the hungry, victims of domestic violence and abuse and those trapped in the horror of human trafficking. He lives the mission of this every day.

Siracusa becomes the 405th 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 $20.4 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.