Wallace has donated his spare time over the past nine years to Oldsmar Cares, a non-profit, all volunteer organization that provides stop-gap rent and utility assistance, a food pantry and a clothes closet at no cost to those in need in the greater Oldsmar area. With David's help Oldsmar Cares has grown from providing a few families with food and clothing to being the heart center of the community. One of the new programs Wallace helped create is Weekend Food for Kids, which over the past three years has provided 6,000 meals to students over the weekend. Wallace has also pushed for more employment assistance and now OC provides business clothes and interview preparation for those looking for employment, as well as free, dental care for children and health screenings.
David and his wife, Joan, generously created an educational grant for people 23 years of age or older who are trying to enhance their potential through specialized training and higher education. This grant is awarded twice per year. Wallace also donates the services of the professional architectural firm he founded to the new Oldsmar Cares facility to help allow the organization to expand and better serve the community.
David Wallace becomes the 330th 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 this evening's game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $16.6 million to more than 400 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.
