Beyond his outstanding 13-year NHL career, including six with the Lightning, Callahan has created a legacy of giving through his Ryan Callahan Foundation. Since 2016, the Foundation has provided unforgettable experiences for families battling childhood cancer, giving them opportunities to enjoy happy memories away from treatment facilities. They also provide financial support for families covering bills, mortgages and other expenses so the family can focus on their child's treatment.
Along with his wife Kayla, Ryan has elevated his hockey platform to touch the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families. While he played for the Lightning, the Ryan Callahan Foundation hosted galas with the entire team to raise money for his charitable endeavors. Ryan was a true leader on the ice and he continues to lead off of it now that he is retired from the game of hockey.
The Ryan Callahan Foundation becomes the 449th 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 $23.45 million to more than 750 different nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2016, the Viniks announced that the community hero program will give away another $10 million over the next five seasons.
