Hero Photo - Oct 26

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Shanquell Dixon as the fourth Lightning Community Hero this season during the first period of tonight's game versus the Nashville Predators. Dixon, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate half the funds to Florida Medical Clinic, while the other half will go towards a scholarship for her education.

Having experienced homelessness as a child, Dixon grew up appreciating the generosity of others. Now a second-year medical student at Florida State University, Dixon has dedicated her life to serving her community. Dixon contributed over 100 hours volunteering for organizations such as the Kearney Homeless Shelter, Second Harvest Food Bank and Big Bend Homeless Coalition while pursuing her undergraduate degree. She served as group president and service trip member for Children Beyond Boarders and exceeded over 200 volunteer hours with the organization.
Dixon has partnered with Florida Medical Clinic's Foundation of Caring to provide students with a medical physician for a one-on-one shadowing experience. The new program will focus on preparing first-generation college students for their Medical College Admission Test. Dixon hopes her new initiative will aid in helping minority students achieve their goal of becoming a physician.
Dixon becomes the 332nd 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 $18.60 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.