Myrick is a lifelong educator with a passion for mentoring the next generation. In 2013, Myrick founded Gentlemen's Quest of Tampa as a mentoring program to help teens overcome their academic struggles and not only graduate high school, but go on to pursue college and careers that lead to a successful life. Through Myrick's Life Class program, nearly 200 students have received high school diplomas and entered into college, a trade school, or enlisted in the military. Additionally, no students that participated in this program had any run ins with the law.
The grant tonight will be used to support students within the Gentlemen's Quest of Tampa, Inc. and Manifestations Worldwide. Myrick has dedicated his life to helping students realize their full potential, make positive choices regarding their academic behavior, and equip them with the skills necessary to become productive citizens. His work has changed the trajectory of many young men's lives who may have been heading towards a lifetime of crime and incarceration.
Myrick becomes the 457th 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 $23.9 million to more than 750 different 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.
