Teachers play an integral role in the lives of children. They cultivate the seeds of learning in our youth, creating lesson plans, providing supplies in their classrooms, and creating a welcome, caring environment where children can feel comfortable to learn and grow. Teachers can change the world for a child, showing them they can reach their fullest potential and potentially changing the trajectory of their lives. Their guidance and mentorship truly can be the difference in a child's life, and that is why they are community heroes.
The grant tonight will be used to support both the Hillsborough and Pinellas Education Foundations as they continue to fulfill their missions. Both foundations work to ensure that their teachers have the tools and resources to be the positive change in the lives of students across the bay.
Hillsborough and Pinellas Education Foundations became the 493rd 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 $25.75 million to more than 600 unique 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.
