The month of February will focus on four pillars, one per week. The first will feature the launch of the organization's Black History Month efforts, including a look at some of the landmarks and history in Downtown Tampa. Week two will highlight programs being spearheaded by the Lightning Foundation, including the annual Bolt Run, which will benefit underserved middle school students through Academy Prep Center of Tampa, the Everfi 306 program, which focuses on African American history, as well as outreach with Safe & Sound Hillsborough, focusing on building safer and healthier local communities. During the third week programming will focus on education and community hockey, centering around providing information and promoting discussion through the documentary, "Willie", which is based on the life and career of Willie O'Ree, the first black player to skate in the NHL. Finally, in the final week of February, VSG will look forward. First, along with their great partners at CHASE, the organization will provide a minority-owned business grant, while secondly launching a new program, Backing the Bay, to highlight and support local small businesses. The inaugural honoree will be a minority-owned business and will be announced at a later date.
The Lightning began celebrating in January, honoring the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the MLK Day holiday. They also participated in the NHL's effort to celebrate equality on and off the ice with a helmet decal depicting O'Ree along with the words "Celebrate Equality". These decals will be worn throughout the month of February. Also, heading into Black History Month, the Bolts awarded one of the organization's Community Hero grants to Les Miller. Miller spent 10 years as a Hillsborough County Commissioner and has committed himself to causes that provide growth opportunities for African American students, even endowing a scholarship at his Alma Mater, the University of South Florida.
Below is a complete list of the month's initiatives:
Week One - Black History Launch Week
2/4/2021 - History Center Walking Tour & Jackson House Video Distribution
Week Two - Foundation Programs
2/8/2021 - Bolt Run
2/11/2021 - Everfi 306 Program
2/13/2021 - Safe & Sound Teen Sports Clinic at King Forest Park
Week Three - Education & Community Hockey
2/17/2021 - WILLIE documentary initiative and Community Hockey visit at the Jeff and Penny Vinik Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park
2/15/2021 - Leto High School Hockey Team WILLIE documentary viewing and character building.
Week Four - Looking Forward
2/27/2021 - CHASE Minority-Owned Business Grant
2/28/2021 - Backing the Bay Launch
- New monthly program supporting local small businesses.
- Inaugural honoree will be an African American-owned business.
