For the past seven years, Germaise has dedicated his time volunteering for over a dozen nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay community. He has helped hundreds of children learn to read, worked with dozens of wounded warriors and provided comfort to families at Tampa Bay Ronald McDonald House. Numerous organizations have recognized Germaise for his contributions. Germaise has been awarded Volunteer of the Month by Ronald McDonald House, as well as Champion of the Forest by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
Germaise travels the world multiple times a year to volunteer internationally. To date, Germaise has traveled to Vietnam, Haiti, Guatemala, Romania and Peru to help children and families. His work includes volunteering at media clinics, teaching English, building community centers and delivering school supplies to remote villages while sailing the Amazon River. In addition to actively volunteering, Germaise is also a generous donor, contributing $250,000 to help needy families across Florida.
Germaise will be donating to Ronald McDonald House, Feeding Tampa Bay, Quantum Leap Farm, Metropolitan Ministries, Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Our Daily Bread.
Germaise becomes the 378th 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 $18.90 million to more than 750 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.