Not sure where to donate this holiday season? Here’s everywhere the Lightning staff is giving back

The thought of giving back comes naturally this time of year as countless opportunities to lift up and lend a hand arise all around us.

Finding a cause that hits home, however, can take a little more time. It’s easy to sit back, coast through the holidays and tell yourself, “Next year is the year.” But don’t do it! Hold on to that giving spirit! The Lightning staff is here to help you with that follow through.

As part of Vinik Sports Group’s Holiday Giving Program, all full-time staff are offered $75 cash to donate to a local non-profit of their choice each December. It’s a simple initiative that gives employees an opportunity to make an impact during a season of giving.

Below you’ll find a running list of places we’ve donated to over the holidays. If you feel so inclined, another generous contribution is only a few clicks away.

Toys for Tots
Donor: Chase Thomas, Fan Engagement Coordinator

Marine Corps Reserve’s historic Toys for Tots program provides support and hope to America’s disadvantaged children through the holiday season and beyond. To date, the program has distributed 652 million toys to 291 million children.

Blue Star Families 
Donor: VSG PR & Marketing Team

Blue Star Families' Stars & Stripes Holiday Wishes event at MacDill Air Force Base saw hundreds of volunteers get together to pass out turkeys, toys, meals and more to military families in Tampa. 

St. Vincent de Paul Society
Donor: Joe Rizzo, Manager, Partnership Development

St. Vincent de Paul Society is a country-wide program utilizing thrift stores, food pantries, disaster recovery, prison reentry and more to serve their communities however they need it most.

Police Athletic League
Donor: Crystal Ortiz, Premium & Group Event Executive

The P.A.L. of Tampa Bay helps to fund affordable after-school, summer and athletic opportunities to more than 500 Tampa Bay youth.

Cat Kids Rescue
Donor: Olivia Millstone, Recruiter

Cat Kids Rescue in St. Pete saves cats from overcrowded shelters and gives them the medicine, care and love they need before helping them find their “fur-ever families!” The program founded by Phyillis Combs rescues more than 1,400 cats per year.

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions
Donor: Angela Lanza, Director of Event Marketing

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions (Gulf Coast Chapter) is a non-profit and all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to the placement of retired racing greyhounds into caring and loving homes—especially since the closing of Florida’s racetracks in 2020.

Rescue Pets of Florida
Donor: Carlee Calfee, Sr. Social Media Coordinator

This all-volunteer, nonprofit organization works in conjunction with PetsMart and local shelters to find loving homes for abandoned and homeless cats, kittens, dogs and puppies.

Adopt-A-Family
Donor: Don Munson, Corporate Counsel

Organizations like Social Services and Healthy Start in Pinellas County run “adopt a family” programs in constant need of donations around the holidays!

Mercy Full Project
Donor: Maggie Phillips

Mercy Full Project is an animal rescue non-profit that takes in animals from situations like medical cases at shelters, animals that face euthanasia, behavioral cases that need special training and owner surrenders.

East Lake HS Athletics Christmas Tree
Donor: Sean Allaster, Manager of Security & Transportation Services

Watermelon Swim Club Giving Tree
Donor: Erin Wilson, Sr. Manager, Suite Services & Corporate Hospitality

Your local high school, church, club and more are potentially great places to donate to their local giving tree!

Saratoga WarHorse Foundation
Donor: Blaine Green, Statistical Analyst

The Saratoga WarHorse Foundation is a non-profit caring for the physical, mental and emotional health of veterans by providing a healing, equine-assisted experience with off-the-track thoroughbreds.

Becky Walker Scholarship Foundation
Donor: Thompson Brandes, Sr. Digital & Brand Editor

The Becky Walker Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement awards Title I students in Tampa who demonstrate exceptional academic and extra-curricular achievement, community service and the financial need for tuition assistance.

Faith Café
Donor: Marissa Moschel, Director of Corporate Communications

Faith Cafe provides those in need with a comfortable, safe environment to enjoy a meal—along with shower, clothing and laundry services Monday through Sunday.

Camp Odayin
Donor: Cecilia Walker, Ticket Sales Coordinator

Camp Odayin is a camp for children with heart disease that provides fun, safe and supportive camp experiences and community building opportunities for young people with heart disease and their families.

Salvation Army Registry at Walmart
Donor: Miriam King, Sr. Manager Recruiting & Engagement

The Salvation Army and Walmart have collaborated around the holidays for more than 40 years, gifting new clothing and toys to children in need each year.

Phyllis Busansky Senior Center
Donor: Tom Dacey

This specialized senior center gifts caregivers a little respite by providing a place where patients with Alzheimer's can be taken for a couple of hours or the entire day and picked back up later, providing them with social activities, meals and caring supervision.