Simmons' story is one of strength, determination and resilience. Her life began with the odds stacked against her; being from a home without a father and a mother who was addicted to drugs. By 12, she herself was addicted to drugs and in and out of jail.
On her 18th birthday she found Ready for Life, which took her life on a completely different path. Simmons was able to stop using drugs and begin taking care of her physical and mental health. Now, she is Senior Youth Specialist at Ready for Life, dedicating her time, energy and expertise to serving young people who are on the path she knows all too well. She has also made incredible progress for affordable housing in Pinellas County, as well as created the Mommy and Me program at Ready for Life. Simmons serves as an inspiration, leader and mentor to many young children and adults, and has had an impact on many lives in the Tampa Bay area.
The grant tonight will be used to ward operational expenses for Ready for Life. In particular, the funds will help pay the salaries for the Youth Specialists on staff for six months as they work to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Having the ability to keep these employees on staff will allow Ready for Life to continue changing lives of countless people in the Tampa Bay area.
Simmons became the 471st 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 $24.65 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.
