Community Heroes program extended another five years

At the second media timeout of every Tampa Bay Lightning home game, the lights dim at AMALIE Arena, a video montage plays on Lightning Vision and a current player introduces that night's Community Hero, narrating the story of why the honoree was selected and how they have made a positive impact on the Tampa Bay community.
A $50,000 check is granted to the Hero to be donated to the charity or charities of his or her choice. The arena spotlight shines on the Community Heroes suite, where the Hero holds up a personalized Lightning jersey while over 19,000 fans rise up in unison and give the Hero a well-deserved standing ovation.

t's a scene that's played out over 450 times over the last 10 years since Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik began the Community Heroes program with his wife Penny, pledging to donate $50,000 at every Lightning home game, regular season and postseason, sometimes that donation increasing to $100,000 in the playoffs. In total, the Community Heroes program has handed out more than $23 million, resulting in 958 donations to 628 unique non-profits throughout Tampa Bay.
It's a signature moment of every Tampa Bay Lightning home game - the second media timeout is now known colloquially as the Community Hero timeout -- and one that has become part of the fabric of the Lightning organization.
It's also one that will remain for at least another five years.
On Monday, the Viniks announced they were again extending the Community Heroes program, pledging an additional $10 million over the next five years, the second time since its start in 2011 it has been extended.
"It's an exciting day," Jeff Vinik said during a Zoom media availability announcing the extension. "We're so proud of this Community Heroes program, part of the DNA of the Lightning. We love honoring our Heroes the second TV timeout of every game and giving $50,000 to a charity of their choice. Very special moment and a very big part of the Lightning organization."
Vinik is quick to deflect acclaim for where the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning organization has positioned itself both on and off the ice since he purchased the team on March 3, 2010, but he does take credit for making two hires that set the organization up for the success it has achieved and sustained: luring Tod Leiweke away from the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks to serve as CEO and bringing in Hockey Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman to be the team's general manager.
It was in conversations with Leiweke early in their tenure where the Community Heroes program was born. Both knew how critical it was not only to serve the community as a winning hockey franchise but also to be a leader philanthropically.
Vinik said he began the Community Heroes program, he hoped it would attain the status it has reached today.
But it's gone beyond even what he could have envisioned.
"I pointed to Tod about having a Hero program and honoring a Hero at the TV timeout of each game and giving a check at each game and having an impact and letting our fans see it and letting our viewers at home see it and experience it and feel inspired by it," he said. "This is what we dreamed up. This is what we hoped for. [Senior vice president of philanthropy and community initiatives] Elizabeth Frazier does a wonderful job as the head of the Community Heroes program, an unbelievable job. We actually were able to get over 500 Heroes and some of the charities together (last offseason) and have the Stanley Cup appear and have an event. We've had other events where the Heroes and the charities get together and collaborate to how they can work together to serve the greater good. Not only has this accomplished what we hoped, but it certainly surpassed that and keeps growing."
The Community Heroes program will be expanded too the Viniks announced Monday. Non-profits now have the opportunity to apply directly for $50,000 in grant funding to support specific projects and programs while highlighting an internal hero at the organization to champion the grant. Additionally, Lightning players and coaches can apply to support their philanthropic causes in the Tampa Bay area.
"Our players love this. They're inspired by this," Vinik said. "They all read the story of the Hero at each of our home games, but we were thinking about, how can we get them even more involved? And we said let's let them pick some Heroes, let's let them pick some charities, things that are important to them or things that they are seeing going on that they think should be honored in this way. It's a new twist on the program that we're very excited about, and I think it's going to lead to a lot of interesting choices and broaden the program to some of those that we're not reaching yet."
From being inspired by the Community Heroes program to becoming a Hero himself, former Lightning forward Ryan Callahan came full circle with his philanthropic efforts this past playoff run. During Game 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final versus the Montreal Canadiens at AMALIE Arena, the Ryan Callahan Foundation was honored as the 38th Community Hero of the 2020-21 season, the Foundation receiving a $100,000 donation.
After coming to the Lightning in a trade with the New York Rangers midway through the 2013-14 season, Callahan was spurred by the Community Heroes program to expand his own philanthropic efforts. In October 2016, Callahan, along with his wife Kyla, started the Ryan Callahan Foundation, a non-profit organization established to make memorable experiences a reality for kids who are battling or have survived cancer, giving them opportunities to enjoy happy memories away from treatment facilities. It also provides financial support for families, covering bills, mortgages and other expenses so the family can focus on their child's treatment. The Foundation regularly hosts pediatric cancer patients and their families in a suite at Tampa Bay Lightning home games.
"We've honored a few different players over time, but Ryan, great example, he was very actively involved in New York with the Rangers philanthropically there, he came here and right away he and Kyla his wife wanted to make a difference," Vinik said. "Ryan had a big impact on this area, so when we were thinking about who we wanted to bring back as a player in this year's run, he was top of the list. That was a fun day being able to surprise our fans with he and his family."
Asked if there's one particular story over the program's 10 years that has resonated with him, Vinik said every Community Hero is special in their own way and has made an impact on his life.
With Monday's announcement, the Community Heroes program will continue its significant impact on the Tampa Bay community.
And continue to leave an impression on the Viniks.
"It's been an amazing 10 years, all the wonderful people I've met," he said. "You just don't realize it, how many people dedicate a good portion of their lives often without any compensation just to help others. It is inspirational for me. I'd like to think it has made me a better person."