Community Corner
Lightning Foundation Reaches $10 Million Goal
The money has gone to a number of Tampa Bay area charities over the past five seasons.

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning have scored a major goal. Not on the ice, but in the community.
Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his wife, Penny, announced Monday that their Lightning Community Heroes program had reached its goal of giving $10 million to local nonprofits over the course of five seasons. The community heroes program is funded by the Vinik Family Foundation. Money is distributed at each Lightning home game during which a community hero is announced and given a $50,000 check to benefit their charity work.
Monday’s milestone arrived five years after the Viniks made the $10 million pledge.
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While the milestone has been met, Vinik promises the program isn’t going away.
“We’re very lucky, I’m an owner of a professional sports team,” Bay News 9 quoted him as saying. “It gives me the profile to be able to have an impact in the community.”
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There’s still time to nominate heroes for the current season. The deadline is Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. To find out more, visit the Lightning online.
Patch file photo
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