Lightning Defenseman Braydon Coburn, and Lightning team owner Jeff Vinik present Terri Willingham with Lightning Community Hero Award
The Tampa Bay Lightning honored FCDI board member, Terri Willingham, as the 12th Lightning Community Hero this season during the Lightning’s November 22 game against the Chicago Blackhawks (which the Lightning won! Go Bolts!) . Willingham, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, donated $35,000 of the award to the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation and the balance to other area nonprofits, most of whom partner with FCDI in the development and organization of local programs and events, including St. Petersburg College Foundation, Tampa Bay Robotics Foundation, Metropolitan Ministries for FIRST Tech Challenge team Coding Hope, Real LIFE Inc. Agile Learning Center, Central Florida Robotics via Polk State College Foundation and Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists.
FCDI board members and friends celebrate in the Jabil box at the Amalie Arena
Terri Willingham with Susan Garrett of the St. Petersburg College Workforce Institute.
Willingham was recognized for her work providing guidance to schools and communities in the development of FIRST youth STEM programs , as well as her work developing FCDIs Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Center program, which will give youth a clear pathway to a high paying future and will also allow adults in the community an opportunity to improve their own earning potential.
We’re grateful to the Lightning Foundation and Jabil, for hosting a wonderful evening for FCDI and all the great friends and community partners who celebrated with us!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4C8krRIhkQ]