Lightning Foundation

The Lightning Foundation is pleased to support hundreds of different non-profits and programs each year throughout the community that benefit those in need. A few examples are listed here: the Lightning Foundation purchases of charity event sponsorships and tables at dozens of non-profits each year, and also donates over 2,000 signed items and player experiences to non-profits throughout tampa bay for various charity auctions and raffles. Player ticket program - the goal of this program is to positively match players with an outstanding local non-profit organization(s) and to allow clients and volunteers of the non-profit the opportunity to see Lightning hockey live. Different ticket packages are available for players to purchase at different price points per charge. The Lightning Foundation hosts charity events with our players including coops catch for kids (pediatric cancer) and the player charity holiday party (children's cancer center or a kids place). Usf partnership - the Lightning Foundation provides a financial commitment to the usf sports management and entertainment program in the usf college of business. The Lightning Foundation has an employee volunteer program contributing (volunteer) hours across our region through our generous employees.(c.h.a.r.g.e.) Program which encourages the Lightning family to volunteer a minimum of 4,000 hours annually at a variety of non-profits without fail. The tampa bay lighting, along with proud partners microlumen and the make a wish Foundation, have programming sponsors including a wish experience program. The program featured eight dates throughout the season during which the bolts and microlumen hosted a make a wish family for the game with unforgettable, unique experiences as well as mosaic goals for food program which donates funding to the local bank that correlates to the number of goals scored during the season. License plates - the Lightning foundaiton and Florida sports Foundation partner to create a unique opportunity for fans to purchase a specialty tampa bay Lightning license plate tag, with a portion of the proceeds from each tag benefitting the Lightning Foundation.

Lightning community heroes - Lightning owner jeff vinik, along with his wife penny, launched the community heroes initiatives at the beginning of the 2011-12 season to distribute $10m to deserving non-profits throughout the tampa bay community. The Lightning honors a community hero at each of the Lightning's 41 regular season home games and awards a $25,000 check to a non-profit charity of the hero's choice. The program is administered in collaboration with the vinik family Foundation, the douglas and juliea ostrover Foundation, and the marc and jennifer lipschultz family Foundation.

Hockey camps & leagues - Lightning made hockey is designed to give youth hockey players of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to experience, learn, and enjoy the game of hockey through a series of camps, clinics, and leagues held year-round. While all Lightning made programs utilize usa hockey's american development model to focus on basic skill development, each program exudes its own unique experience while enhancing various aspects of a player's game. Lightning made clinics are focused on the entry level hockey player, with an emphasis on the absolute fundamentals. The Lightning made alumni series is directed at the beginner to intermediate hockey player who is looking for help on certain aspects of his or her game including defensive skills, offensive and stick handling skills, and goaltending. The Lightning made summer and holiday camps target hockey players of all skill levels who are looking to round out their overall game. The Lightning made elite development program (edp) is an elite program targeted at the higher caliber high school age player and is designed to provide that player an advanced level of training and the opportunity for national and internal exposure in order to advance to the next level of play. All programs utilize usa hockey certified coaches and instructors, including tampa bay Lightning alumni as well as other former professional and collegiate hockey players.