United Way Suncoast is commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2024 with an 18-month celebration. We're highlighting our success since 1924 and building a new foundation for greater impact as we move into our second century of service.
We trace our roots back to the founding of the Tampa Welfare League and Community Chest on January 10, 1924, so we officially kicked off our Centennial Celebration at Tampa City Hall on January 10, 2024. Now, we’ll continue to centennialize a series of events throughout the year to commemorate how we have and will keep giving families and community members the “Freedom To Rise” throughout our five-county region: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto. Check back often as we update this page with newly-formed events.
Make a lasting difference
Back in the 1920s, we used to go out on horseback to collect donations. We’re willing to do that again if we have to, but if you can make a donation, maybe we won’t have to saddle up again.
Make a lasting difference
Back in the 1920s, we used to go out on horseback to collect donations. We’re willing to do that again if we have to, but if you can make a donation, maybe we don’t have to saddle up again.
United Way Suncoast has already staged a number of events to highlight its Centennial. Take a look at what we've done so far to commemorate 100 years of empowerment, 100 years of growth, 100 years of ambition, 100 years of thriving.
Centennial Celebration Kickoff
Jan. 10, 2024 | Tampa City Hall
In the 1920s, women went out on horseback to unite the people for a common cause. Now, 100 years later, we continued to rally support with this special ceremony. Mayor Jane Castor and a host of dignitaries joined us as we kicked off the Centennial in grand fashion.
Centennial Proclamation
Feb. 14, 2024
Hillsborough County’s delegation Chair, Senator Jay Collins, honored UWS with a proclamation and a Senate floor recognition, commemorating the organization’s century of service. Click here to learn more.
Admiral Society's
Second Annual Power Luncheon
Feb. 16, 2024
The Admiral Society’s second annual Power Luncheon featured dynamic speeches from Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services CEO Sandra Braham, longtime Tampa attorney Ron Weaver and former USF and Super Bowl champion quarterback B.J. Daniels. The sold-out event, guided by Admiral chair Renee Baker and Admiral co-chair Gary Hartfield, proved to be a huge success with many feeling enriched by the inspirational presentations.
Annual Arcadia All Florida Championship Rodeo Gets ‘Centennialized’
Mar. 9, 2024 | Mosaic Arena in Arcadia, Florida
Moms, dads, little cowpokes, old farmhands, and pageant queens all streamed into the Mosaic Arena Saturday. More than 7,000 people came to the annual Arcadia All Florida Championship Rodeo. Read the blog here.
United Way Suncoast Makes The Pitch For Manatee County At Pirates Game
Mar. 16, 2024 | LECOM Park
United Way Suncoast made the pitch for Manatee County at a recent Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Game. Chief Impact Officer Bronwyn Beightol stepped to the mound without a degree of intimidation. Read the blog here.
Women Have Always Been Present
Mar. 21, 2024 | The Exchange Hotel in St. Petersburg
The soiree’s theme aligned with the theme for Women’s History Month: Women Have Always Been Present. That’s certainly true with United Way Suncoast, whose lineage includes having a woman as its first executive director in 1924, and having three women – Muroff, Suzanne McCormick and Diana Baker – serve as the past three CEOs. Read the blog here.
Rise and Shine Breakfast
Apr. 3, 2024 |
Armature Works
1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, 33602
Nearly 400 people joined us to hear a sterling message from nationally-renowned artist Ya La’Ford as United Way Suncoast brought together supporters and donors. We embarked on a human journey 100 years in the making, and Ya and CEO Jessica Muroff did not disappoint. We learned how art can inspire corporate culture and create a path to engagement, and how you can infuse the spirit of the community, just as UWS has done for a century. To see a video from the event, click here.
32nd Annual Week Of Caring
Apr. 21-27
United Way Suncoast works to convene volunteers, but the collaboration of community care always culminates during the 32nd annual Week of Caring. We annually welcome corporations, civic groups and interested individuals to participate in this impactful week of service. This year we even had a remarkable multigenerational effort.
Bank On Suncoast Summit
May 21, 2024
United Way Suncoast’s BankOn Suncoast Summit brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss all the intricacies of banking: financing and income and interest rates and savings and fees and assets. Yet a thread of humanity and a longing to help others wove together the seemingly dispassionate discussion of numbers and percentages. Read the blog here.
Rays Watch Party
June 15, 2024
United Way Suncoast capped off Sarasota-Manatee-DeSoto Week by joining the Rays for a watch party at Sarasota’s Payne Park. The event topped off a concerted effort to remind the SMD that we “Show Much Devotion” to the community members of this key region, and we’ve done so for more than 80 years.
Bloom Health Expo - Tampa
July 13, 2024
Kudos to United Way Suncoast Vice President, Education, Nicole Brown and her entire team for bringing our “Elevating Early Learning” Road Show to the Advent Health/Bucs Training Facility for the 2024 Bloom Health Expo. With 80-90 percent of brain development occurring from birth to 5, early learning isn’t just an education issue, it’s a health issue. So too are the social determinants of health that impact our ALICE families. Attendees got a chance to see the Bucs practice facility, take home some cool tchotchkes and share books with students. UWS director Allison Welter previewed our participation with an appearance on Bloom.
Bullard Foundation Back To School Bash
July 27, 2024 | Raymond James Stadium
United Way Suncoast proudly joined UWS partner Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, the Tampa Police Department, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and other community sponsors in supporting the Bullard Family Foundation’s Back-to-School Bash. We celebrated with WWE Global Ambassador Titus O’Neil and assisted in the revelry as the foundation gave away 30,000 backpacks, free haircuts and free health and dental exams.
United Way Suncoast Community Case
Tampa Bay History Center 801 Water St., Tampa, FL 33604
United Way Suncoast continued its Centennial Celebration with a special exhibit in the Tampa Bay History Center’s Community Case that reflected the organization’s origin story, its evolution and today’s mission work. It dovetailed perfectly with two exhibits at the center that reflected Tampa life in the 1920s. Learn more about the project by viewing this special Suncoast Snapshot with the History Center’s Rodney Kite-Powell.
Stuff The Bus Food Drive
Oct. 6, 2024 | Manatee County
Hey Manatee County community members – once again it’s time to Stuff the Bus. That’s right. United Way Suncoast, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County, Mosaic and the School District of Manatee County will again team to collect food donations on Sunday, Oct. 6 at every Publix location in Manatee County. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that day, we’ll be stuffing school buses full of non-perishable items to curb food insecurity across the county. Click here to volunteer and learn more.
Unidos Ganamos
Sept. 15-Oct. 15
United Way Suncoast continues its Centennial Celebration with a salute to the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month. We embrace the spirit of Unidos Ganamos (United We Win). Our ability to mobilize the community has guided us for 100 years, and it holds even more significance today. For a century, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with our nonprofit partners to serve and uplift the region’s Hispanic community. Because after 100 years, we still know no other way than the United Way. Unidos Ganamos—United, We Win. Watch for special commemorations on our social media platforms, and don’t miss our special television appearances on Todo Tampa Bay on WTTA-Ch. 38