Standing in the Tampa Bay Chamber lobby, the smile on the Executive Director of PACE Center for Girls was almost as big as the check in her hands! It was a special moment thanks to the generosity of the Leadership Tampa Alumni and Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp! The Chief directed the prize money of her LTA Parke Wright III Award earlier this year go to PACE Center for Girls, Hillsborough. Its Executive Director, Davia Lerebours, held tight to the ceremonial check and thanked everyone for the donation. Lerebours told the Chamber staff it comes at a perfect time, as they budget components of the program starting in the new school year. Every dollar goes a long way to helping participants in the transformative program for young women, ages 11 to 17. PACE is known for its comprehensive support network, providing the girls with education, counseling, individual goal setting, advocacy and more.
This generous act is part of a long-standing LTA tradition - the gifting of $1,000 to the Parke Wright III Award recipient to donate to a charity or non-profit of their choice. Chief Tripp's selection of PACE highlights her commitment to nurturing the potential of our community's youth. Congratulations to PACE Center for Girls of Hillsborough!
“When we say ‘Membership has its privileges’ we mean it. Membership dues in LTA help strengthen the fabric of non-profits across our region,” said Wendy Ross, Chair of the 2023 Parke Wright III Award Committee that selected Chief Tripp. “The $1,000 is donated to the non-profit of the winner’s choice. Our intent has always been not just to bestow a professional honor, but to create experiences for recipients to make a tangible, positive impact on a community group they respect and love.”
(Photos: LTA Annual Meeting & Parke Wright III Award Presentation in January 2024)
Grace Maseda Sainz, 2024 Chair of the Parke Wright III Award Committee, added “We are living our brand of gain, grow, give. Leadership Tampa Alumni members continue to gain valuable insights, grow meaningful connections and indeed, give back to our Tampa Bay community. It’s an amazing feeling, and that inspires more community engagement.”
Since LTA created this award in 2002 to honor Leadership Tampa Alumni continuing to make a difference in our community long after graduating from the LT experience, 22 winners have been selected. Honorees span more than 40 years of the legacy program, including winners from as far back as LT Class of 1977 to the LT Class of 2020 with Chief Barbara Tripp.