Tampa Bay Buccaneers Organizational Spotlight

MISSION: At the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, we commit our time, resources, and attention to uplifting Tampa Bay. It is why we work to create and support programs that address education disparity, gender equality and social justice. We believe everyone deserves a level playing field.

PROGRAMS:

Working directly with local teachers, school administrators, physical education instructors and coaches, the Buccaneers are committed to providing inspiration and resources that enhance the educational development, health, and overall wellness of students throughout Tampa Bay.

The Jr. Bucs Elementary Fitness Program impacts more than 130,000 elementary students in Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools with educational activities that incorporate football skills, fitness exercises and monthly player-led video drills. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation has also donated new fitness equipment to every school, equipping teachers with the tools to help move and track students’ fitness levels.

Jr. Bucs Middle School Flag Football

The Jr. Bucs Middle School Flag Football Program enhances the flag football curriculum for nearly 70,000 middle school students by providing Buccaneers flag kits, equipment and instruction. Students in Hillsborough and Pinellas county school districts participate in a flag football program in either the fall or spring semesters, during which they also receive special visits and instruction from certified flag football instructors and Buccaneers Legends.

 

Raise The Flag Fridays

Every Friday before a Buccaneers home game, elementary schools show their Buccaneers pride as part of “Raise The Flag Fridays”, a community activation to spread Bucs spirit. For Tampa Bay students, there’s an added bonus: schools that lead the way in “raising the flag” can receive a surprise visit from Captain Fear and the Bucs Street Team with a special delivery of Buccaneers gear and school supplies.

 

High School Coach of the Week

Coaches are responsible for teaching lessons on and off the field that develop student-athletes into leaders. The High School Coach of the Week program is driven by the community, where local coaches are nominated for a weekly award determined by student and fan voting. The program celebrates coaches who have helped guide their team to a significant victory while demonstrating leadership and a commitment to player safety, character development and community service. Along with a $2,500 youth football grant, winning coaches and their schools receive a visit from the Bucs Street Team for a full “Bucs Experience,” including giveaways, activations and appearances by Buccaneers Cheerleaders and Captain Fear.

The Buccaneers support these two engaging programs that introduce Tampa Bay-area students to economic concepts, workplace skills, and personal and business finances in student-sized towns built just for them. The team is proud to help students connect the dots between what they learn in school and how it is applied in the real world!

Student-Athlete Spotlights

Every student-athlete deserves the chance to fulfill their dreams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have contributed over $1.4M to programs that have provided over 18,000 student-athletes a platform to demonstrate their talents. Support for high school football combines, recruiting fairs and showcase events provides students the opportunity to earn college scholarships.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are proud to be at the forefront of supporting gender equality on and off the field by establishing girls programming and football leagues, creating college scholarships, hosting special events and promoting career development.

Through the Jr. Bucs program, the team brings flag football to more than 35,000 middle school girls every year. The Buccaneers Foundation also launched the Jr. Bucs Girls Flag Football League, a first-of-its-kind league in the City of Tampa, where the foundation covers league fees and equipment for participating girls at more than two-dozen City of Tampa Parks & Recreation centers.

Girls High School Flag Football Preseason Classic

The Girls High School Flag Football Preseason Classic is the largest girls flag football tournament in the country. A four-day event at the Buccaneers’ AdventHealth Training Center, it brings together more than 50 high school teams and over 1,000 student athletes in a round robin-style competition.

 

Girls in Football Scholarship

The Girls in Football Scholarship, made possible through a $250,000 commitment from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, was established for graduating high school seniors participating in a form of football (flag, tackle, touch) with plans to enroll in a full-time accredited four-year college or university and pursue a career in sports. The Buccaneers are the first NFL team to create an academic scholarship program of this kind.

Careers in Football Forum

The Buccaneers have played a key role in the NFL’s Careers In Football Forum, an annual event at the NFL Combine promoting diversity and inclusion. Co-Owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Head Coach Bruce Arians and Assistant D-Line Coach Lori Locust have all taken an active role in the event, which helps broaden the candidate pool for NFL jobs in scouting, coaching, football operations and business.

The Buccaneers proudly support the Women’s Sports Foundation, established in 1974 to advance the lives of women and girls through sports and physical activity. The Women’s Sports Foundation enables all girls and women to reach their potential in sports and life through education, advocacy, research, and financial support. In 2020, the WSF honored Bruce Arians with the Champion For Equality award for his efforts towards gender inclusivity and the team’s initiatives to promote women and girls in football.

Youth Empowerment. Police Relations. Criminal Justice Reform. Workforce Development.

Launched in 2018 with a $1,000,000 Social Justice Fund commitment by the Glazer family and directed by Buccaneers players, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Social Justice Initiative was created to break down barriers to racial and social equality.

Focusing on youth empowerment, police relations, criminal justice reform and workforce development, the initiative supports year-round player efforts dedicated to achieving social justice through purposeful dialogue and impactful programs that effect meaningful, positive change in the community.

Lilley Kroll

Lilley Kroll

Sports Philanthropy Network

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