ST. PETERSBURG, FL.,(Sept 24, 2019) – Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB) will partner with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Spectrum, to provide home repair services to pre-selected low-income homeowners in Lealman, an impoverished neighborhood in southeast Pinellas County. 

On Thursday, September 26, beginning at 8:30 a.m., 36 volunteers from the Lightning and Spectrum will put the finishing touches on the homes of three Lealman homeowners. Repairs to these homes include the installation of new doors, AC unit repairs, accessibility modifications and electrical and plumbing repairs. One homeowner has not had hot water in over a year due to a failed water heater. Structural façade repairs will also be made to one home with the Lealman CRA Residential Improvement Program, that offers home repair grants to eligible residents.

This project marks the launch of Building a Healthier Lealman, a neighborhood revitalization project that includes home repairs to remedy health and safety hazards or to correct code violations; home modifications to accommodate physical disabilities or reduce the risk of falls/injuries; home maintenance workshops and community clean-up and beautification campaigns.

“We are repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives.” 

WHAT:         Project Day for the Building a Healthier Lealman Initiative

WHO:         On site for interviews will be Jarrod Dillon, Tampa Bay Lightning Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer, Joseph Durkin, Spectrum Director of Communications for Florida, Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice, Kendrick Lewis, Operations & Outreach Director for Congressman Charlie Crist, Michael Schuh, RTTB Board Member and Executive Director Jose Garcia, and homeowners Brandi Holroyd, Alex & Barbara Keathly, and June Armijo.

Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni Matthieu Garon and Jassen Cullimore will be there to work alongside volunteers.

WHEN:    Thursday, September 26, 20198:00 am to 2:00 pm(Event kick-off at 8:30 am and volunteer work from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm)

WHERE: 2730 59th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33714https://goo.gl/maps/GHFZH8uuaBNUqvYSA “The Lightning organization is proud to join forces with our partners Spectrum and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, to make an impact in our community and better the lives of three families. Our employees are thrilled for the opportunity to volunteer alongside our fellow community members.” Jarrod Dillon, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer, Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment “We are excited to collaborate with the Lightning and Spectrum; by pooling our resources and talents we are able to address the unmet needs of some of our most vulnerable residents.” said RTTB Executive Director, Jose Garcia.
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AMALIE Arena/Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC:Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC (TBSE) is an entity established by Jeff Vinik in March 2010 to manage the National Hockey’s League’s Tampa Bay Lightning and the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home in which the team plays its games. The venue opened in 1996 and became AMALIE Arena in September 2014 when the family-owned, Tampa Bay-based AMALIE Oil Company elected to partner with Vinik and the Lightning. Since his purchase in 2010, Vinik has led a complete brand and business transformation of the Lightning and the arena, featuring a mostly private $85+ million-dollar renovation of the publicly owned facility. Vinik is also focused on elevating the Tampa Bay community, partnering with Cascade Investment, LLC on Water Street Tampa, a nearly 60-acre development in downtown Tampa. In addition to owning the Lightning and managing AMALIE Arena, Vinik, through TBSE, now manages the Yuengling Center on the campus at the University of South Florida, while also managing multi-media rights for USF Athletics.  

SPECTRUMSpectrum is a suite of advanced broadband services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband communications company and the second largest cable operator in the United States. Spectrum provides a full range of services, including Spectrum TV®, Spectrum Internet®, Spectrum Voice®, and Spectrum Mobile™. Spectrum Business® similarly provides scalable, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to small and medium sized business organizations, including Internet access, business telephone, and TV services. Spectrum Enterprise is a national provider of scalable, fiber-based technology solutions serving many of America’s largest businesses and communications service providers. Charter’s advertising sales and production services are sold under the Spectrum Reach® brand. Charter’s news and sports networks are operated under the Spectrum Networks brand. More information about Spectrum can be found at spectrum.com. 

REBUILDING TOGETHER TAMPA BAYRebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides critical home repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy-efficient upgrades for homeowners in need. RTTB primarily works with low-income families, children with asthma and other respiratory conditions, veterans, the elderly, victims of disasters, and persons with disabilities. The organization also constructs new affordable housing, known for homes that not only reflect the character of the community but also have the same quality of design and features as market-rate housing. RTTB relies on the support of corporate sponsors, public grants, individual donors, and the hands-on work of hundreds of volunteers and skilled laborers each year. Founded in 2000, RTTB has rehabilitated more than 500 homes in the Tampa Bay area, providing a total value of more than $4 million in improvements. For more information, visit www.rttb.org.