Think Big for Kids and Tampa Bay Tech Announce Partnership
Think
Big for Kids and Tampa Bay Tech Announce Partnership
TAMPA, Fla. (November 11, 2019) – Tampa
Bay Tech is proud to announce their key charity partner is Think Big For
Kids, a non-profit
organization that helps underprivileged youth discover their untapped potential
by bringing them opportunities for career exploration, mentorship and skills
development. The partnership announcement was made at the 16th Annual
poweredUP Tampa Bay Tech Awards show, Friday, November 8th.
Tampa Bay Tech member companies will be
provided an opportunity to serve as mentors to the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Tampa Bay kids through the Think Big program.
This participation will allow area technology professionals to guide and
enable kids to take part in educational, skills development and career
planning, and to help shape their journey to becoming successfully employed
following graduation from high school.
“Think Big’s founder Tony DiBenedetto was instrumental
in establishing Tampa Bay Tech and led our philanthropic foundation that helped
disadvantaged kids in our community for several years. Our membership has been looking for
STEM-focused ways to give back in terms of time and resources – this partnership
is a perfect fit,” says Jill St Thomas, CRO/Executive Director of Tampa Bay
Tech. “We are thrilled to renew our
focus on giving back by partnering with Think Big for Kids to expose these kids
to the incredible technology opportunities in Tampa Bay, and towards the larger
goal of eliminating the cycle of poverty in this community.”
Think Big
For Kids will also offer a matching program, up to $50,000, to all Tampa Bay
Tech member companies who donate to their programs and initiatives.
“Connecting Tampa Bay Tech members with these
kids to provide the encouragement and exposure to what a career in technology
looks like is exactly what we hope to achieve with this partnership,” says
DiBenedetto. “Our goal is to help these kids realize their true potential and
what’s possible for them while building a pipeline of great talent for tech
companies in our area.”
About
Think Big for Kids
Think Big for Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
that helps underprivileged youth discover their untapped potential by bringing
them exciting opportunities for career exploration, mentorship and skills
development. Developed in 2016 by tech executive and entrepreneur Tony
DiBenedetto, the organization’s mission is to introduce students from 6th to
12th grade to exciting career opportunities and assist them in achieving
post-graduation goals for employment. Think Big for Kids partners with Boys
& Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and like-minded organizations representing
diverse industries to reduce systemic poverty and prepare kids to excel in
high-demand professions of today’s workforce. With a goal of helping 2,000
underprivileged teens served through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
become workforce-ready by 2022, the organization assists all kids in finding a
path to success that fits their individual passions, regardless of academic
level, background or home life. For more information, visit www.thinkbigforkids.org.
About Tampa Bay Tech
Established in 2000, Tampa Bay Tech (formerly known as the Tampa Bay Technology
Forum) is one of the nation’s oldest and largest technology councils, and the
engine uniting our members in growing our community’s engagement, pride, talent
& opportunity pipeline. https://tampabay.tech
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