On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay hosted their Hall of Fame event on the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

It was a night filled with honoring incredible mentors and supporters who’ve impacted children’s lives in the Tampa Bay area. Our team was thrilled to play an important part in making this historic event a success. Our CEO and leader, Danielle Vona, has been on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay since 2014, and she led our team in making sure everything went off without a hitch.

Ensuring every detail aligned seamlessly, our team helped to orchestrate a comprehensive approach from start to finish, encompassing everything from logistical coordination to capturing the essence of the evening.

Planning and Preparation

Months of Preparation: We’ve been gearing up for this event for months! From brainstorming sessions to perfecting the final details, we’ve put our hearts into making sure every detail was just right.

Logo Design: One of the first things we tackled was creating a logo that really captured the spirit of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame event. It became the face of everything related to the event and tied everything together beautifully. 

Script Drafting: Putting together the script was a labor of love. We worked closely with the Big Brothers Big Sisters team to make sure every speaker had a speech that could capture those key moments for the audience.

Social Media Announcements: We had a blast building up excitement on social media! Our team crafted posts that got everyone buzzing and ready to celebrate. Prior to the event, we posted singular spotlight posts on each of the honorees. We also created sponsorship posts that highlighted all of the sponsors who worked hard together to make the event a success. 

Event Graphics: We worked closely with the Ray’s production team to make sure the venue was decorated with event graphics. From the larger than life Jumbotron visuals to a video with a coordinated light show. We made sure the event looked polished! 

Presentation Creation: The presentation was a highlight for us. Through video and graphics, it told the story of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay’s impact and the impact each of our honorees have had throughout our community.

On-Site Support

Photography and Videography: Capturing the event was a joy. We snapped photos and shot videos that will help share the magic of the night for months to come. We worked alongside Jessie Splinski and Christopher Harris from DCE Productions who captured a highlight video. 

Live Social Media Updates: Sharing the event in real-time on Instagram and Facebook was a blast. We wanted everyone to feel like they were right there with us. We made sure to highlight the big moments as they happened and reshared the attendees’ posts too.

Event Execution

Event Setup and Cleanup: From multiple walkthroughs in the weeks leading up to the event to setting up the day of the event, and to cleaning up late at night, our team was 

there every step of the way. We aimed for perfection with the venue and worked alongside Christiana “Christi” Winsor from Winsor Events, a great talent and long-time supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Ads for Tampa Bay Business Journal
Ahead of the event, we designed ads that highlighted how special the Hall of Fame Honorees are. It was our way of saying “Look what these great individuals are doing for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and the community.” TBBJ was also a sponsor of the event and continues to find ways to support our monitoring mission.

Honorees of the Event

The highlight of the evening was definitely honoring some incredible people:

• Mayor Jane Castor: Known for her unwavering dedication to mentorship and community service, City of Tampa Mayor, Jane Castor has long been a devoted big sister and advocate for youth empowerment. She is a trailblazing community leader who fosters strong community relationships.  
• Lavonte David, from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: His inspiring dedication to youth programs and being a positive role model make him a standout figure. As an NFL star and dedicated mentor, he has significantly contributed to youth empowerment and community fundraising efforts.
• Michael “Frenchy” Preston, owner of Frenchy’s Restaurants: Recognized as a lifelong big brother mentor and community philanthropist, he passionately advocates for youth enrichment. His sustained support and investment over 40 years have made a profound impact on many kids across Tampa Bay.
• Brian Auld, from the Tampa Bay Rays and Rowdies: A longtime board member and visionary leader, he champions youth empowerment and community-building initiatives. His strategic mentorship has made him a revered figure and champion of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.

Unveiling of the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle

We were also thrilled to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay unveil the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle during the event. This new program is all about strengthening mentorship in our community, and designing the logo for it was a privilege. 

The night was a huge success. The speeches, the awards, the energy—it was all incredible. Seeing everyone come together for such a good cause was truly heartwarming.

We look forward to seeing how this event sets the stage for future Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay events. We’re committed to supporting their mission and helping them reach even more kids in our community.

Join us in supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Stay up to date with our latest work and future events by following us on social media. If you’re seeking assistance with your marketing efforts, contact us to discuss how we can help elevate your brand and initiatives.