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Press Release
Jeff and Penny Vinik donate additional $700k to Metropolitan Ministries for COVID-19 relief efforts
As an organization established by and for local families, Metropolitan Ministries is acutely aware of the growing hardship households are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just a few weeks ago, Jeff and Penny Vinik and the Vinik Family Foundation donated $300,000 to Metropolitan Ministries to help alleviate the suffering of Tampa Bay families.
When they heard about the overwhelming need coming to Metropolitan
Ministries and the devastation families are experiencing, the Vinik’s wanted to do even more. Today they are announcing an additional $700,000 donation, bringing their total contribution to one million dollars. Incredible!
"There is an immediate, crucial need to help families stay above water between now and the time we can reopen our businesses and bring back our employees. Metropolitan Ministries has been outstanding at helping meet the basic needs of our neighbors who are struggling through the COVID-19 response. We are incredibly thankful to the leadership and staff for their tireless efforts as Tampa Bay works to address this crisis.” – Jeff and Penny Vinik
Right now, 75% of the families coming to Metropolitan Ministries are new. This means they have never sought help from the Ministries or another social service agency in the past. The majority had good paying jobs and were furloughed or laid off as a result of the pandemic. Now they find themselves unable to make ends meet and are at risk of losing everything.
“We are in awe of the leadership of Jeff and Penny Vinik. Their gift of support will rescue families who have lost their job due to COVID-19. The donation is literally lifesaving and will strengthen communities across county lines,” said Tim Marks, president and CEO of Metropolitan Ministries.
This leadership gift comes on the heels of a generous week of giving to Metropolitan Ministries inspired by COX Media Group’s Feed it Forward virtual food drive, where more than $265,000 was raised to support the Ministries’ hunger relief efforts.
The Vinik Family Foundation gift will fund emergency needs for families from Sarasota to Lakeland to Spring Hill and everywhere in between who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
About Metropolitan Ministries:
We are a local, independent nonprofit, with no national affiliation. We have provided services that alleviate suffering, promote dignity and instill self-sufficiency for poor and homeless families in Tampa Bay since 1972. Metropolitan Ministries’ main campus is located at 2002 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602 and the Pasco campus is located at 3214 US HWY 19, Holiday, FL 34691.
