At this time of year it’s fully fitting to take some inventory and reflect on what we should be grateful for. Let’s take a break from polarizing politics and anything to do with the governor of this state.
Given that Sunday is Christmas, let’s salute our own Three Wise Men. I’m talking about Frank Morsani, David Straz and Jeff Vinik. Tampa has always had its share of philanthropists. But these three have raised the bar to heights previously unseen. They have embedded themselves into this community and have given generously of their time, talent and wealth. And they have done it with class and humility.
Morsani is eponymously associated with a certain hall at the Straz Center for Performing Arts and will soon be synonymous with USF’s College of Medicine. He always has time for a good cause and you always catch him in a good mood.
Straz’s eight-figure gift to the Performing Arts Center and generosity to the Lowry Park Zoo and the University of Tampa are only his highest-profile contributions. He also gives of his time–chairing numerous boards, including Tampa General Hospital and UT, to being on call at City Hall for his business acumen.
Vinik basically saved the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise. He bought it for cash. Then he committed to helping out the community at large. He dug deeper for the pricey makeover of the St. Pete Times Forum. Vinik has also proven to be a major supporter of the arts and charities throughout the area. He has been here less than two years and he’s already invaluable.