How Benchmark International and the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation Are Supporting Families Across Tampa Bay

Nearly 689,000 people across Tampa Bay face food insecurity. More than 1,000 children remain on mentorship waitlists, while access to care and mental health support continues to present a critical need. These numbers underscore where support can meaningfully shift outcomes.

For Benchmark International, giving back is defined by expanding access, strengthening opportunity, and delivering meaningful, lasting impact. This approach takes shape through the alignment of resources, partnerships, and active involvement. In collaboration with Vinik Sports Group and the Lightning Foundation, Benchmark International advances initiatives that improve access to essential resources, expand mentorship and education pathways, and support overall well-being for families across Tampa Bay.

Key Highlights:

• Food Security: Supporting families with meals and vital resources through partners like Feeding Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries.
• Education and Mentorship: Connecting students to mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay,and Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, building confidence and exploring future possibilities.
• Health and Wellness: Promoting active lifestyles and connections with A Kid's Place and the MacDonald Training Center.

Helping Families Access Meals and Essential Resources

Food insecurity continues to affect families across the region, with many households experiencing inconsistent access to meals. In Hillsborough County alone, 62% of families fall below the SNAP eligibility thresholds, reinforcing the scale of the need. In response to the elevated demand when SNAP benefits were suspended during the November 2025 government shutdown, the Partnership took action by donating $50,000 to Feeding Tampa Bay and volunteering to support an emergency drive-through distribution.

On November 12^th, Benchmark International joined Feeding Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries, Vinik Sports Group, and the Tampa Bay Lightning to support an in-game initiative. This activation elevated visibility and connected thousands of attendees to the realities facing local families.

Metropolitan Ministries continues to play a central role, providing over 132,000 meals monthly and supporting up to 30,000 families during the holiday season. Through its partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vinik Sports Group, Benchmark International contributed $25,000 to the Holiday Central program, supporting meal distribution and essential holiday provisions.

Benchmark International continues to support these organizations through food drives and volunteering, notably in a collaborative initiative with Tampa Bay Lightning players Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul, where non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and other essentials for Metropolitan Ministries were collected.

Expanding Access Through Mentorship and Education

Mentorship empowers students to build confidence, gain perspective, and explore future opportunities.

During National Mentoring Month, Benchmark International partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, donating $50,000 to expand access to mentorship.

This initiative extended into direct engagement through the Big for a Day Ball Hockey event, hosted at Ford Thunder Alley. The event connected mentors with youth currently on the waitlist for a hands-on, relationship-building experience.

Benchmark International also supports Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, which in 2024 reached 46,800 students and delivered more than 1.6 million instructional hours. A $25,000 donation, advanced financial literacy and career-readiness programs, while team members volunteered at JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, guiding participants through real-world simulations.

Health & Wellness

Access to healthcare, mental health support, and preventative services continues to shape long-term stability across Tampa Bay. Insights from the Tampa General Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment identify mental health, access to care, and chronic disease prevention as leading priorities.

In an effort to support more independent organizations that focus on the health and wellness of children and adults in our community, the Partnership focused efforts of this pillar on A Kid's Place and the MacDonald Training Center.

A Kid’s Place fosters children from infants to young adults, and its mission is to keep siblings together. Their approach is to improve the experience of children in the foster system by building an environment that feels more like home and community. The Partnership donated $50,000 to support the continued mission of this organization. Additionally, Benchmark International had over 10 volunteers visit A Kid’s Place, where they played games and engaged in outdoor activities with the children during Spring Break.

The Partnership’s support then turned to our disabled adult population at the MacDonald Training Center.  Their mission is to transform the lives of people with all disabilities by providing employment services, vocational training, and other support programs. In addition to a $25,000 donation, a team of volunteers supported a mock interview day, helping participants prepare for upcoming employment opportunities with companies like Tampa General Hospital and the Florida Aquarium.

The Partnership in Action

The partnership between Benchmark International and the Tampa Bay Lightning reflects a shared commitment to sustained, measurable impact. Through gifting, volunteer support, in-game recognition, and community activations, the partnership creates opportunities to expand participation, strengthen outcomes, and deliver meaningful results.

From addressing food insecurity to advancing mentorship and supporting health and wellness, these efforts reflect a partnership-driven approach to delivering meaningful impact for children and families across Tampa Bay.

To learn more about Benchmark International’s commitment to social responsibility efforts, visit https://www.benchmarkintl.com/about/social-responsibility/.

To learn more or donate to the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, visit https://lightninghockeydevelopment.com/financial-support/donate/. 

About the Author

Brittney Zoeller, Global Creative and Brand Strategy Director at Benchmark International

Brittney brings a rare, award-winning mix of strategic insight, user experience, design expertise, and creative talent to all projects for all clients. She embraces emerging technologies and innovative paradigms in human-computer interaction.

Brittney has received several awards in her time with Benchmark International. She received a Silver ADDY for the Benchmark International rebranding and logo design, and a Gold ADDY for design of the Benchmark International magazine publication, THE MARK. She was also recognized in New York City as an “Extraordinary Leading Woman” from the Direct Marketing News.

In years past, Brittney redesigned the World of Beer website and custom franchise portal for all U.S. locations, for which she received a Silver ADDY award. She also designed the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport logo, which you still see today, for which she earned a Gold ADDY award.

Prior to Benchmark International, Brittney was a Senior Interactive Art Director at FKQ Advertising. Her clients included major global and national accounts, such as Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar car rental companies, McDonald’s, Melitta USA, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Transition Lenses.

At Benchmark International, she spearheads all marketing initiatives and leads a team of cross-disciplined marketers. She challenges the status quo and delivers a user-centric experience while elevating overall design quality. Brittney and her team create and implement all of the marketing needs and strategies for our global brand.

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