Ryan Nece Foundation, Inc.

Originally signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2002, Ryan Nece was a part of the Buccaneers team that went on to win a World Championship that season in Super Bowl XXXVII. His football and business endeavors have certainly played a significant role in developing who he is as a person. Still, he believes his reason for waking up every day is to make a positive impact in someone else’s life. 
 
 Founded in 2006, the Ryan Nece Foundation is guided by a vision to empower teens to become leaders and impact giving in their communities. We are propelled by the mission to create opportunities for teens to embrace the Power of Giving through volunteerism and inspirational leadership programs. 

The Ryan Nece Foundation serves Hillsborough and Pinellas counties through three signature programs:
 
 1. The Student Service Program positively impacts teens by teaching them the principles needed to become the next generation of servant leaders in our community dedicated to lifelong volunteerism, philanthropy, and civic responsibility. This two-year program trains high school juniors to look beyond themselves, lead with empathy, and how to strategically serve their community and those in need. Students meet monthly: Once to receive educational curriculum on servant leadership, and once to serve in the community with a local nonprofit. Each student is also paired one-on-one with a mentor who they meet with quarterly over the course of their two-year journey.
 
 2. The Youth Leadership Summit is a program co-hosted by the Ryan Nece Foundation, Frameworks of Tampa Bay, and Community Tampa Bay, which brings together more than 125 students from across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties for a morning of service, followed by a day of connecting and educational curriculum.
 
 3. The Power of ThanksGiving Celebration Program provides food to approximately 3,000+ individuals in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties the time around Thanksgiving. These dinners provide family members, most of them children, the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family in a dignified and joyous setting. All participants are referred to as guests, which set the tone for how folks are treated when they entered the front doors. Through integral sponsor partnerships, guests are served a hot Thanksgiving meal, provided with a box of food that will serve a family of four for a week, and given other resources.