CLEARWATER, FL – On March 24, 2025, four-time Super Bowl Champion and former NFL Tight End Rob Gronkowski and his family’s foundation, Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, presented a generous donation of $315,000 to Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF) in support of the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund. The check presentation took place at Pinellas Community Foundation headquarters in Clearwater, FL, with invited media representatives and community partners in attendance.
Among those present were Lisa Brody, Chief Operations Officer and General Counsel of Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, and Jessica Muroff, CEO of United Way Suncoast, both of whom serve as key partners in the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund initiative.
This significant contribution will help strengthen the community’s ability to respond to and recover from crises by providing critical resources to individuals and families in need. The Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund, for which Pinellas Community Foundation serves as fiscal agent, plays a pivotal role in funding programs that address disaster relief, mental health support, economic hardships, and more.
Gronk Nation Youth Foundation is dedicated to inspiring youth to reach their maximum potential through sports, education, community, and fitness. By providing grants to sports programs and making direct community appearances, the foundation positively impacts children by promoting health, education, and fitness. This generous donation reflects Gronk Nation’s unwavering commitment to supporting communities in need and helping youth overcome challenges. To learn more about Gronk Nation Youth Foundation and their initiatives, visit gronknationyouth.org.
Hurricane Relief Fund
Gronkowski and his business partner, Chris Burch, who recently launched three locations of Greenlane, Tampa’s newest healthy wraps and salads drive-thru, also teamed up to create Gronk’s Hurricane Relief Fund to support those affected by recent hurricanes in the Tampa Bay area.
Rob Gronkowski on Giving Back:
“Giving back to the community has always been instilled in me since my days playing with the New England Patriots. When I became a Buccaneer, I brought those values with me. I will always have a special place in my heart for Tampa Bay, so it was important for me to help out after the devastating storms this area has faced. I know our community will be even stronger!”
Duggan Cooley, CEO of PCF, on the Impact of This Gift:
“The devastation from last year’s hurricanes continues to affect our community deeply, with many residents still struggling to rebuild their homes and lives. That’s why we’re profoundly grateful to the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation for their generous donation of over $315,000 to the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund. This substantial contribution, one of the largest single donations to the fund, will be immediately deployed to support organizations providing critical assistance to those impacted by the storms. Even months after the disaster, countless families face displacement and mounting repair costs. This remarkable gift will significantly advance our mission to help our neighbors recover and build back stronger, demonstrating the power of community support during times of crisis.”
How the Funds Will Be Used
The funding from the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund is being allocated to:
- Providing expanded food assistance for families displaced by storms or living in damaged homes
- Installing strategic generators at key response organizations to ensure uninterrupted critical services
- Repairing storm-damaged facilities that serve neurodiverse children and young adults
- Supporting aging-out foster youth still struggling with storm impacts
- Distributing disaster preparedness kits to vulnerable families with newborns
About the Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund
The Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund (TBRF) is a collaboration among Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Pinellas Community Foundation, and United Way Suncoast. Together, these trusted organizations provide a direct and reliable way for individuals and businesses to support recovery efforts, ensuring that resources reach the people and communities most in need. Learn more at pinellascf.org/tbrf.
Media Contact:
Jacqueline Roche
Donor Engagement and Communications Manager
Pinellas Community Foundation
jroche@pinellascf.org
727-306-3928
Gronk Nation Youth Foundation Contact:
Amanda Santucci
santucci.amanda@gmail.com
