We know that Tampa Bay is special and a big part of what makes this area an amazing place to live is the people. We’re introducing you to kids and adults whose stories you should know. This is not a ‘pay for play’ list like those published by some other sites and magazines. We are simply featuring people who are doing incredible things in our community and deserve the recognition. Let’s dive in and meet your extraordinary Tampa Bay neighbors!
In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, a wand is a conduit that brings out the energy of a magical person and manifests it in the physical world in the shape of what they may be casting or creating. This is also true for Ambika Agrawal and her camera, a tool that blends the creative…
In the five years that we have featured mothers in this special space, I have yet to focus on a part of motherhood that is just as important as all of the others that have been highlighted before. The role of the woman in the home to be there for every member of the family,…
Get to know the Steinbrenner High Boss Cross runners who take dogs from the Humane Society on runs in order to help them get adopted!
Parenting is challenging, embodied work. Amidst society’s current culture of achievement, parenting’s challenges expand. Concurrently, kids’ autonomy and free time contract (to almost negligible levels). Of course parents want children to succeed. Within achievement culture, however, efforts are misguided and counterproductive. The mother of a competitive dancer and soccer player, I also am in achievement…
In collaboration with Rise Against Hunger and St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, the Taylor Koulouris Foundation made it possible for students to pack 12,500 meals that will feed 347 children in Haiti each for an entire school year. As third and fourth graders at the school, our Kids to Know share their experience. …
Learn all about Bricks 4 Kidz owner and local dad, John Fontana’s new charity Kids Love Bricks, and how you can give back with LEGO!
Cancer. It was a word the Germanys never expected to hear when they brought their 12-year-old son to a medical professional for answers about a mass growing in his cheek. In 2020, Omar Jr. was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. With great fortitude and unwavering faith, Omar began a lengthy fight with his…
Every child is truly a treasure, and for most, pregnancy is a gift. However, after navigating a journey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy to welcome her two children, Lenny (6) and Bowie (3), Jessica Payne could have never predicted the miracle waiting to unfold years later. As this local mom announces the arrival…
Dr. Jamie Decker is a dedicated father of five who juggles the demands of his medical career with the joys of fatherhood. Decker is passionate about both of the hats that he wears as a dad and a cardiologist in the Heart Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where he specializes in electrophysiology. “It’s…
Maggie Rodriguez introduces us to the people behind CUP, one of the newest coffee shops in Tampa that is so much more than a cup of coffee, but a mission to make a difference.
This June marks the 20th anniversary of the first Lemonade Days, a tradition that was started by 8-year-old Alex Scott, founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, to help doctors help kids like her who were fighting cancer. Before Alex passed away in 2004, she knew that Lemonade Days raised $1 million for childhood cancer, and it…
From humble beginnings to a monumental $50 million donation, the Pagidipati family’s gift to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation is a heartwarming testament to their commitment to children’s health and the Tampa community’s future.
Just as the lotus emerges from muddy waters to bloom into a beautiful flower, the story of Bhavna Kanakia is one of growth and transcendence. Rather than remaining in her birth country of India, among the familiar ceremonies that honor the cultural symbolism of the lotus, she resolved instead to expand an offering of superb…
Like a trending remix of a favorite 90’s song, Tina Novak Robles involvement with Entertainment Revue has come full-circle in the most harmonious way. As a member of the founding cast of the singing ensemble, Tina is now the Creative Director of the group that is celebrating 35 years of show-stopping singing and dancing acts,…
Navigating the delicate balance of motherhood and female friendships can be a challenge, but it’s essential for our well-being. Discover practical strategies to strengthen these vital connections without sacrificing your family or work commitments.
Discover how Christian Vorderbrueggen, local mom turned entrepreneur, is revolutionizing maternity wear with Blush x Bashful, crafting bras that blend comfort with beauty for postpartum bodies.
Meet Daniel Rodriguez, a 5-year-old with a heart for people and a knack for brightening days at Elite Body Cryotherapy in St. Petersburg, FL. His eagerness to connect and help in his family’s business is inspiring, proving it’s never too early to make a difference.
With schedules that are packed with playdates, sports, school, and the many other ways we socialize our kids, what, then, is left for us parents who also dream of a Monica to our Rachel? This is where a Friendship Coach comes in.
Meet Emaline, my friend who attended the Wee Macree Giveback Spectacular last fall. As she learned about different local youth populations in need and participated in activities to serve on the spot, she felt like something was missing. At 5 years old, with a heart bigger than her whole self, she looked lovingly at her…
When Gorrie Elementary School mother Haylie Katz discovered Bess the Book Bus, she immediately thought of her children’s school community. With a committed PTA team that partners with nonprofits monthly to teachers who encourage students’ kindness potential, this neighborhood school has nurtured many standout kids to know. How did collecting for Bess the Book…
Our local youth are at the very core of all we do, of how and why we make decisions, and why we give back and serve. Yet, there is a population of children among us that we do not speak nearly enough about. We notice them, but we do not see them. We hear them,…
Tori Penso, the first American to referee a FIFA Women’s World Cup final, has much to celebrate. The St. Petersburg-based mom of three, believes soccer has been a unifying gift for her family.
YMKG’s captain, Truett Gardner, will lead the legendary invasion. Truett shares treasured Gasparilla memories, extending from his childhood to ones made with his children, along with what he’s looking forward to for the 2024 Gasparilla season.
Long before Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt were hosts of the popular HGTV series “100 Day Dream Home,” they were classmates at Riverview High School. Now married for eight years, living in their own dream home in Ruskin, and raising Mika’s 14-year-old daughter, Jade, together, they’re reflecting on their journey and looking ahead to an exciting new year.
Every fall at Bayshore Christian School, the fourth grade classes gather to plan for a market. The products, packaging and prices are determined individually by each nine and ten year old student. However, they decide collectively how the profits from the project will be used. While they learned how to execute a successful business, they…
Have you ever heard the saying “in a world full of Kardashians, be an Audrey (Hepburn)?” When it comes to raising girls in today’s world, I am reassured that there are women in the aesthetics field that promote a graceful approach to aging that enhances natural inner and outer beauty—much like the iconic faces before…
As we get ready to step into a new year, a time when many of us look to reset, we’re introducing you to a local mom who has been right where you are—smack dab in the middle of burnout. Jess Massey not only found her way out, but she developed a planner and system to help other women find their path to a more “peacefully productive” life.
Through the Children’s Dream Fund, I have had the incredible honor of connecting with a family that has endured so much. When the chances of survival were statistically low, where the critical number of perfectly matched stem cells were extraordinarily high, Sadie can say today that her battle is won. Because of the grace of…
From a challenging childhood in New York City to troubled teen years marked by resilience and survival, Giselle McNab’s path to motherhood has taken her from darkness to enlightenment. With a remarkable account of breaking a cycle of abuse, the inspiration behind her book, and her mission to empower women and teen girls through her…
Jason Licht, renowned Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ General Manager (a position he’s held since 2014), is, foremost, a dad and husband. With wife Blair, he navigates the peaks, valleys and predominantly uncertain terrain of parenting. They met during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, when she lived in Manhattan working in finance. Over six years, they…
How did local teen, Dev Shah, really win the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee? He was focused and ready. But even more than that, he went into the competition to enjoy every part of the experience.
Meet Mandy Schulis, a certified trauma-informed story coach and a driving force behind inspiring female entrepreneurs to dismantle their own barriers and harness the power of their unique stories for both income and impact.
As Super League Tampa Bay prepares to make its mark on the world of women’s soccer, the appointment of Christina Unkel as President represents an important moment in the sport’s history.
There’s something extraordinary about a life-comes-full-circle moment. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader Shay Garcia had such a moment when her daughter, Johanna, stepped onto the Raymond James turf as a Bucs Junior Cheerleader. Shay and Johanna share their TBBC experiences. Kaylee Strobel, a former Junior Cheerleader and current Buccaneers’ Cheerleading and Mascot Coordinator, also knows full-circle moments with the Bucs. Before firing the canons, read their firsthand accounts about TBBC’s lasting impacts.
Jewelry icon, Kendra Scott, shares her new collection along with fall trends, style advice for moms, and discusses her passion for giving back to others.
With a remarkable mission to brighten the lives of pediatric cancer patients through the therapeutic art of fishing, Angling For Relief has served families in Tampa Bay for five years. While his heart-warming initiative has made a lasting difference in so many lives around him, it is Jake who has been changed by the kids he gets to take fishing.
90s Con is a wrap! We caught up with some of the event’s celebrity guests to see how they felt going back in time with old and new fans.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Tampa is rich with Hispanic Heritage. Two Tampa moms, originally from Puerto Rico, share details about their roots and raising their own children with Hispanic heritage in Tampa Bay.
Meet Dominique Richardson, local author and founder of Tampa Bay’s first book festival, YA By the Bay, which aims to promote a love for literacy and leadership among local students.
Feeling the lack of community in this new season of motherhood, the more they talked with other moms, the more they realized they were not alone. That’s when two St. Pete moms hatched an idea that is now a reality: The EverMom Collective.
Meet 7-year-old Emersyn, a remarkable little girl who bravely confronts medulloblastoma with her family, the community, and the Children’s Cancer Center by her side.
The Tampa Bay Fashion Experience is a three-day event that showcases Tampa’s most unique and luxurious styles, highlighting the work of local designers, with appearances by Tampa Bay Buccaneer players and celebrities, all while supporting local organizations.
Denis talks to us about hurricane season, how you can prepare and ease your kids’ minds, and his famous catchphrase, “Rule #7.”
At The Sunflower Patch, Eileen Esposito combines her talents as a music therapist, recording artist and songwriter to create enchanting experiences for children. With a deep-rooted passion for music ingrained in her DNA (her great-great-uncle composed “Silent Night”), Esposito’s own musical journey began at a young age. Today, with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy…
Mason Hawk may be a great student, a strong athlete and a gifted pianist, but his passion and advocacy for children battling life-threatening illnesses is what truly makes him stand out. Inspired by his brother’s liver transplant journey, Mason found purpose through volunteering with Children’s Dream Fund at the age of 13. This past spring,…
Driven by a cross-country opportunity to combine her passions and make a difference, Dr. Cynthia Stringfield embarked on a new chapter in her life when she moved from California to Florida in 2019. Today at ZooTampa, driven by a deep-rooted belief in the power of education, Dr. Stringfield dedicates her work to instilling a sense…
In a world where young dreams hold infinite possibilities, an 8-year-old girl who loved to skate found her way to the Tampa Bay Lightning Girls Hockey League to leave her mark on the ice. Alyson Hobbs, a focused and flourishing young player, is among other skillful teammates who showcase the boundless potential of girls in…
Katie Krimitsos knows what moms need to hear to relax. Her podcasts (recorded in her closet) have been downloaded more than 100 million times.
Chris LaFace, president and CEO at RIPA & Associates, along with his wife, Angela (a critical care surgeon who recently paused her career for increased family time), made a groundbreaking donation and support the Big John exhibit as presenting sponsors.
We’re getting to know Quin Brewington, creator of Sister Lady Girl and Second Act Summit.
We’re getting to know Kat Stickler, a Tampa mom and one of TikTok’s most popular influencers.
At 11 years old, every breath Madden Sheridan takes is a miracle. Diagnosed with Jeune’s Syndrome in utero, Madden may have special needs and accommodations, but his passion for sports, making people laugh and building with Legos is just like any other kid his age.
We’re introducing you to the family who bought Big John the Triceratops and how the record-setting fossil ended up in Tampa.
We’re getting to know the mother-daughter duo behind Seventh Avenue Apothecary, Phala Pesano and Jessica Reisner, as they share how they’re letting their own little light shine and using it to ignite others’ lights.
Procure is not your typical boutique. The unique retail concept sells products exclusively from women-owned businesses—most of them from Tampa and we’re getting to know the woman who brought it here to Tampa.
We’re getting to know Alicia Schulhof, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital’s first female president.
We’re getting to know Sorboni Banerjee, a former television anchor who is not only a published author, but is inspiring others to dream big.
Meet Ansley Kins, a kid author, designer and more!
Get to know Melanie Humenansky, head of school at Bayshore Christian School in South Tampa.
Meet the 5th grade recipient of Hillsborough County’s 2022 Anti-Bullying Recognition Award and find out how you can nominate a child or teen who has gone above and beyond to battle bullying.
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