CATCH US IN THE GREATER MEDIA

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association was established in 1978 and the nonprofit is committed to raising money for local youth organizations and running programs.

This centennial is both a celebration and a moment of accountability.

As you're driving around Tampa Bay Friday night, you may notice a lot of buildings, memorials and landmarks lit up in blue. There is a reason for that. It’s a way to celebrate an organization that has been lighting up the lives of children in our area for the past century.

Throughout 2026, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay will commemorate a century of empowering youth, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunity for young people and families across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. The Centennial year will honor the organization’s past while boldly looking ahead to the future of youth development in Tampa Bay.

The merger took place in the Tampa Bay area.

“Through proceeds like the race, we are able to provide scholarships for young people so they can have access to these life-changing programs,” said Freddy Williams...