2026 Great Futures Breakfast - Bay: A Magazine of the Tampa Bay Times
- Feb 1
- 1 min read
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay - Great Futures Breakfast
"Where you start doesn't define where you can go," actor Mario Lopez told a roomful of business and civic leaders at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay's annual Great Futures Breakfast.
Recalling his childhood in San Diego, Lopez's local Club was his second home - and a second family - nearly every day from ages 5 to 15.
The 2025 Outstanding Local Club Alumnus honoree Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. couldn't agree more, having "grown up at the Ybor City Club," pledging, "I won't forget where I came from,"
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called the Boys & Girls Clubs "a proven model...not just changing lives but saving them."
Board Chair Emeritus Hal Steinbrenner noted the New York Yankees' 25 years of support while tallying the organization's reach: over 24,000 children served annually, with 3,000 attending daily at 64 locations in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Jordan Maxwell, a former Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay Youth of the Year, thanked the advocates and mentors of the 100-year-old organization who changed his life's trajectory.
Donations climbed past $1 million during the Dec. 18, 2025, breakfast at TPepin's Hospitality Centre to fund academic enrichment, life-skills training and character-building programs.
Originally Posted: February 1, 2026 | Amy Scherzer, Bay: A Magazine of the Tampa Bay Times, Social Scene
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Truly inspiring to see the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay raise over $1 million to keep shaping futures for 24,000 local kids. Mario Lopez's story about finding his second family at the club really highlights how vital these programs are for our community. After reading such uplifting news, I always love taking a short mental break with a quick arrow puzzle to keep my focus sharp. Huge thanks to all the mentors, advocates, and donors making these life-changing opportunities possible!
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