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- Rays' Brandon Lowe Wins $50K for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay in Inaugural “Giving Bowl”
Rays' Brandon Lowe Wins $50K for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay in Inaugural “Giving Bowl”
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Number #70
Rays’ Brandon Lowe Wins $50K for Crisis Center of Tampa Bay in Inaugural “Giving Bowl”
Featured Focus:
Athlete-Driven Impact, Community Programs, Partnerships for Good
Scope of Impact: Local
The Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation, a hometown organization started by the Buccaneers’ beloved quarterback, named the Rays’ Brandon Lowe — and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay — winners of the first annual Giving Bowl. Here’s the play-by-play:
The Competition: A three-week, bracket-style fundraiser pitted five Tampa Bay athletes and their chosen charities against each other, driving community donations and awareness through social media and online content.
The Victory: Lowe, representing the Crisis Center, successfully rallied support, out-fundraising competitors through multiple rounds to secure the championship title and the $50,000 grand prize.
The Impact: The win significantly boosts the Crisis Center's resources, particularly highlighting mental health awareness, while the event distributed $92,500 total across all five participating local charities.
This isn’t a story about one athlete making a difference – it’s about an entire sports community coming together for a common goal.
The Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation lit a spark by harnessing the competitive spirit, and the local star power, of Tampa area athletes like the Rays’ Brandon Lowe, the Lightning's Ryan McDonagh, and Sun FC’s Erika Tymrak to galvanize support for critical organizations.
It’s a fundraising model that’s different from what we typically see, combining athlete influence, public contribution, social media amplification, and cross-sport collaboration to create a really powerful impact. (And we’re sure there were some well-meaning jabs being tossed back and forth, too.)
Each athlete in the Giving Bowl aligned with a cause they genuinely champion, bringing authenticity to the challenge, with Lowe's specific support for the Tampa Bay Crisis Center helping to raise awareness of, and break down stigmas around, mental health issues.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
The Giving Bowl is a great example of how strategic partnerships between foundations, athletes, and nonprofits (and brands, too) can create a tangible impact — and drive a huge amount of participation from fans and the local community. The next time you’re brainstorming an initiative, take a beat to see how you can incorporate more partners, and build more momentum for your efforts.
Details on the foundation, which provides programs, scholarships, and opportunities to help Bay Area residents be the best version of themselves. | The nonprofit provides 24/7 support to people struggling with a variety of crisis situations, including sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, and other distress. | The Osprey Observer talks to Emily Mayfield and Brandon Lowe about the initiative, |
Brandon Lowe supports the Tampa Bay Crisis Center year-round by donating $250 for every home run he hits — with a matching $250 gift from the Rays Foundation. | Learn about the league’s various nonprofit partnerships and how fans can get involved through donations or volunteering. | The latest Tampa Bay Rays news stories and coverage from the Tampa Bay Times. |
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