The Junior League of Tampa

Earlier this month, our Kids Connect committee hosted a Match Event for children in the foster care system to spend time together in a fun, relaxed environment with potential adoptive parents! We were excited to welcome Solé from the Tampa Bay Sun to join in on the fun as well.

We are proud to partner with Cheers to Public Service and iCare to celebrate teachers in the Tampa Bay area. Congratulations to the 2026 Cheers to Public Service Winners! Please join us in congratulating these Hillsborough & Pinellas County educators and visit irish31.com/cheers to read their stories.

We are excited to announce Candace Culver as the first Chief Operating Officer of The Junior League of Tampa!

Candace brings 30+ years of leadership experience across the corporate and nonprofit sectors, with expertise in operations, fundraising, strategic partnerships, philanthropy, and community engagement. Most recently, Candace served as Senior Vice President of Community Partnerships for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, leading sponsorships, fundraising initiatives, special events, and mission-driven community partnerships.

In addition to her professional experience, Candace currently serves as a member of JLT’s Community Advisory Board, giving her a strong familiarity with our organization, our members and our mission.

Candace will join JLT’s incredible staff team including Marysue Mathews, Office Administrator, Leslie White, Member Administrator, and Chelsie Krencik, Accounting Associate, to support JLT’s volunteer leaders.

Welcome to JLT, Candace! 🩵🎉

JLT has officially touched down at the AJLI Annual Conference! We are so excited to have Monica and Mary represent us as they connect with other leaders in Leagues across the nation and for them to bring back some great ideas to strengthen our community impact! 👏🩵

If you need us, we’ll be re-living some of the best moments from our Centennial Gala! ✨🩵

Last night, we had a wonderful time celebrating our members and volunteers who are responsible for amazing impact in Tampa. A BIG congratulations to our award winners:

✨Active of the Year - Ebony Richardson-Matthews
✨Internal Committee of the Year - Provisional Education
✨External Committee of the Year - Centennial
✨Inspiring Leader of the Year - Christina Mannino
✨Martha S. Ferman Award - Danielle Tinsley

We were also excited to recognize members who have achieved 5,10, and 20 Active years in the League, as well as those who are transitioning from being an Active member to a Sustaining member!

Our Provisionals wrapped up the League year in the grooviest way! We are so proud to announce Sandra Misciasci as our Provisional of the Year. Her Provisional Mentor, Kenricia, says “She is a true gem of JLT, serving as an ambassador in every sense and uplifting the organization at every turn”.

Thank you to our incredible Provisional Education committee for making this year one to remember!

The future of JLT is so bright as these Provisionals officially become Active Members 🪩✌🏽🩵🕺

This April was one for the history books... literally!

Yesterday at our Sustainer Spring Luncheon, we had the honor of announcing Renee Dabbs as our Sustainer of the Year! A University of Florida Graduate, Renee is known as an architect of leadership. In 2013, she launched Renee Dabbs LLC, where she has helped corporations and nonprofits grow strategically. Her community impact spans decades of service and we are honored to celebrate Renee’s lifelong commitment to empowering women!

We also are excited to welcome Kim Carswell as our 2026-2027 Sustainer President and Mary Brooker as our 2026-2027 Sustainer President-Elect. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate another wonderful League year! 💐🏆🩵