ABOVE VIDEO:With only a couple of weeks until the University of Central Florida faces North Carolina State in the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, the bay area is excited to have the UCF Knights experience its bowl for the third time.
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl team events will start just hours after UCF and NC State arrive in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, Dec. 23 with a new event that gives back to the community.
“Fill the Bowl,” presented by Achieva Credit Union, is a new program in the bowl week schedule that is being conducted in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Boys & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast and Feeding America Tampa Bay, to provide weekend meals for children in need.
On Dec. 23 at 2 p.m., the players from UCF and NC State will be joined by participants from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay in the ballroom of theRenaissance Vinoy Resort. Awaiting them will be unsorted food on pallets provided by Feeding America Tampa Bay.
The two teams will compete against each other to see which team can pack the most weekend meals for children.
The goal is to assemble more than 2,000 food backpacks with enough food in each pack to feed a child over the weekend. Once completed, the food packs will be delivered to Boys and Girls Club locations in the Tampa Bay area where the meals will be given out to those most in need.
Scott McKim Senior Vice President of Achieva Credit Union said:
Scott McKim
“Achieva has a long history of supporting educators and students and we are delighted to partner with ESPN Events, BitPay and our other Fill the Bowl sponsors to provide food for hungry children in our communities, especially during the holiday season,”
Brett Dulaney, Executive Director for the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, was instrumental in coordinating the event with all the different organizations and sponsors.
Brett Dulaney
“We feel very fortunate to be able to host such a great event that helps our community,” said Dulaney.
“I want to personally thank our presenting sponsor Achieva Credit Union, our associate event sponsor Staywell Health Plan, as well as Feeding America Tampa Bay and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and The Suncoast for helping us make this event possible.”
Gregg MacDonald, state president of WellCare of Florida said:
Gregg MacDonald
“Parents cannot prioritize preventive measures, like wellness checkups, when their children’s basic need for food, clothing and shelter is not being met,”
“Our Staywell Health Plan, which serves nearly 500,000 children across the state, is proud to sponsor Fill the Bowl and other programs that help parents to keep their children healthy.”
Bradley Baumgardner, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay said:
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay serves a vast majority of youth and families that struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis,”
“We are incredibly grateful to ESPN and other sponsors for hosting the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, which will allow us to continue our efforts in ensuring healthy lifestyles for the more than 11,000 young people served by Boys & Girls Clubs.”
Nita Smith, President/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast
“Boys & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast is happy to be part of the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl,”
“We appreciate the generosity of the teams, players, and community in supporting our local Club kids,”
UCF and NC State will play in the seventh edition of the bowl game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Friday, Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Tickets start as low as just $40 and are available through Ticketmaster or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
“Too many children in our community are hungry,” added Thomas Mantz, Executive Director of Feeding America Tampa Bay One in four wonder where their next meal will come from.
“We are so grateful to BitPay, ESPN Events and other sponsors who are joining us to feed the kids in our community who would otherwise go without. The game will be played out on the field, but the children will win.”
The Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl is owned-and-operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, which manages 11 postseason bowl games.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay serves a vast majority of youth and families that struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis,”
“Boys & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast is happy to be part of the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl,”
“Too many children in our community are hungry,” added Thomas Mantz, Executive Director of Feeding America Tampa Bay One in four wonder where their next meal will come from.
