Nonprofit Appreciation Day – 2025

8th Annual Nonprofit Appreciation Day is Complete

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 8th Annual Nonprofit Appreciation Day – Future in Focus – held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Higgins Hall in Tampa.  From 8:00 a.m. to noon, nonprofit leaders from across the Tampa Bay area came together for a morning of connection, learning, and future-focused conversation around leadership, mentorship and impact.

We are grateful to all who attended and helped make this year’s event a success!

Event Highlights

Honoring Excellence
We were honored to present the 2025 Community Impact Leader Award to The Pepin Family in recognition of their long-standing commitment to advancing health, education, and community impact in the Tampa Bay region.  The award was received on their behalf by Tina Pepin, the Foundation’s Executive Director.

Engaging Panel Discussion
Topic: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: The Importance of Mentorship and Passing the Torch
Moderated by: Liz Wooten-Reschke
Panelists: Elodie Dorso, Chief Executive Officer and President, Evara Health; Freddy Williams, Chief Executive Officer and President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay; and Lisa Suprenand, Chief Executive Officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities Tampa Bay.

Our panel of thought leaders explored how intentional mentorship and leadership development are shaping the next generation of nonprofit champions. The conversation focused on practical ways organizations can cultivate emerging leaders, share institutional knowledge, and build strong leadership pipelines.

Keynote Presentation
Topic: The Next Generation – Succession and Synergy for Your C-Suite and Board
Speaker: Ian Adair, MS, ACNP
Ian delivered a powerful keynote on strategic succession planning and how to create synergy between executive leadership and board governance. Attendees walked away with actionable ideas to strengthen leadership teams and position their organizations for long-term success.

Guests also enjoyed a light breakfast by Catering by Melissa Sierra, a specialty coffee cart by Delightful Bean, and time to network with peers and community partners.

Thank you to everyone who attended. Click HERE for a list of participating organizations; please note this list may not reflect last-minute additions or cancellations.

Photos

Recap Video

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for next year’s Nonprofit Appreciation Day, taking place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Higgins Hall.  We hope to see you there!

2024 Nonprofit Appreciation Day Recap

Last year’s highlights included the presentation of the RGCO 2024 Community Impact Leader Award to the Glazer Family Foundation, an inspiring Cultural & Arts Panel moderated by Liz Wooten-Reschke, and a powerful keynote by Joanne Sullivan on cultivating meaningful donor relationships. We were honored to be joined by speakers from ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Tampa Museum of Art, and the Glazer Children’s Museum.

Watch the recap video below.