The holiday season is a time for giving and quarterback Jameis Winston is all in this year. Winston has hosted his Famous Jameis Jamboree, paying ode to a college nickname of his, and each year the event has grown. This year's event delivered its biggest iteration yet when it was held inside Raymond James Stadium for the first time.
Winston and his Dream Forever Foundation turned the event into a full-fledged carnival complete with inflatables, games, performances and face-painting stations right on the field. There were visits from friends like WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil and quarterback Ryan Griffin, as well as jolly old St. Nick himself, set up at a pictures with Santa station on the concourse. The only admission to the event was a gift or food item that could go directly to Metropolitan Ministries, a local Tampa non-profit that Winston's Dream Forever Foundation partnered with.
"We service underprivileged youth," Wnston said of his foundation. "We're all about youth empowerment with our dream rooms and everything we do in the community. The main thing tonight is for everyone to come together and enjoy each other and have a good time."
View pictures from the Famous Jameis Jamboree hosted at Raymond James Stadium. Fans were invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable item to receive admission. All donations will directly benefit the Metropolitan Ministries and will be added to this season's Holiday Tent for families to shop from for the homeless and at-risk families in Tampa.
Winston got in on the action himself. After addressing the crowd of over 2,500 kids in attendance, he stepped down from a stage to let carol singers and a dance performance take place. In the meantime, attendees flocked to Winston, taking selfies, getting autographs and giving hugs as he made his way over to the inflatable stations to play with the kids bouncing around.
"The bigger, the better," Winston said of the event this year. "It's the most wonderful time of the year so I want everyone to come enjoy how awesome it is that we get to be in Ray Jay, a place that I consider home, and share it with the fans."
The Jameis Winston Dream Forever Foundation aims to impact the lives of financially disadvantaged children and youth through encouragement, opportunities and resources to develop and achieve their dreams. Earlier this season, Winston opened his second 'Dream Room' at a local elementary school, giving kids access to STEM technology and other learning tools to help them thrive in their education. The foundation is based on Winston's personal mission to 'dream forever.'
"The most influential role I've held in my life is being the quarterback for this community," said Winston. "The Buccaneers have blessed me to take on the reins of being their quarterback and the NFL has blessed me with an amazing platform to inspire others. So. If I could just inspire one person, I feel like I'm doing a great job."
