Raymond James Stadium will be the scene for several season debuts this Sunday. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin their much-anticipated 2011 campaign on the stadium turf, the Glazer Family Foundation – with the help of Buccaneers fans – will also kick off a season of giving at the RJS gates.
Coinciding with the Buccaneers' season opener against the Detroit Lions, the Glazer Family Foundation will conduct what has become an annual and very popular Military Supply Drive to benefit the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who are currently serving overseas. Buccaneer fans responded with amazing generosity to last year's Military Supply Drive in Week Six and are once again asked to consider bringing coffee, hygiene items, non-perishable food and new or slightly used CDs and DVDs to the stadium with them on Sunday.
Volunteers from the nonprofit organization Support The Troops, Inc. will be located at the yellow collection stations outside all gates and club entrances at Raymond James Stadium from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Donated items will be shipped directly to U.S. military bases overseas.
As an added incentive to help our troops serving abroad, the Foundation will enter all fans who make a donation on Sunday into a drawing to win authentic team-signed merchandise.
Sunday's military drive is the first of five game-day drives the Glazer Family Foundation is conducting at Buccaneer home games this season.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, the Foundation will hold a school supply drive to provide underserved children in the area with new school supplies. A pet supply drive to serve the animals of local humane societies will be conducted on Sunday, Oct. 16. Presented by Raymond James, and in conjunction with Kraft and Southern Ford Dealers, the "Sack Hunger" food drive will be held on Sunday, Nov. 13. At the Buccaneers' regular season finale on Sunday, December 17, the United States Marine Corps Reserve will collect holiday gifts for underprivileged children in Tampa Bay at the annual Toys for Tots drive.
The Glazer Family Foundation is dedicated to assisting charitable and educational causes in the West Central Florida region. The Foundation aids established nonprofit organizations that work with children and families to help identify and create programs which support positive social and economic development within our communities. The Glazers, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, established the Foundation in 1999. Since that time, the Glazer Family Foundation has given millions of dollars in programs, grants, tickets and merchandise to the Tampa Bay area. Most recently, the Foundation donated $5 million toward the construction of a new children's museum in downtown Tampa, which opened on September 25, 2010 and is named the Glazer Children's Museum. Visit www.GlazerFamilyFoundation.org for more information.
The Glazer Family Foundation and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would like to thank Buccaneer fans in advance for bringing a taste of home to those who dedicate their lives to serving our country overseas.
