Among the wonderful mothers treated to a special luncheon on Friday by Ryan Nece and Shelton Quarles, Rebecca Kinsey was named Top Mom
This Sunday, people all over the country will search for ways to tell their mothers how special they are. On Friday, 50 local moms received a wonderful Mother's Day gift as they were treated to a luncheon at Raymond James Stadium courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ryan Nece and Shelton Quarles.
For the second year, the two Buc linebackers honored great Moms in the Bay area with the "Top 50 Moms in the Bay Luncheon." This year's event had an added benefactor, however, as Family First joined with Nece and Quarles to stage the luncheon.
Throughout the month of April, the two Bucs accepted nominations on Buccaneers.com from people who knew a great Mom. More than 500 nominations were submitted, and Nece and Quarles reviewed them all in order to narrow the field to the 50 Moms who would be invited to attend the luncheon. From those 50 finalists, Nece and Quarles then selected three outstanding Moms to be named Best in the Bay.
The luncheon was kicked off by a special guest who shared beautiful words about motherhood and the important job a mother has in raising her children. Aj Jemison, General Manager of International Plaza and a mother herself, asserted that it is the love and support of a mother that influences children to make proper decisions later in life.
In addition to Jemison's uplifting words and the luncheon's great food, the mothers were treated to a raffle that included such prizes as Buccaneers merchandise and gift baskets full of goodies. Once the raffle prizes were distributed, Nece and Quarles prepared to recognize the Top Three Moms in the Bay.
Named Top Mom in the Bay was 90-year old Rebecca Kinsey, who raised six children while struggling through segregation, family deaths and other hard times. With only a sixth-grade education herself, Kinsey worked two jobs for 35 years in order to send all of her children through college.
All 50 Moms in attendance received a Tampa Tribune goodie bag filled with Buccaneers merchandise and a #1 Mom charm from a local jeweler. The top three Moms received additional prizes, including front row tickets to a Buccaneers home game, gift certificates to Red Lobster and other local restaurants, and spa gift certificates. The Top Mom additionally received the chance to have her picture taken with Nece and Quarles on the field before a Bucs home game and limo transportation to and from the spa.
"I feel good about (being chosen Top Mom)," said Kinsey, who will turn 91 on June 14. "I always try to do good things. If I can't do good things, I don't do anything."
Nece and Quarles shared a good reason to fashion an event around Mother's Day. Nece's mother flew in from California to attend the luncheon with her son, while Quarles was accompanied by his mother and his wife, Damaris, who is mother to their three children.
"It was inspired by our Moms," said Nece of the luncheon. "Shelton and I just tried to sit down one day and brainstorm about something we could do together. Our Moms are our rocks. Growing up, both of our Moms played an integral part in our lives and really inspired us to be who we are today."
They also were thrilled with this year's Top Mom choice.
"It seems like she is definitely a humble woman and someone who meant business and knew the best way to raise her children," said Quarles of Kinsey.
Nece and Quarles will again honor great parents as they host a Top Dads in the Bay Luncheon on June 16 in celebration of Father's Day. Please check back soon at Buccaneers.com in order to nominate a father you feel is worthy of being named a Top Dad.
