TAMPA, Fla. - eTradeWire -- The Tampa Bay Lightning has named Bill Edwards, Founder and CEO of Big3 Entertainment and Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts, as the recipient of the prestigious Lightning Community Hero Award for his unwavering dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals and families throughout the Tampa Bay area.

This recognition celebrates Edwards' outstanding contributions to the community, particularly through his expansion and support of the Mahaffey Theater's ClassActs Program, which serves more than 25,000 schoolchildren annually. Demonstrating his deep commitment to education and the arts, Edwards made the program completely free to all participating students during the 2023-2024 school year, removing barriers and ensuring every child has access to world-class cultural and educational experiences.

"I am humbled and honored to receive the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award. This recognition reflects the incredible work of many who share my passion for giving back and creating opportunities for others. The Mahaffey Theater's ClassActs Program holds a special place in my heart, and making it accessible to every child in our community is a step toward inspiring the next generation through the arts. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more vibrant Tampa Bay, " said Bill Edwards, Founder and CEO of Big3 Entertainment and the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to contribute significantly to the Tampa Bay region. Edwards' leadership and philanthropic spirit have been instrumental in elevating arts education, fostering inclusivity, and creating opportunities for young minds to thrive.

In addition to his work with the Mahaffey Theater, Edwards is widely regarded for his broad community impact, including support for numerous local initiatives to improve the quality of life in the Tampa Bay area.

The award was presented on January 9th during a special ceremony at a Tampa Bay Lightning game, where Edwards was celebrated for his dedication and contributions to the community.

For more information about the Mahaffey ClassActs Program or Bill Edwards' philanthropic initiatives, please visit BillEdwardsFoundationfortheArts.org.

About the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award

The Lightning Community Heroes Program is the signature philanthropic initiative of the Lightning Foundation and has been lauded for its innovative contributions throughout the sports community. In 2011, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his family launched the program as a collaboration with the Vinik Family Foundation and the Lightning Foundation to celebrate deserving Heroes and distribute funding to non-profits throughout the Tampa Bay community.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award recognizes individuals who quietly and selflessly perform extraordinary service to improve their communities. Each award recipient exemplifies dedication, impact, and the spirit of giving back. At each of the Lightning's 41 regular season and playoff home games for the past thirteen seasons, the Lightning Community Hero program has been honored to celebrate a local Hero and donate $50,000 to a non-profit charity of their choice.

About the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts supports performing arts programming at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts—Mahaffey Theater. Our mission is to educate, engage, and entertain everyone in our community through culturally diverse performances. We present inspiring arts education programs, community outreach initiatives, live mainstage performances, concerts, and special events for the enjoyment of the entire community.