Spirit of Humanity Award

To qualify for the Spirit of Humanity award, the organization must have a 501 (c)(3) designation from the IRS. Each winner receives the following benefits:

- A $25,000 donation from the DeBartolo Family Foundation
- News release to local media announcing the award and the organization
- If desired, a link to its website on the DeBartolo Family Foundation website
- A celebratory Spirit of Humanity award event
- Spirit of Humanity Trophy

To nominate a deserving non-profit organization for the Spirit of Humanity Award, click on Nomination. Non-profits may also nominate themselves for the award.

DEBARTOLO FAMILY FOUNDATION HONORS LIVE LAUGH LOVE FOUNDATION WITH SPIRIT OF HUMANITY AWARD

Tampa, FL (December 6, 2011) – The DeBartolo Family Foundation is proud to recognize the Live Laugh Love Foundation with the 2011 Spirit of Humanity Award. The $25,000 Spirit of Humanity Award honors non-profit corporations that provide extraordinary assistance to Tampa Bay residents with special needs.

The Live Laugh Love Foundation helps families who have a child/children going through cancer treatment and are struggling financially. The Foundation was founded by Peggy and David Doerr in honor of their son, Kobie Doerr, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma in 2007. After undergoing 2½ years of chemotherapy and radiation, Kobie officially became a cancer survivor on July 23, 2009. The family was so overwhelmed by the support they received during and after Kobie’s treatments, they wanted to give back and started the Live Laugh Love Foundation.

“The Spirit of Humanity Award is our most special award, and it is our privilege to present the Live Laugh Love Foundation with our $25,000 Spirit of Humanity Award,” said Lisa DeBartolo, Executive Vice President of DeBartolo Holdings. “I don’t believe there is anyone that hasn’t been affected by cancer. I know my family has, but as a mom, I can’t imagine anything being more devastating than a child being diagnosed with cancer. We are so thrilled that Kobie is finished with his treatments and is cancer free, and we applaud his parents for using their experience with Kobie to start the Live Laugh Love Foundation and help other families who have a child going through cancer treatment and are struggling financially.”

For more information on the Live Laugh Love Foundation, please visit their Website at http://www.livelaughlovefoundation.com.

Since April 2002, more than 36 organizations have been recognized for their service to the community with the DeBartolo Family Foundation Spirit of Humanity Award.

DEBARTOLO FAMILY FOUNDATION AWARDS EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WITH SPIRIT OF HUMANITY AWARD

Tampa, FL (September 27, 2011) – The DeBartolo Family Foundation is proud to recognize the Early Childhood Council (ECC) with the 2011 Spirit of Humanity Award. Lisa DeBartolo, Executive Vice Presidents of DeBartolo Holdings, presented the $25,000 donation during an award ceremony at the Manhattan Center in Tampa today. The Spirit of Humanity Award honors non-profit corporations that provide extraordinary assistance to Tampa Bay residents with special needs, and the ECC has had a significant impact on young children and families in Hillsborough County over the last 20 years.

The ECC is one of the leading early childhood organizations in the Tampa Bay area providing information and referral services, prevention and early intervention and training and advocacy to the community. A key program is ECC’s Developmental Screening Program, held monthly to screen children under the age of 5 for developmental issues, such as speech and language, vision, hearing, motor skills and cognition problems or delays. Since 1986, the ECC has screened more than 20,000 Hillsborough County children and the ECC’s Developmental Screening Program has been recognized as a “Best Practice” by the Florida Department of Education.

“As a mother of two beautiful boys under the age of three, I know firsthand how important the first years of life are to reaching critical developmental milestones and how those milestones will help shape a child’s success as an adult,” said Lisa, DeBartolo, Executive Vice President of DeBartolo Holdings, LLC. “It’s so comforting knowing that an organization like the ECC is right in our backyard to help promote early identification and treat children that may have developmental or learning delays. We are grateful for ECC’s dedication to Tampa Bay, and are proud to call ECC a partner in our community.”

“The Early Childhood Council humbly and gratefully accepts this prestigious award from the DeBartolo Family Foundation on behalf of Hillsborough County Public Schools and all of our other community screening partners, I humbly and gratefully accepts this prestigious award from the DeBartolo Family Foundation on behalf of Hillsborough County Public Schools and all of our other community screening partners,” said Stephen Martaus, Executive Director of The Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough County, Inc.

Click here to view past recipients.

To read more about past recipients of the Spirit of Humanity Award, please go to our Press section.