Press Releases
Community Brands Employee Shannon Hofmeister Named 2019 Tampa Bay Woman of the Year
Over $32,000 was raised by Shannon Hofmeister for Tampa Bay area children and their families as a part of the annual #TBWOY event
March 8, 2019—ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Community Brands, the leading provider of cloud-based software and payment solutions for associations, nonprofits, schools and faith-based organizations, is pleased to announce on this International Women’s Day that Shannon Hofmeister was named the 2019 Tampa Bay Woman of the Year (TBWOY) by the Westchase Charitable Foundation.
Hofmeister was recognized for her philanthropy work in the Tampa Bay community. She raised over $32,000 in donations during the nine-week fundraising period of the TBWOY annual program. The event is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Westchase Charitable Foundation, an organization which raises funds for Tampa Bay area families battling serious illness or tragedy.
“We cannot change tragedy, but we can lift the burden and allow families to focus on healing,” shared Hofmeister, Channel Partner Account Manager at Community Brands. “Raising money to help families in my own community has been a very rewarding experience, and I’m honored to be recognized by the Westchase Charitable Foundation. Over the last nine weeks, the Tampa Bay Woman of the Year candidates collectively raised over $126,000 at this year’s event. I’m grateful for the support of my employer Community Brands as well as contributions from other companies and their employees. I could not have done this without their support.”
The Tampa Bay Woman of the Year program is especially personal for Hofmeister, who unexpectedly lost her father at a young age. She experienced a tragic life event first-hand, and she came to appreciate the importance of giving back to those in need. Understanding that even a small financial contribution can help those who are going through a difficult time, Hofmeister became involved in the programs of the Westchase Charitable Foundation.
“Each of the Tampa Bay Woman of the Year candidates has a unique personal story, and they all worked diligently to raise contributions for a very serious need in Tampa,” added Trey Corish, Vice President of the Westchase Charitable Foundation. “We are thrilled to be part of Shannon’s achievement. The funds raised through her efforts will help numerous children and their families throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, particularly those who are battling a serious illness or have a tragic family situation. It’s a special cause that Shannon and the Foundation share.”
The TBWOY event was held on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at a Sheltair hangar, just south of Tampa International Airport. All funds were raised during a series of fundraising events organized by the candidates, beginning in January 2019 and extending to March of the same year.
Community Brands was a Gold Sponsor for this year’s Tampa Bay Woman of the Year event; the company is also a corporate partner and supporter of the Westchase Charitable Foundation. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Community Brands is actively involved in the local community.
“Events like these are a model for nonprofit fundraising and community support,” stated Melea Guilbault, SVP of Partnerships and GM of Nonprofit Solutions. “Community Brands has been a longtime supporter of this event and has now had more than eight employees participate, collectively raising over $100,000 since 2013. In this year’s event, our GiveSmart mobile auction technology was used to raise funds and collect payments. When individuals give of their time and their money, great things can happen.”
Learn more about Community Brands and its Association Solutions, Nonprofit Solutions, K-12 Solutions and Faith-based Solutions.
About Westchase Charitable Foundation
The Westchase Charitable Foundation (WCF) is a 501(c)3 operating foundation which relies on fundraising events, private and in-kind donations to help raise funds for its financial assistance program. The non-profit public charity supports families who have either children or parents battling a serious illness or assisting people in the community and beyond who are faced with a family tragedy. WCF has helped many families by distributing more than $500,000. The non-profit is also an active member of its community arranging family-style events throughout the year, including the annual Westchase Cup Golf Outing and Family Festival as well as Santa’s Parade each December.