Joe Garcia is no stranger to challenges. He grew up in West Tampa during the depression in a mostly Latin working-class neighborhood where he shined shoes, bagged groceries, and sold newspapers to help his family. He was only nine when he lost his mother. The West Tampa Boys Club where he spent a lot of his spare time was a positive influence in his life. And - Joe was one of the lucky ones, qualifying for Jesuit High School and later winning a scholarship to Loyola University in New Orleans.

He and Anne, his wife of 50 years, share the same values. As they "give back" to the community through their fund within the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, their focus is making life better for disadvantaged children. "When the Salesian Sisters at the Villa Madonna Elementary School decided to open their doors to the poor children in the surrounding neighborhood, we knew this was a project we wanted to support." The Salesian Youth Center/Boys & Girls Clubs in Tampa Heights was born of their caring.

Joe and Anne are opening doors for needy children through their fund within the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. In so doing they are leaving their legacy to the Tampa Bay area.

You, too, can count on the Community Foundation to turn your caring into commitment. We make it easy to be a philanthropist, now and for generations to come. Establish your fund to benefit any field you choose or help one or more nonprofits flourish because of grants from your fund.

The Community Foundation is a partner in the Leave A Legacy program and invites you to leave your legacy to the Tampa Bay community. To find out how you can start your fund at the Foundation or to get more information, call 813.282.1975.