Assisting others is nothing new to Tampa Electric’s Technology Consultant Cyndi Smith. Whether she is volunteering at Plant City’s Strawberry Festival or helping with the Special Olympics, Smith loves giving back to her community.
“It’s in my DNA,” Smith said. “If there’s ever a way for me to help those who are less fortunate, count me in.”
Counting on her. That’s exactly why Smith, the one-time Tampa Electric Volunteer of the Year award-winner, proudly participates in the Share the Hope campaign. She loves the idea of helping pay the utility bills of neighbors in need.
“The community relies on us as a company,” Smith said. “Knowing that I play a small part in making a huge difference really is a great feeling.”
It was also a great feeling when Smith was recently surprised with tickets to a Tampa Bay Lightning game as one of our 12 Days of Sharing the Hope random drawing winners. Decked out in her new Killorn t-shirt, Smith attended a Lightning game for the first time in years on Jan. 8 when the Lightning faced the Boston Bruins.
In her true caring fashion, Smith used her second ticket to create special memories for someone else when she chose to bring Jan Wood, her 85-year-old friend, to her first-ever hockey game. The two spent years together as ushers at Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts – volunteering, of course.
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| Amalie Arena’s Tesla coils are used to create a lightning special effect and are integrated into the event production throughout the game. |
“It was fitting that we sat directly under the lightning Tesla coil,” Smith exclaimed. Having worked for Tampa Electric since 1985, noticing electrical objects while out and about is apparently also in her DNA.
In sports, great assists often go unnoticed. In Smith’s case, she doesn’t mind being one of our team’s unsung heroes. Thank you for all you do to support people in need throughout our community.
Through payroll deduction or donations, all team members can join Smith by donating to the Share Program. And remember, team member donations can count for up to 24 volunteer hours, so make sure you log your volunteer hours in the Cheers to Peers recognition platform.
