“We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.”
~Engle
I love the quote above.
My family and I had the privilege of experiencing first-hand the generosity of Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and his beautiful bride Jaye, as they hosted their seventh annual Thanksmas feast in several Tampa Bay area locations. Every year, Maddon purchases the food and with the help of Rays coaches, players, broadcasters and a band of Rays employees, and they prepare and serve a traditional Polish / Italian meal featuring spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, pierogies, Italian bread, salad and cake to hundreds of needy citizens throughout the St Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater locations.
Over the past six years, Maddon’s Thanksmas has served approximately 5,000 individuals in need and provided many of those individuals with clothing and shoes. Last year, as a result of numerous donations from generous Rays fans and Joe’s fundraising efforts, Thanksmas was able to present $4,000 each to Salvation Army centers in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton and the Sallie House in St. Petersburg, a safe haven for children who have been removed from their home because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. This year, Maddon and his volunteers handed out special Thanksmas sneakers to all the children. After the Florida locations are served, Maddon heads north to his childhood hometown of Hazelton, Pennsylvania where he brings Thanksmas dinners and gifts to the needy in that community as well.
