Around 250 health heroes at Tampa General Hospital are receiving a warm meal from the Columbia Restaurant Group this week as part of a joint Super Bowl bet between Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
Per Super Bowl tradition, the mayors of the competing cities establish a bet each year, the city of the losing team has to send a basket of local goodies to the winning city’s mayor. In light of the challenging year felt across our nation, however, Mayor Castor and Mayor Lucas established a win-win bet instead to honor frontline workers in both cities.
“Super Bowl LV was the most historic and meaningful Super Bowl of our time, so this year’s bet was a little different,” says Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “No matter which team won on the field, Mayor Lucas and I agreed that we wanted to do something to honor the champions in our community--the healthcare heroes who’ve worked tirelessly day and night throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to the Columbia Restaurant Group for stepping up to help us honor these heroes with a warm meal and a sincere thank you for all that they continue to do for our community.”
To help fulfill the bet in Tampa, the Columbia Restaurant Group generously offered approximately 250 meals to the health care workers at Tampa General Hospital, complete with their famous 1905 salad, black beans, and a Cuban sandwich.
“As Florida’s oldest restaurant we’ve seen this City grow to have an NFL team that’s the best in the state, best in the country, best in the NFL,” says Columbia Restaurant Group President, Richard Gonzmart. “What made me proud when I watched the game on TV was to see the health care workers in the stadium cheering. So many of the doctors and nurses that I know were there. So thank you NFL, thank you Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thank you City of Tampa for everything. We’re here to help thank those that work so hard and tirelessly without concern for themselves.”
Watch the Facebook live recording of the press conference.
For additional information, please contact:
Jeremy Rex, Sr. Designer & Digital Strategist
(c) 813-274-8821 (e) Jeremy.Rex@tampagov.net