Joe Donahey honored as Lightning Community Hero
The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Joe Donahey as the 25th Lightning Community Hero this season during the first period of tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Donahey, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil, will donate the money to Lighthouse of Pinellas.
Donahey was faced with an unexpected and sudden blindness but he chose to not allow a lack of vision to keep him from living life to its fullest. With the support of Lighthouse of Pinellas, an organization that supports the blind and visually impaired by addressing the physical, mental and social challenges associated with vision loss, he regained his independence and confidence.
Donahey has made it his mission to volunteer his time and expertise helping at-risk youth around the Tampa Bay Area in and out of the courtroom with his law background. He worked as a judge for more than 45 years and is now helping those who need legal advice most. Joe changed the life trajectory of more than 1,000 children in the Tampa Bay region. Through the Judges in Schools Program that he envisioned and created, children did better in school, had less truancy, graduated high school, avoided risky behaviors and developed stronger relationships with their parents, teachers, and other caregivers in their lives.