In Fighting COVID, Partnerships Matter

Vaccination event organizers with the Lombardy trophy, from left: Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise; Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative Chief Executive Officer Antoinette Triplett; HUD Jacksonville Field Office Director Alesia Scott-Ford; Hillsborough County Director of Affordable Housing Cheryl Howell.

Several young participants received the COVID-19 vaccine and then took their photo with the Lombardy trophy, made available by the Tampa Buccaneers NFL team.

When HUD Jacksonville Field Office Director Alesia Scott-Ford and Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Director Cheryl Howell discussed an activity to increase vaccination rates in Tampa, they knew they had to do something different to get people's attention. A photo with the Vince Lombardy Trophy would do it: You get the vaccine; you get the photo. It worked.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are local heroes after winning the 2021 Super Bowl. They have also encouraged vaccinations against the COVID-19 and agreed to participate in the June 30th activity. Other partners included Tri-Care, Tampa Housing Authority, Tampa Hillsborough Homeless, and Mt. Olive AME Church, where the activity took place.

Besides the opportunity to obtain the vaccine, approximately 200 attendees received information on affordable housing and foreclosure prevention and enjoyed a local DJ. Bounce houses entertained the younger children, while a brave 12-year-old got his vaccine, not just for the photo with the trophy but as he said, to save his family.

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