Hundreds Celebrate the Community and First Responders at the 3rd Annual Family Fun Day
Hillsborough County’s firefighters and deputies spent Saturday giving back to the community they serve at the 3rd Annual Family Fun Day at Raymond James Stadium. Children climbed aboard fire trucks, explored sheriff’s vehicles, and watched the bomb squad robot in action, while first responders mingled with families, answering questions and sharing stories.
Organized by Hillsborough County Firefighters (HCFF) Local 2294 and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the event gave the community a chance to meet their local heroes outside of emergencies and enjoy a day packed with hands-on activities and entertainment.
“This event allows us to engage with families in a meaningful way,” said Tim Pearson, President of Hillsborough County Firefighters Local 2294. “Seeing kids’ faces light up when they meet a firefighter or a deputy reminds us why building trust and connection with the community is so important.”
Guests also enjoyed live music, backyard games, face painting, train rides, inflatable houses, and a spirited cornhole tournament that had HCFF and HCSO teams competing for bragging rights with HCFF beating HCSO, the defending champs. Many attendees contributed to the Hillsborough County Firefighters Toy Drive for Sincerely Santa, sharing unwrapped toys to brighten the holidays for local children.
“Our goal is to bring joy, gratitude, and unity to our community,” said Chris Boles, Executive Director at Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities. “It was a day filled with fun activities that allowed first responders to show our appreciation for the people who support us every day.”
As an event sponsor, the Pepin Family Foundation was proud to help connect the community with the heroes who serve them. A key focus of the Foundation is to support initiatives that strengthen mental health and resiliency programs for first responders in Tampa Bay. Additional supporters included Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities, RedSpeed, HCA Florida, The Finley Group, BeneCom, and Kroger.
About Pepin Family Foundation
The Pepin Family Foundation is a family-led nonprofit focused on healthcare, education, and mental health and wellness services for frontline professionals. From its support of students with disabilities at Pepin Academies to its groundbreaking cardiac care at Pepin Heart Institute, the foundation’s initiatives embody a commitment to creating a stronger, healthier Tampa Bay. For more information, visit PepinFamilyFoundation.org.
About Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities
Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities is a local charity established in 2002 that works to support the community through several programs and provides support to the families of fallen firefighters with the Surviving Spouses and Children’s Fund. Hillsborough County Firefighter Charities relies entirely on voluntary donations and generosity of its supporters. Learn more at hcffcharities.com.