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26 Projects
Support the Pediatric Facility Dog Program at TGH!
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Your gift will be MATCHED!
Your gift will be MATCHED! As we celebrate Belle’s well‑earned retirement after years of bringing comfort and courage to our pediatric patients as TGH Chief Smile Officer, we’re also welcoming Quinn, TGH Chief Support Officer as the newest member of the Muma Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program. Quinn will join Millie in continuing the legacy of support, healing and connection that Belle helped build.
To honor this transition and strengthen the program for the years ahead, <strong>thanks to the generosity of the Lyla Goode Foundation, all gifts will be MATCHED dollar for dollar up to </strong><strong>$10,000</strong>!<strong> </strong>This means every gift made will have DOUBLE the impact, ensuring Quinn and Millie can continue providing support to hundreds of pediatric patients and families for years to come.
With the help of our TGH community, we have a goal of raising an additional $10,000. Your support today helps carry Belle’s legacy forward and empowers our facility dogs to bring comfort, courage and healing - one paw at a time.
<strong>Yellow Lab: Mille, TGH Chief Snuggle Officer </strong>
<strong>Black Lab: Quinn, TGH Chief Support Officer</strong>
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Honor the Legacy of TGH Flight Nurse Laurie Duppenthaler
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Your gift will support future healthcare leaders.
Your gift will support future healthcare leaders. <em><strong>Some people dedicate their careers to helping others. Laurie "Life Saver Laurie" Duppenthaler dedicated her life.</strong></em>
A compassionate nurse, trusted Flight Nurse, devoted wife and mother, and friend to countless people, Laurie believed that every person deserved to be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect. Throughout more than two decades in emergency medicine, intensive care, critical care transport, and as a Flight Nurse with Tampa General Hospital Aeromed, she provided exceptional care during some of life's most critical moments. While her clinical skills saved lives, it was her compassion, warmth, and unwavering commitment to others that truly defined her legacy.
Known affectionately as "Life Saver Laurie," she had a remarkable ability to calm fears, inspire hope, and bring comfort when it was needed most. Her infectious smile, genuine kindness, and servant's heart touched patients, coworkers, friends, family, and even strangers. She made everyone she encountered feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.
Despite her many professional accomplishments, Laurie's greatest joy was her family. She lived with purpose, loved without reservation, and demonstrated every day that true success is measured not by personal achievements, but by the lives we uplift and the difference we make in the world around us.
The<strong> "Lifesaver Laurie"-Laurie Duppenthaler Legacy of Compassion Scholarship</strong> was established to honor her extraordinary life and continue the values she embodied. The scholarship supports students who demonstrate academic excellence, integrity, compassion, resilience, and a genuine commitment to serving others through healthcare or other service-oriented professions. The scholarship will be open to any TGH team member actively pursuing a nursing degree or any licensed registered nurse pursuing advanced education.
Recipients of this scholarship are more than scholarship awardees—they become part of Laurie's enduring legacy. By choosing a life of service, leading with compassion, and making a meaningful difference in their communities, they help ensure that the kindness, hope, and selflessness Laurie shared so freely continue to inspire future generations.
Her legacy reminds us that while a single life may come to an end, compassion has the power to live on forever through the lives we touch.
If you are a TGH team member interested in supporting this scholarship with a recurring payroll deduction donation or donation of ATO hours, visit: <a href="https://www.tgh.org/foundation/giving/team-member-giving">https://www.tgh.org/foundation/giving/team-member-giving</a> or reach out to Christina Stevens at <a href="mailto:christinastevens@tgh.org">christinastevens@tgh.org</a>.
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Support the #TGHmovement4MOMS
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Support moms - because mental health matters.
Support moms - because mental health matters. TGH/USF Women’s Institute, a Top 10 US News & World Report ranked program for obstetrics and gynecology, treats the highest risk cases and delivers the most babies of any hospital in the region. Taking world-class care of these families doesn’t stop at a smooth and safe delivery. It also means treating the trauma that can come with a high-risk pregnancy, complicated birth, pregnancy loss and the mental health impact of even a low-risk pregnancy. It is essential that adequate mental health services exist for these families.
The new Perinatal Mental Health Program is designed to support the mental health needs of mothers during pregnancy and up to a year after birth, bridging the gap as they transition into parenthood. An inpatient portion would support patients on bed rest, in labor and acutely postpartum. The outpatient component would support moms after they’ve been discharged, before or after their six-week postpartum clinic visit and up to one year after via telehealth counseling appointments.
Philanthropy is needed to provide the resources to introduce in-house psychology and psychiatry services within the TGH Women’s Institute. Become a part of <strong>#TGHMovement4MOMS</strong>, which will enable our moms to experience the greater continuity of care they deserve!
<strong>Here is what TGH Moms have to say about the importance of this program: </strong>
<strong>Tara Benson, TGH Women's & Children's Affinity Council Member</strong>
"After a tough first pregnancy that resulted in losing my eldest daughters twin a few months in and the mental anguish that followed, we knew my subsequent pregnancies would be fragile. What we didn't expect was the long, hard journey it took to finally have a second child and that when it was time to deliver it would be weeks into a global pandemic. On top of that, less than 48 hours after bringing our second daughter home, I was diagnosed with postpartum pre-eclampsia. I was admitted to the ICU alone without the presence of my newborn or my family, in one of the scariest situations of my life. TGH-USF Health made sure I was heard and taken care of in an extremely sensitive and mentally taxing situation. Mothers can experience such trauma in their quests to start a family, and our mental health should not be ignored during any step of the process."
<strong>Cara Bernstein Chernoff, Educational Company General Manager </strong>
"TGH changed my life throughout my entire journey to motherhood. As a person who experienced infertility, TGH staff and facilities were there with me the entire way through my IVF journey - from retrievals, to creative surgical interventions, to transfers, to parenting workshops, to gestational diabetes support and finally to the birth of our son, Joshua. Joshua also spent the first 24 days of his life in the NICU receiving the best care I could have hoped for both in the NICU and afterwards. My path was filled with uncertainties, twists and turns, including postpartum anxiety and depression. As a parent who experienced infertility and a NICU stay, I thought I was just supposed to put on a brave face and be thankful for what I had - it was my doctor who was so invested in my care who pointed out that I needed help too. The compassion and excellent care Joshua and I received at TGH should be available, encouraged, and supported without barriers to every mom in Tampa Bay. My health and my son’s health are our family’s reason why we support the TGHMovement4Moms."
<strong>Sarah Clark, Homemaker</strong>
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"My delivery of my first daughter was very traumatic. When we got home, I was riddled with anxiety, so much so that I couldn’t leave the house, even just by myself. Everything felt too scary and too difficult. Being a mother should be a time filled with love and joy, not crippling fear. What a necessary and incredible gift to give mothers the gift mental healthcare."
<strong>Cayla Dougherty, Speech Language Pathologist </strong>
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"My first pregnancy was complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome with a three-week NICU stay. My second pregnancy was complicated by placental abruption during delivery and yet another NICU stay. Needless to say, bringing babies into this world can oftentimes be very stressful and sometimes traumatic for the mother. It’s so important to recognize the opportunity to support the mental health needs of new moms throughout antepartum, post-partum, and beyond."
<strong>Erin Elser, TGH Women's & Children's Affinity Council Member </strong>
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"I struggled to get pregnant with my first, Piper so when we finally did conceive, and she was born I knew all my motherhood dreams were finally coming true – except why was I so sad all the time? I knew about the baby blues, but I also knew they were supposed to be short lived. Months after Piper was born, I found that I was crying myself to sleep most nights. I could no longer watch the news or check Facebook – something horrible was bound to happen and my mental health was fragile. I was anxious all the time, constantly worried that something would happen to my daughter. There were days I could not leave the house at all – I just held her and cried. I sought out a therapist who specialized in postpartum moms and she was quickly able to diagnose me with PPA and OCD. She encouraged me to seek out medication so I could effectively use the tools she was teaching me, but I resisted. I thought I could overcome on my own. I didn’t realize how much I was suffering until one day at work, a client and family friend asked me if I was “ok." He told me I didn’t seem like myself – I wasn’t. That struck a chord with me, and others were noticing now too. At that point I made an appointment with my OBGYN team to prescribe medication. My only regret is that I didn’t get it sooner. Thank God I had the resources and knowledge about postpartum depression and anxiety to recognize something wasn’t normal. I am also lucky that I had the funds to pay for therapy and treatment, not everyone has the same access and help that I do, but every mom deserves it and that is why this initiative is so crucial. Being a mom is hard enough already! Mental health matters and I want to ensure every mom can get the help they need, because we deserve it."
<strong>Kitty Riggs Forenza, TGH Women's & Children's Affinity Council Member </strong>
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"After my daughter experienced an adverse medical event at birth, and suffering additional complications myself, I knew when it came time to have my son, I wanted to be under the best care possible. Where you seek care truly matters more than ever, and TGH/USF Health provided my family with more support than we could have imagined. It can be something very simple which impacts the trajectory of a new mother's mental health, and a care team focused on the entire wellbeing of the family generally provides the best outcome. Not only did our doctors and nurses set us up for success, but they also helped us heal old emotional wounds along the way. We are forever grateful for our experience."
<strong>Sophie LeRette, TGH Foundation Associate Director of Development </strong>
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"I have been treated for anxiety, depression, and ADHD for many years, long before I ever considered getting pregnant and growing my family. During my pregnancy some of those medications had to be discontinued and with little guidance on how to bridge the gap for these mental health issues during my (what we thought was a) low-risk pregnancy. Unfortunately, a rare genetic complexity was diagnosed in my pregnancy during a routine 20-week scan which ultimately resulted in the premature birth and death of my daughter, Greta, at 22 weeks. As someone whose mental health issues were exasperated by the traumatic loss of my daughter, access to resources such as counseling, psychology, and psychiatric support were vital and continue to be critical in my everyday life. Access to these types of services are not easily available to everyone and can be extremely costly. Building this Perinatal Mental Health Program within the Women’s Institute at Tampa General Hospital will help support women just like me in our community who face unforeseen trauma during what is supposed to be the happiest time in their lives - regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay."
<strong>Nicole Maldonado, Social Worker</strong><strong></strong>
"My first pregnancy ended with a missed miscarriage at ten weeks and a D and C procedure which resulted in many feelings of sadness, doubt, guilt, and worry of the future. So when we got pregnant again just a few months later we were over the moon, but much of my pregnancy was filled with many moments of fear and high anxiety that we may lose this baby too. Much of this anxiety had a huge impact on my pregnancy journey and prevented me from truly being able to enjoy the gift we were given. I then gave birth to the sweetest baby boy, and we were so grateful, but my postpartum journey was a continuation of anxiety and PPD after experiencing postpartum preeclampsia, being a new mom with LOTS of questions, and our son ending up back in the hospital at 1 month due to GERD. During my pregnancy and postpartum journey I found myself searching for other stories online or being comforted when talking with other moms that had gone through some of the same feelings I had. I had many moments of feeling isolated during this time, and it was so helpful to me to hear other people’s stories and know I wasn’t alone. Being able to have mental health support during the entire journey of pregnancy and postpartum is so important and I think any mom would agree that having this type of care more widely available would be so beneficial."
<strong>Jenna Manelli, Clinical Psychologist </strong>
"With a history of anxiety and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, I was already apprehensive about the transition into motherhood. When my son was born four weeks early and spent five days in the NICU, I felt unprepared, terrified, and overwhelmed by a flood of emotions that left me paralyzed. As a psychologist, I understand how hormones and postpartum changes can impact mental health, yet I still felt isolated and ashamed of my feelings. Thankfully, with therapy, the right medication, and a strong support system, I’ve adjusted to this new chapter and feel I can be a happier, more present mom. I believe it’s essential for women to have support and resources throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period to become the mothers they aspire to be—and the ones they deserve to be."
<strong>Noelle</strong><strong> Muniz Communications & Culture Consultant</strong><strong><strong></strong></strong>
"I am a mother to two biological children an 8yr old and 6 yr old) and to twins (2 yrs) whom we adopted at birth. My husband and I had the unique privilege of being at the hospital with our twins’ birth mother as she recovered from delivery. This experience fueled my passion for ensuring that birth mothers and surrogates receive loving, dignified treatment and, most importantly, mental health support as they navigate their unique birth and postpartum journeys. On a personal note, after becoming a mom, I underwent a significant shift in my identity. This led me to embark on my own journey toward mental wellness, which has become an integral part of my health and fitness routine. I firmly believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for mothers! I fully support this program and applaud TGH’s commitment to prioritizing maternal mental health for moms of all kinds. My hope is that this initiative will serve as a model for others to follow."
<strong>Brittany Schrader, Homemaker </strong>
"My husband and I struggled for 6 years through infertility treatments to have our two precious miracle babies. The journey to the end of our rainbow was one that took grit, faith and trust in my medical team from start to finish. Through these trials, we learned the importance of maternal care and how meaningful it is for an entire family. USF and TGH supported me through an internal bleed from an IVF egg retrieval surgery that went wrong. I will never forget the kindness and empathy I was shown on top of the most incredible and progressive medical care possible. I feel honored to help them continue their mission and provide this care to more families."
<strong>Angelina Spampinato, Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner Student</strong>
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"After suffering two life threatening hemorrhages post-delivery, I was diagnosed with severe post-partum anxiety and PTSD. The effects were debilitating for months, and I felt lost with a lack of resources to utilize. My sense of direction seemed obsolete, and I often wondered how I could pry myself out of that dark place. This is not fair for any mom to go through, and I truly believe the TGH movement for moms can help guide so many women in the right direction and offer copious amounts of support in a desperate time of need. This program at TGH will help support moms like me who faced unexpected complications or traumatic experiences, during what is supposed to be one of the happiest times of their life, giving them a place to turn to."
<strong>Taylor West, TGH Women's & Children's Affinity Council Member & TGH Foundation Board Member</strong><strong></strong>
"Helping moms and families in our community has been a focus of our family since we became parents ourselves. The perinatal program at TGH is a great way for us to better support moms through such a vulnerable and transformative period from pregnancy to postpartum."
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Support the 2026 Genesis Baby Shower!
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
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The <a href="https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/womens-institute"><strong>TGH-Genesis Women's Center</strong> </a>is an OB/GYN facility that provides free services such as prenatal and post-partum care, high-risk pregnancy services, gynecologic surgery, and menopausal health care. The center is located at 5802 North 30th Street Tampa, FL 33610.
For the past four years, the Genesis Center has hosted an annual Baby Shower event, which provides pregnant patients with the necessary resources they need during and after their pregnancy. The event is cosponsored with ReachUP! and Healthy Start, community organizations that assist individuals with low resources. All patients who are receiving prenatal care at Genesis are invited.
At the baby shower, expectant mothers receive education about the birth process and postpartum healthcare including postpartum depression. Education and information about additional resources are also provided. Additionally, necessary supplies such as blankets and onesies are distributed. The baby showers the past few years were extremely successful, providing resources hundreds of soon-to-be mothers.
We have a goal of raising $15,000 from our TGH community to support the 2026 Baby Shower!
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Support the Dr. Tapan Padhya Memorial Physician Wellness Fund
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Support mental and physical health of TGH physicians and advanced practice professionals.
Support mental and physical health of TGH physicians and advanced practice professionals. With the enthusiastic support of Dr. Peggy Duggan, the TGH Foundation’s Duggan Physician Wellness Fund has been renamed in Tap’s honor. The <strong>Dr. Tapan </strong><strong>Padhya</strong><strong> Memorial Physician and Advanced Practice Professionals Wellness Fund</strong> will support the mental and physical wellness of the physicians and advanced practice professionals at Tampa General Hospital. This fund enhances wellness programs, educational opportunities and more to foster the holistic well-being of physicians and advanced professionals here.
Gifts to this fund will honor Tap's incredible TGH/USF legacy, and allow us to remember Tap as the supportive friend, innovator and brilliant physician that we all knew him to be. We hope you will join us in celebrating his life and truly tremendous contributions to both TGH and USF.
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Support the TGH Patient Assistance Fund
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Your TGH neighbors need your help.
Your TGH neighbors need your help. Patients almost never expect to end up at Tampa General Hospital.
When they do, the medical challenges they face are often matched only by the financial burdens that result from time away from work, their families, and their responsibilities.
For generations, the TGH Foundation has stepped in to help patients who need it the most through the Patient Assistance Fund. This fund helps patients with unexpected expenses that come from a hospital stay – assisting with everything from providing gas money to ensure patients can travel to and from the hospital, to assisting with rent payments to provide housing security during recovery.
In the past two years, the TGH Foundation has provided financial assistance to more than 175 patients through this fund. Our patients who have benefitted from the Patient Assistance Fund often express their deep gratitude.
<strong>Our hope is that you will continue to make a difference for the people right here in our backyard—our patients—with a gift to the Patient Assistance Fund. </strong>In so doing, you’ll help us change a life in the Tampa Bay community for the better.
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Support the Dr. Judette Louis Scholarship for Career Advancement
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Your gift will honor Dr. Louis' incredible TGH/USF tenure, and support future leaders.
Your gift will honor Dr. Louis' incredible TGH/USF tenure, and support future leaders. Dr. Judette Louis has been a part of Tampa General Hospital/University of South Florida for over 13 years. She has held leadership positions since she started at TGH/USF in 2012, and worked her way up to Chief of the TGH Women’s Institute and James M. Ingram Professor and Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at USF Morsani College of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Dr. Louis is an incredible physician, mentor, colleague and friend. We wish her the best of luck in her new position as Dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University.
Dr. Louis' educational philosophy is:<em> "Education is the most important gift that we can give. It transforms lives.”</em>
To honor Dr. Louis' incredible tenure at TGH/USF, you can make a gift to the Dr. Judette Louis Scholarship for Career Advancement, which will help support the next generation of women's health leaders at TGH/USF dedicated to providing compassionate and world-class care. Your contribution will support aspiring health care professionals who are pursuing their first degree. Dr. Louis believes removing economic barriers to education is an important step for supporting women, children and their families.
<strong>Thanks to the generosity of Drs. Judette Louis and Muda Buhari, all gifts will be MATCHED dollar for dollar up to $25,000! </strong>Together, we have a goal to raise an additional $25,000 to establish this new Dr. Judette Louis Scholarship for Career Advancement. An investment in this scholarship will help to advance medical excellence and improve access to equitable and quality healthcare for all women in our community. Thank you for your consideration and support!
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Support Frank Fritz' TGH Legacy
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Your support will empower future healthcare leaders.
Your support will empower future healthcare leaders. The <strong>Frank Fritz Legacy Trauma/ED Team Member Endowed Scholarship</strong> will support deserving TGH trauma or emergency department team members looking to advance their careers. Your generosity will provide vital financial support to aspiring trauma and ED team members, who are committed to carrying forward compassionate and world-class care at Tampa General Hospital. Supporting this scholarship will honor Frank's incredible legacy and tenure, and is a powerful way to invest in next generation of healthcare leaders in Tampa Bay.
<strong>Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Wein, Dr. Herron and Michele Moran, all gifts will be MATCHED dollar for dollar up to $35,000!</strong> Together, we have a goal to raise an additional $35,000 from our TGH community. Thank you for your consideration and support, and for honoring Frank in this special way.
If you are a TGH Team Member interested in supporting Frank's legacy by a payroll deduction or ATO gift, please visit: <a href="https://www.tgh.org/foundation/giving/team-member-giving"><strong>https://www.tgh.org/foundation/giving/team-member-giving</strong></a> or contact Christina Stevens, Foundation Director of Annual Giving at <a href="mailto:christinastevens@tgh.org"><strong>christinastevens@tgh.org</strong></a><strong>. </strong>
<strong>A message about the Frank Fritz scholarship from Frank's Family: </strong>
The Frank Fritz Scholarship honors the remarkable legacy of Frank Fritz, whose compassionate spirit and dedication touched countless lives at Tampa General Hospital and beyond. As a trauma nurse and beloved educator, Frank inspired those around him, offering unwavering support, love, and encouragement to his colleagues, students, and patients alike. At home, Frank was the heart of his family—a loving husband and devoted father of three and grandfather of two who brought joy and warmth into every moment. Whether rebuilding his cherished '57 Chevy Bel-Air, refurbishing the family boat, or sharing his passion for fishing, Frank found happiness in the simple pleasures of life. Always present, he championed his children's dreams, especially on the baseball field, generously dedicating his time to support and mentor young athletes. Frank was the ultimate supporter, someone you could rely on without hesitation or judgment. By contributing to the Frank Fritz Scholarship, you help preserve his nurturing spirit, supporting future generations of healthcare professionals who embody Frank’s commitment to care, compassion, and community.
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Support the TGH Discharge with Dignity Program
By Tampa General Hospital Foundation
Help support TGH patients in need.
Help support TGH patients in need. The Tampa General Hospital Discharge with Dignity program provides clothing to patients in need. When patients come to TGH, they may have had their clothing ruined or cut off during treatment. Having appropriate clothing when they leave the hospital can improve a patient's comfort and confidence upon discharge.
Last year, thanks to generous donors like you the TGH Foundation was able to help 663 patients by providing over 1,711 pieces of clothing.
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