Impact
St. Pete residents make million-dollar donation to SPFC
Two St. Petersburg residents made a “transformative” $1 million donation to St. Petersburg Free Clinic (SPFC).
Trevor Burgess and Gary Hess have been involved with SPFC for more than a decade, starting their support with an initial gift of $1,000 in 2012. Hess joined the SPFC Board of Directors in 2019 and has been an active volunteer, organizing produce and food and packing them into vehicles at the nonprofit’s drive-through food bank. Burgess, through his company Neptune Flood Insurance, has also been actively involved, organizing annual holiday meal volunteer days to engage the business community in addressing local needs.
Burgess said his and Hess’ contributions and support increased over time as their relationship with SPFC deepened and community need sharply escalated.
“By volunteering at the SPFC, Gary and I can see firsthand not only the shocking level of food insecurity in our community but also the rapid increase in need over the past several years,” Burgess said. “Each week it seems like we break a new record. Volunteers are the backbone of the SPFC and we encourage others to join in to help our neighbors.”
In recognition of Hess’s dedication and service, the SPFC volunteer program will be named The Gary Hess Volunteer Services Program.
“Volunteers are a vital component to SPFC’s ability to serve the community. Each day they meet our neighbors in need with compassion and respect,” said Jennifer Yeagley, CEO of St. Pete Free Clinic. “Each week, rain or shine, Gary is out loading cars full of nutritious food for those in need to take home to their families. It is with great honor that we acknowledge the long-term dedication and commitment to serving others that Gary Hess provides by bestowing the naming rights of SPFC’s volunteer program to him. The Gary Hess Volunteer Services Program at SPFC will underscore his spirit of service and generosity.”
Along with their million-dollar gift, Burgess and Hess are looking to generate additional funding for SPFC by challenging the community to match it. Yaegley said the need for SPFC’s services has increased significantly, noting that nearly 50% of people in Pinellas County cannot make ends meet due to increased costs of living.
“Last month alone, SPFC provided over 34,000 individuals access to nutritious food through our We Help FRESH Pantry locations. This is as many people as we served in a full year just five years ago.”
In addition to food programs, SPFC offers health care, recovery housing, financial support and education services.
Theresa Jones
February 18, 2024at2:14 pm
What a beautiful way to help an organization that helps so many of our most vulnerable residents. #BelieveAndDoGood
Cathy Rome
February 18, 2024at10:46 am
Having volunteered in the past with Gary at SPFC, I can attest to the respectful and kind way he interacts with the hundreds of people in our community who just need food. How fortunate is our community to have people like Trevor and Gary who are so incredibly generous.
Donna Kostreva
February 17, 2024at6:29 pm
Thank you gentlemen for sharing your success for the benefit of others. Your gift is a demonstration of your altruism, industry, intelligence, kindness and goodness! Young and handsome both, you are surely an asset to the people of our city. I’m so very proud of you both! Keep up the good work. Wishing you all the best.
Ghazala Roopani
February 17, 2024at2:09 am
Great job! Would love to join the volunteer team especially the free medical clinic
Meg Rafferty
February 16, 2024at12:40 pm
I hope this article will encourage others to initiate steps, on the dedicated path through giving. It builds our society,to strengthen the people in need. And we all are in need.
Mike Rasor
February 15, 2024at8:57 pm
Well this is what queer erasure looks like.
Burgess and Hess are married. The relationship is in the public record. Burgess has been out in the media for at least a decade. Yet you still felt it appropriate to go out of your way to write a story that makes it seem like these two men are mere acquaintances.
The intentionality of this decision seems fairly obvious. Do better Catalyst.
Danny E White
February 15, 2024at5:31 pm
What a wonderful gesture!