GEETHA KAMATH HONORED AS LIGHTNING COMMUNITY HERO

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Geetha Kamath as the 14th Lightning Community Hero of the 2015-16 season during the first period of tonight’s game versus the Washington Capitals. Kamath, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate the money to St. Petersburg Free Clinic.

Dr. Kamath has devoted 35 years of service to the Tampa Bay community by providing medical assistance to an estimated 500,000 individuals. Her first camp began in 2004 at the Salvation Army and now performs camps at St. Petersburg Free Clinic which provides primary health care services for low-income adults aged 18-64 without private insurance, V.A. benefits, Medicare or Medicaid and who do not qualify for county-subsidized health care. At the clinic, she provided dental care in addition to medical care to 6,000 low-income and homeless individuals at no cost. Kamath also provided disaster relief in Haiti after the earthquake struck the nation in 2010.

Kamath has had numerous life experiences which have made her commitment to making a difference deeper and has inspired others. Her heartfelt compassion and respect for each patient permeates her medical skill and service as she seeks to provide the utmost care. Her legacy is to bring the Tampa Bay community to a greater state of health through volunteer efforts.

Kamath becomes the 193rd Lightning Community Hero since Jeff and Penny Vinik introduced the program in 2011-12 with a $10 million, five-season commitment to the Tampa Bay community. Through this evening’s game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $9.8 million to more than 300 different non-profits in the Greater Tampa Bay area.