TAMPA, Fla. — At every home game, The Tampa Bay Lightning honor a local person or nonprofit working to make an impact in our community.
Leah Wooten was honored as the Lightning Community Hero at the game on December 29.
Wooten has been a volunteer, ambassador, and advisor with Bess the Book Bus. It is a Tampa-based mobile literacy outreach program dedicated to instilling a love of reading in children, caregivers, and educators since 2002.
The Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Hero Program presented by Jabil donated $50,000 to Bess the Book Bus on Wooten’s behalf.

Bradenton community responds after 20-year-old volleyball star dies from disease that affects 2 in a million
The 20-year-old IMG Academy volleyball star and Under Armour All-American died Sept. 16 after a three-month battle with the rare blood disorder — even though doctors had found her a 100% bone marrow match, her mother, Tanya Mack tells Tampa Bay 28 reporter Haley Zarcone.