Ryan Nece Foundation

Founded in 2006 by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Ryan Nece, the Ryan Nece Foundation empowers teens to become leaders through service-learning opportunities and inspirational leadership programs. Our mission addresses a critical need: Florida ranks lowest in the United States for civic engagement, despite being the third-largest and fastest-growing state. We operate two complementary programs serving the Greater Tampa Bay region: Our community-based Student Service Program, successfully implemented since 2013, has demonstrated that 90% of participants graduate with improved leadership skills, while 60% of graduating seniors show a 20% increase in community service hours. Recognizing how transportation barriers, work obligations, and family responsibilities prevented many students from accessing traditional youth programming, we launched our innovative Student Service Club model in August 2023. This school-based approach brings leadership education directly into high school classrooms during regular school hours, eliminating participation barriers entirely. Once a school is engaged with us, a Ryan Nece Foundation-employed coordinator delivers customized monthly curriculum covering servant leadership, time management, communication, financial literacy, career exploration, and more, with organized service projects with transportation provided. We are currently serving 2,579 students across 18 schools (50% Title I), and we have documented that 83% of participants actively apply a new leadership skill into their daily lives, with 89% engaging in service projects. As we expand into Pinellas and Pasco Counties, we're building regional youth leadership infrastructure that strengthens communities by developing confident, engaged young leaders committed to lifelong civic participation and community service.