The DeBartolo Family Foundation established the Adopt-A-School program to strengthen schools from within, honoring the potential of every child and the dedication of teachers and staff.
Each year, the Foundation partners with a Hillsborough County, Title I school to provide resources, experiences, and encouragement that foster both academic success and a stronger school community. To help offer enrichment and support programs for students, faculty, and staff at these schools, the program focuses on schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students—more than 162 schools in Hillsborough County are classified as Title I, and at least 75% of these students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
This school year, we are excited to expand the Adopt-A-School program to Nashville, Tennessee. We look forward to bringing the same support, resources, and experiences to students and schools in Nashville, continuing our mission of uplifting communities wherever we can.
2022–2023 School Year: Mort Elementary
Our first Adopt-A-School partnership began with Mort Elementary School in Tampa, Florida. We supported the school by donating backpacks and supplies, providing teacher grants, and contributing $25,000 to help foster community through extracurricular and social activities for students.
2023–2024 School Year: Dover Elementary
At Dover Elementary, we provided funding for field trips to Lowry Park Zoo and Busch Gardens, awarded teacher grants, supplied new physical education equipment, and sponsored team shirts for students and staff. We also supported I-Ready incentives and gifted the entire staff during the holidays and Appreciation Week.
2024–2025 School Year: Pierce Middle School
During the 2024–2025 school year, we were proud to adopt Pierce Middle School and provide meaningful support to both students and staff. One of the year’s highlights was creating a dedicated Relaxation Room for teachers — a calming space thoughtfully designed in collaboration with students from the Interior Decorating Services program at Pinellas Technical College. Their creativity transformed a simple room into a soothing retreat where educators can relax and recharge.
Our efforts also included holiday gifts for staff and students in need, backpacks and school supplies to kick off the school year, staff appreciation gifts, and a heartwarming visit from Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures. We were thrilled to sponsor several field trips as well, including a memorable 8th-grade send-off at Busch Gardens.
The heartfelt appreciation we received from the Pierce community reminded us how impactful it is to support those who dedicate themselves to nurturing and educating our children every day.
2025–2026 School Year: Woodbridge Elementary
During the 25-26 school year, we are partnering with Woodbridge Elementary through our Adopt-A-School program. We’re building connections, sharing resources, and creating experiences that uplift students, teachers, and staff every day.
