Crossroads For Florida Kids Honored as Lightning Community Hero
Crossroads For Florida Kids is proud to announce that we have been named a Lightning Foundation Community Hero by the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, receiving a $50,000 grant in recognition of our mission and impact. The celebration took place on November 20th during the Lightning’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers, marking the 15th season of this milestone award.
This honor carries special meaning for us. Our Founder, Rosemary Armstrong, was recognized as a Lightning Community Hero in 2015 for her extraordinary pro bono career and for creating Crossroads in 2012 with co-founders Sandy Weinberg and Allison Singer.
In our application, we were asked to name a Community Hero. We proudly named our “Army of Pro Bono Attorneys”—the more than 280 volunteer lawyers who, since 2012, have dedicated over 55,000 hours to represent 1,700+ disadvantaged children and young adults referred by local judges. These youth often face intellectual and emotional disabilities, chronic mental health diagnoses, substance abuse challenges, and some are sex trafficking victims. What unites them is trauma caused by past abuse, neglect, or abandonment—and what they receive is unwavering advocacy.
Our attorneys meet children at the “crossroads” of their young lives. Whether in the courtroom or out in the community, Crossroads attorneys provide counsel, persistence, and compassion, helping youth persevere and reclaim their path to success. Our volunteers are true Community Heroes—standing beside children who are often powerless in the legal system, not for recognition or financial gain, but because they believe every child deserves a chance to thrive.
The Lightning Foundation’s recognition shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of Crossroads, the attorneys who have given their time, expertise, and heart to empower the most vulnerable youth in our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to our volunteers for the quality, dedication, and compassion that made this honor possible. Together, we continue to build brighter futures, one child at a time.
