Annual Appreciation Event Celebrates Volunteer Impact on Think Big’s Mission

The Think Big for Kids 2026 Appreciation Event brought together over 250 volunteers, mentors, donors, board members and partners for a special celebration of those who support Think Big’s mission. Held on February 5th at the Tampa River Center, the annual event was once again sponsored by Strategic Partner, ReliaQuest.

Think Big’s Executive Director, Amy Alley, along with Founder and Chair, Tony DiBenedetto, shared the organization’s latest news and impact, as well as the new Journey Without Limits video, celebrating the stories of four Think Big students.

2025 Partner Companies and Volunteers of the Year were presented by Amy Alley, Tony DiBenedetto and Cindi Jacobsen, Think Big’s Director of Programs. The evening was capped off with a musical performance by Dr. Alex Harris, singer, producer and co-founder of Arts Conservatory for Teens.

Click here to see event photos.

2025 Volunteers of the Year

Irina Khasin

Irina Khasin has been mentoring Chairah since January 2024 and has made a tremendous impact on her life. In Chairah’s words: “One of my favorite things about Irina is how sympathetic she is and her ability to radiate warmth in every conversation.” Irina also chairs Think Big’s Volunteer Committee and now serves on the Tampa Bay Tampa Advisory Board. A natural connector, she brings great ideas and consistently shows up for students, including participating in Career Showcases with her team at Greenberg Traurig.

Randy Norris

Randy Norris has been mentoring Elian since July 2023, helping him stay focused on his plan to earn his EMT certification and ultimately become a firefighter. In Elian’s words: “Anytime I have felt unmotivated or not good enough, he always has encouraging words and tries his best to help me in any way possible. Thanks to his kind words, I never gave up and stayed focus on my goals.” Randy also stepped-up last year to mentor a second student, Danisvelt. Randy attends every mentor training, serves as a steady sounding board, and is an invaluable resource for newer mentors.

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams has been actively involved with Think Big since 2019 and has served on the Tampa Bay Advisory Board since 2023. She is now on the executive committee of Think Big’s National Board of Directors. A powerful relationship builder, Jennifer is always opening doors, sharing her network, and advocating for Think Big’s mission. She consistently brings fresh ideas and innovative approaches to the table and looks for new ways to support Think Big’s students and programs.

2025 Partner Companies of the Year

Grow Financial

Led by CEO Thomas Feindt, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union became a Strategic Partner in 2025, following several years of support for Think Big’s mission. Grow Financial employees participate in all three of Think Big’s pillars. The credit union also developed a robust internship program for Think Big students. During the summer of 2025, interns brainstormed and developed ideas to improve Grow Financial’s member experience from a Gen Z perspective. Students also leveraged AI to improve banking interactions and gamification to modernize member engagement. In addition to providing creative ideas on financial literacy education for students, Grow Financial helped Think Big secure funding for 15 additional credit unions.

NextPath Career Partners

NextPath Career Partners has been a Think Big partner since 2019 and a Strategic Partner since 2021. Stephanie Markese, one of NextPath’s founders, sits on the Tampa Bay Advisory Board and serves as board chair. In addition to participating in monthly Career Showcases, NextPath employees conduct workshops to support students with resume-building and interview skills. NextPath also supports Think Big’s internship program and provides generous financial support to fund several key programs. The NextPath team serves as Think Big community ambassadors, providing invaluable ideas and connecting the organization with more volunteers, partners companies and programming opportunities.