Susan Traub honored as the 538th Lightning Community Hero
The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Susan Traub as the 538th Community Hero during the first period of their March 12th game against the Winnipeg Jets. Traub, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil, will donate the money to Gulf Coast Jewish & Family Services (JFCS).
Traub was born shortly after World War II in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her maternal grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, and her parents were refugees who managed to flee the horrors of Nazi Germany. This family history has had a profound impact on Traub, who has discovered her love of helping people, particularly young children. This led to her volunteering with immigrants and refugees, tutoring English as a Second Language and helping families settle into their new homes. She also played an integral role in helping those who fled Afghanistan in 2021. Her commitment has helped numerous families fleeing their home countries find safety and a new home in Florida.
The grant will be used to support the mission of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services. Specifically, the funds will go toward their Refugee Services, which welcomes and helps refugees from around the world. Some of the programs offered include Reception and Placement, Intensive Case Management for Refugees with Special Needs, the Match Grant Refugee Employment Program, and the Refugee Micro-Enterprise Development Program, which promotes refugee women’s entrepreneurship and normalizes business ownership.
Full press release: Susan Traub honored as Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero