21 & Change to Host The 5th Annual Champions for Change Challenge
Tampa, Fla., May 30, 2023 – Calling all Champions for Change! If you are an amateur, professional, athlete with a disability, or just want to attend to cheer everyone on, register today and join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mascot Captain Fear, TECO, and Mosaic with all the folks from 21 & Change for the 5TH Annual Champions for Change (CFC) Challenge. The event takes place at the Tampa Movement Lab on Saturday, June 3, 2023, 10:00 am to 1 pm.
21 & Change President Clayton Clemens said, “Our Annual Champions for Change Challenge has blossomed into our flagship event to champion inclusion, education, and human rights for people with developmental disabilities. This year alone, we have almost doubled our sponsorships and the funds raised for this event will go directly to Florida students in need of IEP Advocacy Scholarships. We are so very thankful for all our sponsors, partners, board members, advisors, and the community at large.”
CFC event organizers and 21 & Change Vice President Michelle Richards (Owner of Tampa Movement Lab) and Board Member Colleen Baughn deliver a fun-filled athletic challenge that matches up professional and amateur athletes with athletes with disabilities to showcase their amazing talents through fun exercises such as burpees, sit-ups, box jumps, kettle swings and the sled push.
“It’s a heartwarming event that raises confidence and self-esteem through exercise to showcase teamwork and that everyone is unique and has amazing abilities,” said Richards.
Although only in its 5th year, 21 & Change, its Board of Directors, advisory council, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and individual supporters have challenged the status quo regarding local, state, and federal levels by championing policy change for inclusion, education, and human rights for people in Florida with developmental disabilities.
Registration for all athletes is FREE! Those wanting to participate can register in person before the event or online at www.21andChange.Org. Participants must be five (5) years or older. To learn more, please visit 21andchange.org.
Officials & Staff Attending:
State Senator Jay Collins SD 14
State Representative Kim Berfield HD 58
State Representative Lindsay Cross HD 60
State Representative Susan Valdes HD 64
County Commissioner Joshua Wostal District 7
Tampa Councilman Luis Viera
Tampa Councilman Alan Clendenin
Hillsborough County School Board Member Patricia Rendon
Kori Francis from State Representative Mike Beltran’s office HD 70
Amanda Suarez from State Representative Berny Jacques office HD 59
Audette Bruce State Representative Traci Kosters office HD 66
Cabinet Member from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program at Hillsborough County Public Schools
Colonel Anthony Collins with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Office of State Representative Karen Gonzalez-Pittman HD 65
National Anthem Singer
Maxwell Swift
Thanks to Our Sponsors
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Movement Lab, TECO Energy, Mosaic, AMSCOT, HCP Associates, Pepin Academies, Simply HealthCare, Comcast, Floodgate Medical, Florida Blue, Italiano Insurance, The Able Trust, Traci Koster, Port Tampa Bay, Red Sash Group, Nasatka Security, Florida Oil, Compass, Tampa General Hospital, Florida Internet & TV, RSA Consulting, Vein 911, Masonic Lodge, University of Tampa, Cynthia Henderson, Parks Motor Group, Stephen Gay + Associates, Maschmeyer, Brenda Wade, Hillsborough County Fire Fighters & Tampa Fire, KUDUCOM, Johnson Pope Law, ViaTeK Solutions, PDQ, Deborah Goodies, Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, STS, Orlando Health, Voices of Change, Jennifer Wilson, Focus Academy, Glute Factory, Bryan Moll, Matt Miller, Michael Canavan, and Dale Thompson.
Thanks to Our Board of Directors
Clayton Clemens (President), Michelle Richards (Vice President), Jorge Vicente (Treasurer), Madelin Ghomshe (Secretary), Eric Polins, Kristen Peebles, Colleen Baughn, Shannon McKallip Moss, Emily Amell, Nicholas Coccodrilli, Janet Caramello, Amy Armstrong, Raquel Caramello.
Thanks to Our Advisory Council
Sylvia F. Diehl, Ph.D., John and Yani Bodor, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Paul Anderson, Rep. Jackie Toledo, Jorge Santeiro, Councilman Luis Viera, Rep. Allison Tant, Commissioner Ken Hagan, Arthur F. “Chip” Diehl III, Brig. Gen. USAF Ret., and Rob Kriete.
Our Mission
21 & Change champions inclusion, education, and human rights for people with developmental disabilities.