Just before New Year’s, Claire Lessinger stopped by our offices to talk with Publisher Tom duPont about her work as COO of the Super Bowl LV Host Committee and its signature initiative, Forever 55 — a massive effort reflecting the NFL’s desire to make a positive impact on communities where the Super Bowl is held. Forever 55 secured a $2 million investment from the local business community and the NFL to support programs in early childhood education, food insecurity, families, health and wellness, sustainability and systemic justice.

Lessinger, who is VP of Events at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, also talks with Tom about the extraordinary success of our area sports teams — and the possibility of a “fairy tale ending” for the Bucs. Subsequent to this conversation, the fairy tale took a step toward reality — the Bucs won the NFC Championship, becoming the first team ever to head to the Super Bowl as the home team.