A Clearwater-based faith nonprofit is celebrating 29 years of service with a fundraising gala next month, ahead of its signature day of service that sends thousands of volunteers to repair homes for elderly, disabled and low-income residents across three Tampa Bay counties. Somebody Cares Tampa Bay will hold its annual gala on Saturday, September 19, at Banquet Masters in Clearwater, with proceeds funding the organization's year-round outreach work.
The gala, held at Banquet Masters' location at 13355 49th St. N. in Clearwater, will feature a live auction with items ranging from vacation packages and sports memorabilia to gift certificates and other experiences, according to a report from the Osprey Observer. Auction proceeds will benefit Somebody Cares Tampa Bay's community work, which the outlet reports includes disaster relief efforts and back-to-school backpack distribution alongside its home-repair projects. Daniel Bernard, the organization's founder and president, said in the report that the group's mission brings people together to serve others through practical acts of kindness.
CareFest Returns September 27 Across Three Counties
The gala leads directly into CareFest, the organization's annual day of service scheduled for Sunday, September 27, which will operate in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Thousands of volunteers from churches, civic organizations, businesses and community groups are expected to take part, per the same account, tackling hundreds of projects designed to serve elderly, disabled, veteran, widowed and single-parent homeowners.
Project teams typically complete their work in four to six hours, according to the Osprey Observer, handling tasks like exterior painting, pressure washing, yard cleanup, landscaping, minor home repairs and wheelchair ramp installations. Somebody Cares Tampa Bay says on its own site that CareFest operates year-round and estimates the projects serve between 100 and 300 homes annually, delivering more than $1 million worth of donated goods and volunteer services across the region, according to Carefest USA.
A Ministry Rooted in a Mayor's Challenge
CareFest traces its origin to a direct challenge from former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, who told Somebody Cares Tampa Bay founder Daniel Bernard that municipal budget constraints left the city unable to help elderly, disabled and low-income residents whose homes violated city codes, according to Carefest USA. Greco effectively challenged local faith and volunteer groups to refurbish those non-compliant homes themselves, a model the organization has run with ever since.
Somebody Cares Tampa Bay was founded on June 10, 1997, as the first U.S. chapter of Somebody Cares America outside of Houston, according to Somebody Cares America. Founder Doug Stringer met with more than 120 local pastors that year to launch the Tampa Bay chapter. The CareFest service model has since been adopted in other communities, including St. Augustine, Florida, Puerto Rico, Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana, according to the same organization's national affiliate.
Financial Growth and Local Government Partnerships
The nonprofit's finances have grown alongside its footprint. Somebody Cares Tampa Bay generated $461,727 in total revenue and spent $388,923 in expenses for 2024, up from $306,099 in revenue the year before, according to IRS Form 990 filings reviewed by ProPublica. Direct contributions made up roughly 49.5% of that 2024 revenue.
Local governments have folded the organization into their own service infrastructure. The City of St. Petersburg officially collaborates with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay on CareFest, running extended seasonal giving campaigns and collecting resident project requests through the city's ICAN neighborhood program, according to the City of St. Petersburg. In 2024, Hillsborough County Commissioner Donna Cepeda partnered with the nonprofit to secure county funding for a project that repaired three roofs and renovated the outdoor courtyard at Caminiti Exceptional School, adding synthetic turf, awnings and updated walkways.
Filling a Gap for Pinellas County's Poorest Residents
The need CareFest addresses is substantial in Pinellas County, where roughly 11.5% of residents — an estimated 109,000 people — lived below the federal poverty line between 2020 and 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by USAFacts. Fixed-income seniors and single parents in the county face significant home upkeep costs that can go unaddressed without outside help.
Somebody Cares Tampa Bay serves residents throughout Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties overall, uniting churches, businesses, volunteers and community organizations around its work. The group encourages residents and organizations to support CareFest by donating funds, building supplies, recruiting volunteers or sponsoring projects, while churches, businesses and volunteer groups can also adopt specific projects outright. Those interested can reach the organization at 727-536-2273 or through its website.
Somebody Cares Tampa Bay's public role has occasionally extended beyond home repair and into local civic debate. In June, Pinellas County commissioners endorsed a Faith and Family Month initiative organized by the group, which promoted community events such as FamFest alongside traditional religious declarations — a move Hoodline reported sparked debate among commissioners and advocates over religious messaging. The organization's Clearwater headquarters at 21903 US Highway 19 North remains its base of operations, with co-founder Kathy Bernard serving as administrator alongside Daniel Bernard, who has led the 501(c)(3) nonprofit since its 1997 incorporation.
