Darcie Glazer Kassewitz

Owner & President, Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Glazer Vision Foundation at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Darcie Glazer Kassewitz has been the driving force behind many of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' innovative, forward-thinking fan engagement and community outreach initiatives, retail activation, and facility design. She is focused on ensuring that the Buccaneers and the Glazer Vision Foundation create a lasting positive impact on the Tampa Bay community.

In support of the organization's long-standing commitment to education in the Tampa Bay community, in 2018 Kassewitz launched the Jr. Bucs School Program - the single-largest in-school program in team history. Impacting nearly 200,000 students in 300 schools across the Tampa Bay area, the program helps students both on and off the field by expanding the current physical fitness curriculum and supporting youth literacy in the classroom. In elementary schools, students receive equipment and programming to improve their fitness levels by training like NFL athletes in their physical education classes. Middle school students receive an enhanced flag football curriculum with new flag kits, equipment and expert-led instruction to hone their skills. Off the field, the Jr. Bucs Reading Challenge inspires lifelong learners by incentivizing students to read the most minutes through a series of challenges.

In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, in partnership with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation department, launched the first city-wide, all-girls flag football league in Tampa. Through the Foundation, 24 local recreation centers were outfitted with new equipment, complete with Bucs flag belts and jerseys. In addition, youth athletes and coaches were provided with annual instruction led by industry experts and a chance to develop their craft through NFL-certified clinics and training opportunities at the Buccaneers' AdventHealth Training Center.

Through her relentless pursuit of creating programs that strengthen the community, Kassewitz helped to establish the Social Justice Initiative prior to the 2018 season. The Social Justice Initiative includes monthly events focused on youth empowerment, police relations, criminal justice reform, racial equality and workforce development. The initiative is supported by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation Social Justice Fund, a campaign driven by the team's players and matching contributions from the organization that will commit more than $1 million to charitable organizations throughout the region.

Under Kassewitz's leadership, the Buccaneers have also been very active in providing resources and financial assistance for important community causes. In the fall of 2016, the team donated a super-sized Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation shade structure to the City of Tampa for hosting community events and providing valuable covered event space in the heart of downtown Tampa. Additionally, the Buccaneers have raised more than $270,000 in donations towards cancer awareness and patient services benefitting the American Cancer Society, Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, the AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center.

In recent years, Kassewitz has implemented initiatives designed to strengthen the organization's connection with all segments of its fan base. In 2015, she introduced the Women of Red, a pioneering program focused on enhancing and improving the fan experience. In its highly-anticipated debut season, Women of Red was called "the tipping point for a genuine connection to fans" attracting thousands of women to major events that offered a wide variety of interactive experiences, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and opportunities to interact with Buccaneers players and legends as well as current executives.

Kassewitz also leads the Glazer Vision Foundation, which is committed to full-treatment vision correction for children in Tampa Bay. In 2009, the foundation launched the Mobile Vision Clinic, a state-of-the-art interactive eyecare vehicle, which provides eye exams and prescription glasses for children in need, Since its inception, the program has performed more than 100,000 free eye screenings and provided more than 20,000 free prescription eye glasses to children who might otherwise not afford them.

Through a lead gift, the foundation has provided the funding necessary to open the world-class Glazer Children's Museum in downtown Tampa as part of its ongoing dedication to children and families. The one-of-a-kind museum opened on September 25, 2010 and instantly became the featured destination for children and families in Tampa Bay, providing 53,000-square feet of space for safe and playful learning.

Since 1999, the foundation has hosted nearly 18,000 children at Raymond James Stadium at all home games through the Buccaneers Gameday For Kids program. As part of the program, participating students are rewarded for academic achievement and positive behavior with complimentary game tickets, food vouchers and an on-field meeting with Kassewitz prior to the game.

Kassewitz uses her creative expertise to leave a large impact on the Buccaneers' world-class headquarters and training facilities at the AdventHealth Training Center as well as Raymond James Stadium. Additionally, she led the planning and design of the Buccaneers' new 100,000-square-foot indoor practice facility, which was completed prior to the start of the 2017 regular season.

Kassewitz also played a major role in the original aesthetic design of the interior of Raymond James Stadium when it opened in 1998. She remains involved in many of the architectural design elements pertaining to premium areas that are part of the Glazer family's multi-stage, $160-million renovation to Raymond James Stadium. Kassewitz also provided the primary vision and direction used in the design and layout of the Buccaneers Team Store, which debuted during the 2017 season.

One of the signature elements of the AdventHealth Training Center is the Buccaneers Museum which was designed and produced by Kassewitz. The museum brings the Buccaneers' history to life, including in-depth exhibits that tell the story of the franchise. Featured displays explore the creation of the team's uniform and logo; the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders; the establishment of the family's foundation; and a special display of the Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl ring that celebrates the team's Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Oakland Raiders. The centerpiece of the lobby display is the spectacular "Moment of Victory" sculpture, which depicts the moment when the Buccaneers were assured of their first World Championship.

In addition to her responsibilities with the foundation and the Buccaneers' charitable endeavors, she has served as Co-Chairwoman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Palm Beach. Kassewitz also serves on the Board of Manchester United Soccer Club, which has captured six titles since the Glazer family took over the club: five Premier League titles (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 and 2013), as well as the 2008 Champions League title.

Kassewitz graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from American University in 1990 and earned her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk Law School in 1993. Kassewitz and her husband, Joel, reside in Tampa.

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  • Owner & President, Tampa Bay Buccaneers & Glazer Vision Foundation

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