St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Announces Community Hero Award Honorees: Ronald and Joyce Wanek

St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation is proud to announce that Ronald Wanek, Founder and Chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, and his wife, Joyce, will be honored with the 2025 Community Hero Award at the annual Heroes Ball. The prestigious event, which benefits St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, is scheduled for April 5, 2025, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street.  The Waneks are being recognized for their unwavering commitment to children's health care, education and community well-being. Through their leadership at Ashley Furniture, they have spearheaded initiatives such as Hope to Dream, which has provided over 180,000 children with beds for better sleep, and Ashley’s Angels, delivering essential items and gifts to over 20,000 local children during the holiday season in five states. In 1988, the Waneks established the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation, which provides funding for a variety of causes, including education, the arts and medicine. Their contributions to STEM education initiatives in 2023-2024 alone benefited more than 15,000 students across six states. 

Their philanthropic efforts extend to significant medical research partnerships with institutions like City of Hope, HeartWorks, and the Mayo Clinic— driving advancements in pediatric research, treatments and innovative care solutions. They, along with their son Todd Wanek and his wife, Karen, provided a cornerstone donation to City of Hope to help fund an ambitious plan to find cures for Type 1 Diabetes. Their partnership with Mayo Clinic and HeartWorks has helped advance pediatric research and improved treatment for congenital heart defects. 

"We are deeply honored to receive the Community Hero Award from St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation,” said the Wanek family. “Our philanthropic mission has always been to support initiatives that not only uplift the Tampa Bay community but also create lasting impacts for families everywhere. We believe that by investing in health care, education and community programs, we can help build a brighter future for all children."  

The 2025 Heroes Ball will be co-chaired by Sam and Casey Ellison. Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies, oversees major development projects in Tampa Bay, including The Central in St. Petersburg and the YMCA redevelopment in Tampa Heights. Sam Ellison, chairman of Ellison Companies, has been a pivotal figure in Tampa Bay's construction and development industry for over four decades, while actively supporting organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Boy Scouts of America. Together, they aim to raise $2 million at this year's event to expand the hospital's Nurse Navigator Program, which assists families in navigating the complexities of pediatric health care.  

Launched in 2019, the Nurse Navigator Program at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital provides specialized nurses who offer clinical assessments, care coordination, and patient education, ensuring that families receive comprehensive support throughout their health care journey. Click here to learn more. 

For more information about the Heroes Ball, to purchase tickets, or to make a monetary donation, please visit St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation website. 

About Ellison Companies  

Ellison Companies include Ellison Development, Ellison Construction, and Ellison Investments. Together, Ellison embraces the essence of each local community we serve to focus on creating high-quality, sustainable, and community-oriented projects that enhance the landscape and contribute to growth and prosperity.   

About St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation  St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation inspires the community to engage in philanthropic opportunities to invest in the unique brand of care found at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Community support for St. Joseph’s reflects the trust and reliance generations of patients and their families have had with us, preserving our rich tradition of compassionate care while fueling innovation and medical excellence. To learn more, please visit give2stjoeskids.org. 

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